MEDCAT (Medical Category) [Title Corrected]

[highlander871]

Just throwing this out for anyone who might be able to help:
I tried to go reg force about 4 years ago, I did my thing, got to the medical part and was totally honest and told them (read: admitted) I had a disease that was one of their check box questions. I wasn't diagnosed until after I was in the army reserve, and I did my QL2 QL4 before I was diagnosed. The Doc put me on a permanent medcat of 211545 and I signed it (in tears, just watching my career end!) and got a copy.
I stayed in the reserves and transfered to another reserve unit, with them aware that I was on this medcat etc. I still haven't gotten a QL3 due to this medcat hanging over my head, and what my trade was. I've got a VOT in currently, for 871 to 836. I was doing my own VOT (the joys of being a clerk) and I noticed that oh- my permanent medcat is NOT on my pers file....they still have my t6 cat on there from almost 4 years ago! Now, will this med deal hurt my VOT?
One of my clerk friends knows another sgt clk in the regs that has this disease, but my medcat has kind of always been the excuse to not get me on course, etc etc. I was given no restrictions at the time, though the perment med paper (that I have a copy of!) says "PT may be limited in time and duration". Well, I'm sorry, I've passed the RCMP PARE and the PREP several times (its only good for 6 months) and I run a good 2.5miles a day on top of lifting weights 3 days a week. My tenor drone my PT is limited!! I am on medication and my disease is totally under control....I even saw a specialist for the RCMP and he was quite impressed with my case.
What is the army's deal with medcats and disease? The unit has watched me to my job, and the job of coy clk for the last, almost 2 years with no adverse effects....I'm one of the few clerks who even GOES in the field with the unit! All I can say now, is WTF?!

 

[aesop081]

! All I can say now, is WTF?!

And after 13 years of service, all i can say is redress it through the proper channels or STFU !!

As my first RSM would say "Its been like that for the last 20 f*****g years, if you dont like it , get the f**k out !!"

Good luck

 

[beach_bum]

Does that cat even meet CEMS?  My other question is, without medicaton, is your disease still under control?  This has a huge effect on your career, let alone a VOT.

 

[highlander871]

Well....if I went off my meds for an extended time I would hurt, making me useless and it would have a huge impact on my organs. I have lupus http://www.lupuscanada.org/.
Apparently my file was sent to a career review board when I first tried to go reg force, but nothing NOTHING ever happened. As far as my chain of command, I work in the BOR and the COY HQ, so I'm in direct contact with the CSM and CC and they both know the whole story.
At first I was told the res. career reivew board only sits so often, but for gawd sakes, its been years. I've seen troops that joined after I did become MCpls, and I'm still a PteR. I'm over it, but it puts me in a situation sometimes, because I act like a senior cpl at times (i am the coy clk) but when it really comes down to it, and just shrug and say, i'm just a pte, i can't do anything about (fill in the blank with some outrageous task).

 

[beach_bum]

Interesting.  Well, sorry to hear about your condition.  I'm not a medic, so I can't really add much.  However, if you are unfit, not only will you not be loaded on courses, eventually, you will be released.  It does take a while in the reserves, but I have seen it happen on more than one occasion.  This is not your fault, nor is it the military's fault.  It's just the rules, and sadly, the rules don't always seem fair to everyone.
As for acting like a Sr Cpl, despite the fact that you have been in for a bit, you are a Pte.  I could act like a WO....but I'd get shot down pretty quick, because I'm a Cpl.  See what I mean?

 

[highlander871]

Beach_bum, thats what I'm saying. I do. Coy Clk is a MCpls job and Ive been doing it for the last year and some. I've been told me be more authroatative to the officers and WO's who would walk all over me, and I with the new recruits when they first get to the company. But I'm afraid that if I ever to get promoted or want to go officer type (if the medcat will allow) that everyone and their dog will say "Pte Her? Naw, she's always been a pteR" and they won't give me the chance to ever be more than that.

As far as being medically released, it appears that they've 1) lost my origional 211535 medcat, which no, does not fit any trade's min medcat. and 2) they've forgotten about it, since there has to have been a med review board within the last 4 years.

My other point was, if there's a sgt. clk in the reg force with lupus that another clk friend of mine knows, how did he or she get to reg force, and a sgt if they're dragging my career though hell and back because of this. I don't want to release because I'd never get back in, but I'm getting sooo frustrated!

 

[old medic]

and I noticed that oh- my permanent medcat is NOT on my pers file....they still have my t6 cat on there from almost 4 years ago! Now, will this med deal hurt my VOT?

The temp-cat is there as an information copy, to outline the employment restrictions to your CO.  Your permanent category is on your CF2034 Medical Envelope insert and the record of the exam would be inside it. 

 

[beach_bum]

Beach_bum, thats what I'm saying. I do. Coy Clk is a MCpls job and Ive been doing it for the last year and some. I've been told me be more authroatative to the officers and WO's who would walk all over me, and I with the new recruits when they first get to the company. But I'm afraid that if I ever to get promoted or want to go officer type (if the medcat will allow) that everyone and their dog will say "Pte Her? Naw, she's always been a pteR" and they won't give me the chance to ever be more than that.

As far as being medically released, it appears that they've 1) lost my origional 211535 medcat, which no, does not fit any trade's min medcat. and 2) they've forgotten about it, since there has to have been a med review board within the last 4 years.

My other point was, if there's a sgt. clk in the reg force with lupus that another clk friend of mine knows, how did he or she get to reg force, and a sgt if they're dragging my career though hell and back because of this. I don't want to release because I'd never get back in, but I'm getting sooo frustrated!

Well, if your med cat does not meet any of the trade standards, I highly doubt you will get your VOT to clk, officer or otherwise.  Sorry to say it, but those are the rules.

Now, as for the Reg F Sgt.  First of all, you heard it through someone else, and that person may not know all of the facts.  Secondly, supposing this person did contract the disease...how do you know that person is not in the release process? 

 

[highlander871]

Old medic- when we faxed bde hq for my current med cat to start my VOT, they faxed back the t6 cat.
Would there be any way I could prove that the disease does not interfere with my job? I understand I will never go overseas, but its maddening that the CF is crying for recurits, I'm HERE I'm IN! Just let me do it!

As far as this reg force sgt...one of the other clerks I work with and am friends with, is friends with this other clk and was on course, so it's my friend's friend. This disease does not just happen overnight. It is very hard to diagnose (I was old it was carpal tunnel, then arthritis) and this woman has obviously had a career in the CF with this. It's just very uncommon in the army, not so much uncommon in the regular population, and people (CF, docs) don't know what to make of it.

 

[beach_bum]

Universality of Service.  Basically, that means that all members of the CF must be deployable.  If your disease makes you non-deployable, it also makes you unemployable.

 

[old medic]

Old medic- when we faxed bde hq for my current med cat to start my VOT, they faxed back the t6 cat.
Would there be any way I could prove that the disease does not interfere with my job? I understand I will never go overseas, but its maddening that the CF is crying for recurits, I'm HERE I'm IN! Just let me do it!

As far as this reg force sgt...one of the other clerks I work with and am friends with, is friends with this other clk and was on course, so it's my friend's friend. This disease does not just happen overnight. It is very hard to diagnose (I was old it was carpal tunnel, then arthritis) and this woman has obviously had a career in the CF with this. It's just very uncommon in the army, not so much uncommon in the regular population, and people (CF, docs) don't know what to make of it.

If you can, confirm directly that the Tcat was never lifted by calling or walking into your supporting MIR. Ask someone to physically
check your medical file, or ask to view it with someone.  If it was never followed up, then it should be reviewed or renewed.  If your
convinced about the validity of this other member having it, ask them.  They might have some insight for you.

OM

 

[highlander871]

I've spent some time surfing the DIN and the web for specific med pols, and I've talked to my CC, my ops O and anyone who has experience with medicals.
I feel I fit a G3 cat, not G5, as is laid out in the med pols. My plan is to call the MIR and book a part I, and bring with me a letter from my doc, and from a specialist I saw at request of the RCMP who found me fit for that job.
Most everyone I've talked to has said 'good luck. next step is release'.
Bah....it's been 3 years, and my medical situation has improved since the last time I saw any MO, which was in early 2003. Obviously I'm not a priority, but not a threat.
Thanks for the advice, old_medic.

 

[Armymedic]

small difference between G3 and G5:
G3 - assigned to the member:

a. who is considered fit for field exercises, sea environment, isolated postings and operational taskings for periods up to six (6) months;

b. who has a known requirement for scheduled medical service (see definitions in Chapter 2, 4.c.) by an MO but no more frequently than every six (6) months;

c. whose limitations resulting from a known medical condition do not pose an unacceptable risk to the health and/or safety of the individual or fellow workers in the operational/work environment;

d. who may require and take prescription medications, the unexpected discontinuance (unavailability) of which will not create an unacceptable risk to the member's health and/or safety; and/or

who is considered unfit for one specific military environment (i.e., sea, field, operational taskings or isolated postings), for example, members with sea sickness.

G5 - assigned to the member:

a. who requires scheduled specialist medical care more frequently than every six (6) months; and

b. who is considered unfit for field, sea, isolated postings and / or operational taskings.

You are assigned G5 because you are unfit all the above tasks listed in para B. Because you can work in garrison as a reservist prevented you from being a G6 and instantly medically released.

As far as this reg force sgt...It's just very uncommon in the army, not so much uncommon in the regular population, and people (CF, docs) don't know what to make of it.

Its not uncommon, its called "accommodation". Based on the persons trade, rank, yrs of service the CF will accommodate a person with below trade specs Med Cat for up to 3 yrs. There are many variables of this. This Sgt could have less then this much time left in her career until she is complete her 20 yr contract for instance.

Do not compare your case with anyone elses, as there is alot of variance you are not privy to.

 

[Armymedic]

If you can, confirm directly that the Tcat was never lifted by calling or walking into your supporting MIR. Ask someone to physically
check your medical file, or ask to view it with someone.  If it was never followed up, then it should be reviewed or renewed. 

As a clerk you should know exactly which form it is. After your medical is done, your supporting MIR would complete the forms required and send your file to DMed Pol for review. Once reviewed they will confirm, or change your catagory accordingly, and/or recommend disposition (accomodation, retention or release).

My advice, go redo your medical. You need one (a PHE periodic health exam) every 5 yrs anyway.