I had a question and was hoping you ladies could help. If you are medically discharged from the army because of PTSD does that go on your discharge papers and will future employers know this or have privy to finding out?

it's on you're discharge papers yes but it's coded. Future employees would have to know that code to know what it means.

I think what they'll see is that he was medically discharged, unless they know the codes or he tells them, they more than likely won't know why.

ETA: The one clause that I can think of in that would be if he got a job that he needed a security clearance, then it might come up.

He wants to work as a prison guard, think they can figure it out?

(he is already guarenteed a job without his resume but I worry about admin)

Yea, that might come up hun, he may have to explain it... but then during wartime they almost need to expect PTSD in post-combat military men... whether they were actually diagnosed or not. Its a toss up to be honest hun. They could still hire him but they may restrict him to a certain type of job & may not have access to firearms.

He isn't doing so hot. :( Its really bad. He would be totally fine if he's not in Iraq. kwim?

If I remember correctly, yes. It may hold him up, but they normally do mental health check and such.

Good Luck Sweetie!!

Yea, I've been saying for years now that the services need better psych services. One of my best friends is a Corpsman on his third tour, first one in Afganistan and the kid should have been given help a long time ago. He came home a couple times on medical leave for physical injuries & cannot function in society. He talks about killing himself frequently and still they send him out there to watch more of his buddies die.

Yea, I've been saying for years now that the services need better psych services. One of my best friends is a Corpsman on his third tour, first one in Afganistan and the kid should have been given help a long time ago. He came home a couple times on medical leave for physical injuries & cannot function in society. He talks about killing himself frequently and still they send him out there to watch more of his buddies die.

:oogle :tears :no :vent

I am so so sorry for the hell your friend deals with. Sometimes I want to move to another country, I am the most patriotic person you'll ever meet but I dont like what the US is turning into. They use you and throw you away when your no good anymore. :mad

From what I understand, his DD-214 would state "Medical Discharge" under type of discharge, but there wouldn't be information as to why. The Veterans Administration rating schedule states that if you're discharged from the military for medical reasons, you are automatically eligible for 50% disability from them.

I don't know about being a prison guard, but my hubby was disqualified from civilian law enforcement due to his PTSD and the medications that he takes.

He wants to work as a prison guard, think they can figure it out?

(he is already guarenteed a job without his resume but I worry about admin)

Yes I think it would come up. As long as he has seeked counseling and the problems are no longer an issue I don't see it being a problem.

Any employer can find out what any discharge code means, if they want to be bothered to look.

Any employer can find out what any discharge code means, if they want to be bothered to look.

yes but most will not look.

yes but most will not look.

I think you're right, but the point is they *can*.

I think you're right, but the point is they *can*.

I know I was just trying to be optimistic :mrgreen

thanks for all the help girls. It sucks, the poor guy has seen so much crap. They dont realize what they are doing to these men.

Oh, gods, that sucks. The DD-214 won't say what the medical discharge is. Start looking into the VA now to find out if he's gonna rate for any disability stuffs. He'll need help with this.

Hell, my dad's had PTSD for over 40 years now, and they try to tell him it's from something other than being in Vietnam and getting shot. :rolleyes Seriously. Start any paperwork you might need.

But, since the VA does consider it a medical disability, I believe that future employers shouldn't be able to discriminate against him because of it. They may require counseling or something, but I don't think it should affect his chances of getting a job? Just like other disabilities? :dunno

But, since the VA does consider it a medical disability, I believe that future employers shouldn't be able to discriminate against him because of it. They may require counseling or something, but I don't think it should affect his chances of getting a job? Just like other disabilities? :dunno

No, they can't discriminate (generally) unless it comes to a matter of safety.

Has he gotten any help for it? Counselling etc?

no a med sep is an honorable discharge
i myself am Medicall retired from the Navy, through the VA you can apply for the vocational rehab program wich will help retrain you and help you find future employment. It has taken me seven months to go throught the application process but I just was informed today I was entitled to be in the program. A med sep is by no means the end of the world. Any questions please PM sorry NAK right now.

wanted to add that you never ever have to disclose ANY disability to an employer you don't even have to SAY you are disabled. My med sep was for PTSD & bipolar. I will not disclose that to any future employer it is none of there business. However work in that field may not be an option for him as it may be triggering for him. Also a back ground check WOULD happen and the PTSD could pose safety issues for them. They can't not hire him for being disabled but they could always claim he was not hired for a different reason. At the hiring level they can simply say they did not feel he was a good fit for the job and that would be legal for them to do.

No, they can't discriminate (generally) unless it comes to a matter of safety.

Has he gotten any help for it? Counselling etc?

No because up until now he had lied and skirted around it. He fudges questionaires for PTSD because he didn't want to be kicked out. Now though he realize he has a problem. I am not going to disclose how he came to this realization here because I dont want anyone judging him but he knows and I know. He is only affected by it when it comes to auctually going to iraq. He is sick of seeing kids missing half their face and seeing his buddies be blown up for a country that doesn't care anymore. KWIM? He told me "I CAN NOT GO BACK TO IRAQ"

he was a very withdrawn emotionally kind of guy before, I fear that one more tour in that place will make him become a shell of himself if this one doesn't get to him first.

I was thinking of securing a civilian source of help for him because I DO NOT trust the military in any way, shape or form. If he could just NOT go back to iraq he would be solid. Its only triggered by the thought of being in iraq again and the frustration he feels now with being there.



thanks for your help green mammy and del! I am going to be looking into all of this.

Your welcome I am sorry he has seen all of that the first step for him to get help would be to go to the military clinic and request to speak to a counselor. I know a MEDBOARD MAY sound like he is trying to get out of his duty or a negative thing BUT it is the first step in his making sure he gets ALL of the care he is entitled too. I know I was pissed when i was first informed I was being medboarded BUT NOW I know that it was better for me then to not have had it done. Sure my chain of command thought I was faking and was trying to fuck me over but guess what I was not faking and they helped me out by trying to fuck me over. Make sense?

I hope he goes and talks with someone because if not he runs the risk of being sent back over there, what if something happened and he ended up with battle fatigue and hurt himself or someone else. This can be helped and it can be cured eventually if he really wants it. The military has numbers to fill he needs to be proactive on this (I KNOW it is hard, I am not in any way judging him) because no one else is going to have HIS best interests at heart. (except for you and you love him!)

Once again I am SO very sorry for his ordeal I would not wish that on anyone and I am so sad to read about the pain this war is causing or fine men and women. Good for you for asking questions and I hope he can over come his fear and become proactive in his health care. You guys are in my thoughts!

It breaks my heart to read all of this stuff. I am very sorry to hear all of this is happening to him (and to your friend). My heart goes out to both of you because I've been there-I've been with a guy who has severe PTSD (triggered in dreams and ANY loud noises) but he wouldn't admit it. I also have a close girl friend who is an Air Force SF (mostly convoy gunner) who has deployed 4 times and at least admits and works on her problem. Becuase of all of this, I have chosen to pursue a social work degree to try and get a job for the VA to work with PTSD. I know it's hard to go to them and ask for help, but he needs to. If you would be willing to share any of your experiences with me, I would appreciate a PM. And i would be more than willing to help support you in all of this. Just remember, the best thing you can do for him is just be there-listen, comfort, and be there. It will be hard, but he has to be the one to do the work, he has to be the one to face the trama. But he'll make it. :) Good luck.

Opps, read to fast-I meant PatsGirl's friend... that's just horrible...

He HAS got to get it documented in his medical records (and well documented at that BEFORE he gets out so that way, he has supporting documents) if not, it will take forever to qualify for VA disability benefits. My husband was a year and a half from retirement when he went to Iraq. He came back a mess, but he got it documented. We got lucky, since he was so close to retirement, his counsellor knew what questions not to ask, and he knew what to say and his command put him into an easier position so he could ride it out to retirement. Someone mentioned Vocational Rehab, you need to qualify at 10 or 20 percent disability. My husband is 90%, but he chose not to go the voc rehab route at this time. He has nightmares, hypervigilance, he has issues with driving every now and then, and reacts strongly to loud noises and being startled. The only reason he ended up getting help was because of me. I saw it, and kept telling him, gently, that he may need some help.

He HAS got to get it documented in his medical records (and well documented at that BEFORE he gets out so that way, he has supporting documents) if not, it will take forever to qualify for VA disability benefits. My husband was a year and a half from retirement when he went to Iraq. He came back a mess, but he got it documented. We got lucky, since he was so close to retirement, his counsellor knew what questions not to ask, and he knew what to say and his command put him into an easier position so he could ride it out to retirement. Someone mentioned Vocational Rehab, you need to qualify at 10 or 20 percent disability. My husband is 90%, but he chose not to go the voc rehab route at this time. He has nightmares, hypervigilance, he has issues with driving every now and then, and reacts strongly to loud noises and being startled. The only reason he ended up getting help was because of me. I saw it, and kept telling him, gently, that he may need some help.

Thats how DH is. He recently told me he will never go hunting again :oogle which shocked the shit out of me because he loves hunting. he also has issues with dogs now after seeing the way they are over there. I guess we will have to take this all one step at a time. When he comes home I am going to talk to him about getting alll of this taken care of. I have an uncle that was green beret in vietnam and he has hella bad ptsd. :(



Thanks Sailor and thanks again Mammy, you've been such a great help.

Vocrehab= 10% and must have a significant employment handicap, 20% and up are most often found entitled.

I just finished the application process and was informed that I am entitled at my last appointment, I started in Oct '06.

Vocrehab= 10% and must have a significant employment handicap, 20% and up are most often found entitled.

I just finished the application process and was informed that I am entitled at my last appointment, I started in Oct '06.

Sorry for the mistake, hubby went through the application process almost a year ago and couldn't remember.

Thats how DH is. He recently told me he will never go hunting again :oogle which shocked the shit out of me because he loves hunting. he also has issues with dogs now after seeing the way they are over there. I guess we will have to take this all one step at a time. When he comes home I am going to talk to him about getting alll of this taken care of. I have an uncle that was green beret in vietnam and he has hella bad ptsd. :(



Thanks Sailor and thanks again Mammy, you've been such a great help.

Oh, he's still over there? Remind him that there are Combat Stress Units over there that can help him.

Oh, he's still over there? Remind him that there are Combat Stress Units over there that can help him.

Yes. and he doesn't want to see anyone until he comes home. He doesn't want to risk leaving his boys.

Yes. and he doesn't want to see anyone until he comes home. He doesn't want to risk leaving his boys.

That is admirable, but he also needs to keep in mind, that if he is a mess, he won't be able to do his job effectively.

Okay, so he NEEDS to get this documented ASAP, or they will run him around forever about PTSD. The military really really doesn't like to admit to PTSD because there are a huge amount of vets coming out with it (both the new generations and the old ones) and it does give them medical honorable discharges, and some disability benefits at the very least. Which means a lot of money and therapy and time that the VA has to put out for them, KWIM? So, if a few slip through the cracks.... it's very hard to get your claim after the fact.

Also, with VOC Rehab (which my dad is also going through) just 'cause you get "entitled" to it doesn't mean they're gonna actually give it to you. There's a whole further process for that, and it's on a time limit, so if you don't get into a school accepting your VOC rehab quick enough, you have to start the process over again.

(I understand that, since I am not the person dealing with this, my credibility may seem questionable. However, because of my father's severe PTSD and assorted other issues, I a mostly in charge of helping him with all aspects of this, and keep very up to date on what's going on and what one can do when dealing with the VA. I really need to become a lawyer, but that's a whole other issue.)

And, if he goes through any civi therapists or whatnot, make sure it gets all documented and that the therapists know they may be called to his aid in dealing with the VA (he'll have to get all sorts of records when filing for this, and it gets more difficult when civi doctors/therapists are involved). They'll do a psych eval on him no matter what, through the military. This can be very stressful for him, it really tends to exacerbate PTSD. So, be prepared for that too.

But, yeah, Green had it down too. So, just try to be supportive and up to date with your info as well because you might have to help him a lot with this. That's why PTSD is so hard to deal with because the people who have it have a hard time dealing with the appropriate steps the military will require them to take.

Good luck to you both, and I hope that he can get this sorted out before another round to Iraq!!

Okay, so he NEEDS to get this documented ASAP, or they will run him around forever about PTSD. The military really really doesn't like to admit to PTSD because there are a huge amount of vets coming out with it (both the new generations and the old ones) and it does give them medical honorable discharges, and some disability benefits at the very least. Which means a lot of money and therapy and time that the VA has to put out for them, KWIM? So, if a few slip through the cracks.... it's very hard to get your claim after the fact.

Also, with VOC Rehab (which my dad is also going through) just 'cause you get "entitled" to it doesn't mean they're gonna actually give it to you. There's a whole further process for that, and it's on a time limit, so if you don't get into a school accepting your VOC rehab quick enough, you have to start the process over again.

(I understand that, since I am not the person dealing with this, my credibility may seem questionable. However, because of my father's severe PTSD and assorted other issues, I a mostly in charge of helping him with all aspects of this, and keep very up to date on what's going on and what one can do when dealing with the VA. I really need to become a lawyer, but that's a whole other issue.)

And, if he goes through any civi therapists or whatnot, make sure it gets all documented and that the therapists know they may be called to his aid in dealing with the VA (he'll have to get all sorts of records when filing for this, and it gets more difficult when civi doctors/therapists are involved). They'll do a psych eval on him no matter what, through the military. This can be very stressful for him, it really tends to exacerbate PTSD. So, be prepared for that too.

But, yeah, Green had it down too. So, just try to be supportive and up to date with your info as well because you might have to help him a lot with this. That's why PTSD is so hard to deal with because the people who have it have a hard time dealing with the appropriate steps the military will require them to take.

Good luck to you both, and I hope that he can get this sorted out before another round to Iraq!!

thank you so much for the info.

ok i didnt read this whole thread, but my brother has PTSD from the first gulf war and he is employed as a prison guard now. they know about it so it didnt prevent him from getting the job

ok i didnt read this whole thread, but my brother has PTSD from the first gulf war and he is employed as a prison guard now. they know about it so it didnt prevent him from getting the job

thank you :) Thats encouraging.