Author Topic: USAF Discharge Question (Read 256 times)

Engine · « **on:** March 18, 2004, 03:57:36 AM »

Hola. A high school friend of mine recently joined up with the USAF. While waiting to go to basic, he was riding his bicycle and was hit by a car, and though it required a trip to the hospital he appeared to just have a few cuts and bruises and was sent home. A few weeks later he heads off to basic, spends a month doing lots of pushups, then one day collapses on a run. It turns out he's got micro stress fractures due to the car accident.

Subsequently he was discharged (Unclassified, undisclosed, unspecified, something like that. Not a medical discharge), and is now home. The few ex-military folks I've told have been surprised he isn't collecting disability.

My question is: If he was enlisted when they discovered the injury, isn't he entitled to a medical discharge and some disability payments?

KBall · « **Reply #1 on:** March 18, 2004, 06:18:00 AM »

A person in the USAF must complete basic training before they are officially entered into active duty. If you are in basic and get injured or aggravate a previous injury and the AF deems that injury will affect you in the future you are discharged. The AF will give you medical care until you are healthy enough for that discharge, but you are not entitled to disability because basic training was not completed.

During my basic training a guy in my flight was discharged 2 days before graduation after successfully completing all the requirements of basic. The last 2 days was mainly preparation for graduating. The AF found that he had hepatitis. He didn't even get a chance to say goodbye to us, he was immediately sent home. A person can go through the hell of basic training but without that piece of paper saying you successfully graduated, being in basic doesn't mean much.

AKWeav · « **Reply #2 on:** March 18, 2004, 06:18:00 AM »

If you hurt your self at home, should you be able to file an L&I claim? Do you think the goverment is responsible for his disability?

Engine · « **Reply #3 on:** March 18, 2004, 06:27:40 AM »

Ah, gotcha, thanks KBall.

lord dolf vader · « **Reply #4 on:** March 18, 2004, 09:13:54 AM »

its a time thing how long he was in basicly. if he got a discharge not a "not suitable for military service" he should go see hes veterans rep(call va nearest you they will help) and file a claim asap.

payment goes from time of claim. when and if he gets a settelment.

p.s. i am not a lawyer please call veterans association this crap chanages all the time.

jamusta · « **Reply #5 on:** March 18, 2004, 09:30:11 AM »

Although he enlisted for the air force he was not a member when he initially got hurt. Since his injuries in basic were caused by the accident they are not going to pay for that. It is not the air forces fault. Thats why he received the admin seperation.