Med discharged in 2015 - need advice

[longgone18]

Alright lads, reluctantly posting here by need some advice and have nowhere else to go .

I signed up for the infantry in 2013 started basic on the winter intake got around 3 months into training and got an injury on excercise.

I waited on a specialist to see me for 6 months and in that time was in a rehab platoon. I started doing browning with the lads going for p company again and got my fitness pretty decent compared to what it previously was. Decided to transfer.over to the parachute regiment and got accepted after being assessed by the 2ic of para coy on a ten miler.

Eventually my results from the specialist came in, and I got a discharge. My platoon commander was in shock and I had him, a few corporals, and my pti staff sign a letter saying I was an asset to the army and they saw me as medically fit.

I even offered to sign a waiver to say I couldn't sue or claim compensation if I received an injury again.

Nothing worked and I was discharged around 2015. I have family who all served in conflictslike the falklands , NI, Bosnia, Iraq etc, some for the full 22 years so this was a huge disappointment to me as it's all I wanted to do.

I was rather depressed for over a year about it and hated myself for getting discharged. When my veterans pin came I threw it away because I would never class myself as a veteran.

Fast forward to now and I eventually got over it all. I rven ended up getting a job through a company that trains up ex forces people regardless of degrees or no degrees from uni etc( I had none, left school at 14)

Was speaking to another lad there and he told me about this veterans association that provides houses to anyone with an injury from service.

I needed a house for me and my son etc and applied. I went for an interview with them and was more than up front about everything. Said i do have a permanent injury but was never deployed or anything like that and that it was from an injury at ITC.
Now they've done offered me a house and it's lovely. I've signed the lease But I feel really guilty taking it for obvious reasons.

My question is guys, in my situation would you say I'm entitled to this veterans house , or should I give them the keys back?

Everyone I talk to says they wouldn't have given me it if I wasn't entitled. (I haven't moved in yet) but I want people's advice who aren't civvies

Thanks for taking the time

 

[chrisg46]

If the injury is attributable to military service, why not? If they have interviewed you and found you eligible, why not?
Dont burden yourself with something that (presumably) isnt your fault and develop self loathing etc.

By the way (and i say this with no knowledge of your injury and the medical criteria), might it be worth about looking at the reserves, or even the cadets as an instructor?

 

[longgone18]

If the injury is attributable to military service, why not? If they have interviewed you and found you eligible, why not?
Dont burden yourself with something that (presumably) isnt your fault and develop self loathing etc.

By the way (and i say this with no knowledge of your injury and the medical criteria), might it be worth about looking at the reserves, or even the cadets as an instructor?

Thanks for getting back to me mate.
Unfortunately when I got my discharge it was a permanent medical discharge from all armed forces. I would love to still be able to join the reserves etc.

As for the why not's, it was more just the fact that there could be guys out there with much worse injuries from tours that may be more.entitled than me

I wouldn't be able to cope knowing I was sitting in a vets house whilst someone who has served the country for longer or by actually doing their job as opposed to getting an MD in training like me may be sitting in a homeless type situation.

As funny as it sounds the self loathing was already there , if I'd just never had said anything about my injury I would still have been in. So that got to me for a bit. But I'm over it all now.

All I wanted to do was be in the army and I'll never be able to do that now, which is fine asi have come ti terms with it.Bit anytime I see a war movie, or hear people telling stories at work it gets to me. I feel angry with myself for not making it.

The last thing I want to do is take a potential place to live away from someone who actually deserves it , you know?

 

[rockape623]

I think chrisg46 has summed the situation rather well. A veteran these days is classed as someone who has served at least one day to the colour; you did.

Next, you were interviewed by the veterans organisation, who would have confirmed your service, and they found you suitable to lease one of their properties. These things are dealt with by seeing whose need is more urgent than another applicant; they found that you required the property and at that time, your need was greater.

I cannot imagine the torment you are throwing at yourself, and I also get the feeling that you feel that you have let those family members, who served longer than you, down. You haven`t....you didn`t throw the towel in, you didn`t disobey orders and you committed no crime. You have a son who is going to need copious amounts of love and attention in the coming years and you will be there for him, in a secure loving home.

Don`t beat yourself up; there was nothing you could have done to change things. It is what it is.

Have you thought of volunteering for one of the service charities, RBL, SSAFA maybe? They are crying out for souls to befriend and visit ex servicemen who just want someone to talk to.

Good luck, whatever you do, but I think you`ll do just fine...and so will your lad.

 

[Mighty_Blighty]

I would say they don't just give these houses away, they will have certain criteria and you must have met them.

Don't worry about other lads, if they have a requirement, and meet the criteria - a house will be found. Your priority is you and your son. Don't let things fester in your mind, that's how real mental issues start.

Good luck to you.

MB

 

[longgone18]

I think chrisg46 has summed the situation rather well. A veteran these days is classed as someone who has served at least one day to the colour; you did.

Next, you were interviewed by the veterans organisation, who would have confirmed your service, and they found you suitable to lease one of their properties. These things are dealt with by seeing whose need is more urgent than another applicant; they found that you required the property and at that time, your need was greater.

I cannot imagine the torment you are throwing at yourself, and I also get the feeling that you feel that you have let those family members, who served longer than you, down. You haven`t....you didn`t throw the towel in, you didn`t disobey orders and you committed no crime. You have a son who is going to need copious amounts of love and attention in the coming years and you will be there for him, in a secure loving home.

Don`t beat yourself up; there was nothing you could have done to change things. It is what it is.

Have you thought of volunteering for one of the service charities, RBL, SSAFA maybe? They are crying out for souls to befriend and visit ex servicemen who just want someone to talk to.

Good luck, whatever you do, but I think you`ll do just fine...and so will your lad.

Thanks a lot for the reply mate, I really appreciate it.

Genuinely do this has helped.me leaps and bounds mentally. more than I could have hoped for.

Thanks for taking the time to reply. I'm going to look into volunteering at a forces charity . Maybe that's a way I can give back

Thanks bud

 

[longgone18]

I would say they don't just give these houses away, they will have certain criteria and you must have met them.

Don't worry about other lads, if they have a requirement, and meet the criteria - a house will be found. Your priority is you and your son. Don't let things fester in your mind, that's how real mental issues start.

Good luck to you.

MB

Hi mate, thanks for taking the time to reply as well. The replies here have all been really helpful and yours put things into perspective for me a little better.

All the best and thanks again

 

[Lower_Jumper]

That would suck. I couldn't go through life not being a paratrooper. Life's too short.

 

[jcol]

I got discharged in 2015 and I was Medically non deployable, however I have had it over turned. It’s been a massive ball ache but I have my medical on 16th nov, all other checks are passed so as long as I don’t fail anything on the medical which I shouldn’t I’m back in. It’s definately worth applying, you will get rejected initially but just review it like I did.

 

[longgone18]

I got discharged in 2015 and I was Medically non deployable, however I have had it over turned. It’s been a massive ball ache but I have my medical on 16th nov, all other checks are passed so as long as I don’t fail anything on the medical which I shouldn’t I’m back in. It’s definately worth applying, you will get rejected initially but just review it like I did.

Hi bud, so I appealed the decision and was unsuccessful, I then appealed the appeals decision and was unsuccessful.

I've heard of guys having luck getting their own specialist to say they are fine etc and using it as evidence at a tribunal. But to be honest Iseem to remember after the second unsuccessful appeal being told it was the end of the road.

Congrats on getting back in..fucking enjoy it mate . Wish I could have done some ally shit whilst still in. Enjoy it bro

 

[jcol]

Hi bud, so I appealed the decision and was unsuccessful, I then appealed the appeals decision and was unsuccessful.

I've heard of guys having luck getting their own specialist to say they are fine etc and using it as evidence at a tribunal. But to be honest Iseem to remember after the second unsuccessful appeal being told it was the end of the road.

Congrats on getting back in..******* enjoy it mate . Wish I could have done some ally shit whilst still in. Enjoy it bro

Gutted for you mate, I had to get a letter from my GP then drive down tidworth for an appointment with the army specialist then wait for ages for them to sort it at the recruitment place