AKO (Army Knowledge On-Line) Accounts

You can still keep your ako account after you go through the MEB process and leave the Army. There is a "medically discharged" account type to which you can switch. If you are not retired, or are not a dependant, or an Army Civilian, ako only allows an additional 3 months of access. Switching away from ako is pretty simple, though forwarding an entire inbox, contact list, and other information can be tedious. Lots of "freemail" out on the Internet now -- hotmail, yahoo, gmail, and I'm sure others as well. Each is a little different and while less secure than ako they are all a little more user-friendly.


- Ragin' Ranger Out

Traumatic Injury Protection (TSGLI) Under the Service Members' Group Life Insurance Program

Effective 1 December 2005, service members who are insured under SGLI and suffer from a traumatic injury are eligible to receive monetary compensation for a total amount not less than $25, 000 an not greater than $100,000.

Any questions regarding this process can be sent to OSGLI at osgli.claims@prudential.com or call toll free 1-800-419-1473.

I haven't looked very deeply into this process, but the form seems simple enough. Forms must be completed by Service Member, Physician, and Branch or Service.

Definitely worth looking into. The extra expenses families take on when any member is injured can be a serious burden - fortunately this is a way that can help, at least a little.


- Ragin' Ranger Out

Negligent Medical Care

I saw this and wanted to share.
From the Army Times website:

• Negligent medical care
Have you or a family member experienced what you regard as negligent medical care at a military hospital? We'd like to hear from you, whether you're uniformed or not. Send your comments to Military Times staff writer William McMichael. Please include a preferred way for us to get in touch with you; we won't use your name in a story unless you give us permission to do so.

To: bmcmichael@navytimes.com
Subject: Negligent medical care


From Army Times Link: http://www.armytimes.com/story.php?f=1-292925-getinvolved.php

- Ragin' Ranger Out

VA Budget decrease

I know that the new budget has the VA listed as receiving a 6% increase in the coming fiscal year, but that is really a decrease when sheer numbers are aligned. (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/11609834)

With the growing rate of combat vets returning with disabilities and increasing costs of medical care I feel fairly certain that the VA's financial burden will increase by more than 6% in the next 365 days, especially when the VA is already underfunded. Budget increase my A$$.

Also, the VA is considering increasing costs of care for Vets with higher Co-pays, WTF, didn't Vets already "pay" for life-long medical care in blood, what is this squeezing the wallet, too.

I guess this is TX math, no wait, I met some smart Texans in the Army, I guess its Connecticut-spoiled-brat-moved-to-Texas math, daddy needs to re-check this homework assignment after housecleaning is done.

- Ragin' Ranger Out

Health Insurance

Medical insurance coverage is sketchy everywhere, even in the civilian world, ESPECIALLY in the civilian world. Civilian insurance often carries the infamous "War Clause" where the insurance company doesn't have to pay hospital bills if a patient seeks treatment related to anything that happened "in war." And I am sure the insurance company will find a way to protect its own money.
A vet that thinks themself fortunate for having a good job with good benefits, or gets "comprehensive" insurance through their spouse's employment may find out that their injuries will not be covered by the civilian insurance company. Going to a non-VA Emergency Room will certainly lead to more paperwork and red-tape when trying to get compensated.


- Ragin' Ranger Out

Nashville IAVA Veteran's Day Event

Should have posted this earlier, hope some of you all can make it.

Nashville: Celebrate Veterans Day with IAVA

What are you doing for Veterans Day? If you want to combine a great evening with a chance to really support the Troops, join IAVA this Friday, November 10th, at Coyote Ugly Nashville.

Here is the link:

http://www.iava.org//index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=2153&Itemid=105


- Ragin' Ranger Out

Army Regulations

I was talking to someone the other day while helping them construct their appeal to their MEB. I'm trying to help this soldier ensure that the MEB dictation or Narative Summary (NARSUM) has conditions listed so that when this soldier is a veteran the VA will be able to provide treatment ASAP and the new veteran will not have to wait through the Red Tape of the VA. The MEB Office here is trying to rush the MEB because the soldier has been going through the MEB for a long time. Rushing the MEB is a dis-service to the soldier.

These are the things that piss me off the most and I try to help as much as I can.

Back to the point of this post. The soldier in questions told me that the paper-bound regulations at the unit were out-dated and a pain to use because there was only one copy and it was often missing from the shelf.

Here are the links to the regulations that govern the MEB process:

AR 40-400 Patient Administration

AR 635-40 Physical Evaluation Retention Retirement Separation

AR 40-501 Standards of Medical Fitness

Use the adobe search function to find topics you need to find. For instance, search 40-501 for the condition in question to help find the standards for that condition.

- Ragin' Ranger Out