Fit-For-Duty Recommendations for Severely Injured Soldiers
Abstract
Soldiers lay their lives on the line to protect and defend not only the constitution of the United States, but also their buddies and unit. When they are seriously injured in combat, it is natural for leaders of that unit to feel grateful and loyal. After treatment and rehabilitation comes the test of that loyalty to the injured Soldiers, and to the buddies and unit for which they made such a great sacrifice. Many severely injured Soldiers no longer meet the retention standards of AR 40-501 , Standards of Medical Fitness, and are evaluated by a Medical Evaluation Board (MEB) and referred to the Physical Evaluation Board (PEB) which determines if Soldiers are fit for duty, or should be medically discharged or retired. This system requires the Soldier's commander to write a statement describing the Soldier's duty performance. Since the Physical Disability Evaluation System (PDES) places great weight on the commander's assessment, an ethical dilemma ensues. The commander, and the noncommissioned officers whose counsel he or she seeks, must weigh the sometimes competing values of loyalty to the injured Soldier, loyalty to the unit, duty to ensure mission readiness, and integrity. Integrity-doing what is right, is at the heart of this dilemma. Integrity of the system, and the personal integrity of those making a recommendation, is both as simple and as complicated as "what is right?"
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Dec 28, 2006
- Accession Number
- AD1111856
Entities
People
- Rob Krumeich
Organizations
- United States Army Sergeants Major Academy