Airmen claim they were misled by AF when they separated
The Stars & Stripes reports that some former members of the AIr Force were misled when they were involuntarily separated from the Air Force this year in regards to their health benefits;
A captain who left the Air Force late last month said he had been promised 180 days of medical coverage, but learned when he separated that wouldn’t be the case.
“It’s a hit in the gut,” the Times quoted him as saying. “It’s terrible. They asked us to get out, and the last day you go and they say, ‘You don’t get this.’ ”
A major who separated Sept. 29 said he had gotten mixed messages about extended health care, and recently was told he would have coverage, the paper reported.
“I’ve been told conflicting things since April,” he said. “Nobody had any guidance until two or three weeks ago. The family center that does transition, they didn’t know, and didn’t get a list of what benefits would come. They defaulted to the line that if you volunteer, you don’t get six months medical. As we’re following up, in the last month or so [before separation], my wife called the DEERS field office, they looked at the code, and said, ‘Yeah, you’re entitled to the benefits.’ ”
Well, apparently, the rule is just like he ones when you enlisted – if it’s not in writing, it was never valid promise.
Category: Air Force
We were all told in multiple briefings that there would be extended medical and a few other benefits.
Lots are finding out that isn’t true, even when they get it in writing. Somebody screwed the pooch on this.
Well now, it should come as no surprise that the spoken word means nothing in a government contract with veterans as the written word means very little to our government.
So when the military can’t attract the smart people it needs to operate efficiently because they are fucking everybody over chicken shit when they separate what’s the liberal plan to repair the issue?
Why, the liberal’s plan is to court the illegals, enlist them while kicking out citizens, and when they’re done with the illegals, give them citizenship and healthcare for life.
Broken promises to veterans? Gee, we never saw that coming.
/sarc
…Gee, they lied to get bodies OUT the door. Gotta admit, that’s an interesting reversal.
Mike
They’re talking about Tricare Transitional Assitance Management Program, or Tamp. This provides another 180 days o TRICARE coverage for people who meet certain conditions. One of those conditions is involuntary separation. There are others as well.
The linked article says that they voluntarily separated, and that they were erroneously given that benefit. This sounds like someone clueless gave them bad information during their briefings.
If those Airmen meet the eligibility requirements, listed in the link, they should get it. If not, then they won’t get it:
http://www.tricare.mil/tamp
This information is available to those that separate, it’s also listed in their separation error. There’s a chance that whoever wrote their orders, or whoever informed them, that they were entitled to TAMP for a voluntary separation may not have known what they were doing… or what they were talking about.
That’s “TAMP,” not “Tamp.”
I also meant “Separation Order”.
They never once in all the briefings I received mentioned TAMP being the program. They stated there was two options, voluntary and involuntary. Both choices were given the same medical, the only difference was a lump sum of money to those who volunteered to separate.
It was asked multiple times what exactly would be covered for those who volunteer. Every time they stated 180 days of medical coverage.
Course this is just like when finance screws up, they take it all back without notifying you.
Did any of those guys do additional transition related research other than the transition briefings that they attended?
Those getting ready to ETS from the military should be doing additional research on the internet on areas that affect them.
The TAMP information was available last decade, when I was involuntarily separated from the Navy, that information remained consistent into this decade, when I ETSed from active duty (Army), transferring into the reserve (Army). The second TAMP run delayed my being able to enroll into TRICARE Reserve Select.
By the time I attended the transition briefings for both the Navy and the Army, I was pretty much familiar with what I was supposed to get… the transition briefings were just basic refreshers.
Everything that was provided for us for additional information all said the same thing. 180 days of medical. The AF continues to have multiple briefings and Q&A sessions. Each one pointing to where to get more answers…they all said the same thing.
I think its just like so many other “Gummint” plans because of politics.
“We’ve got to do something!” “Just do something and get it done!”
Even in the Army there are people who are running the QMP/QSP actions that will say one thing, then another. The regulation says one thing, but you’ll get a memo that says something completely different.
And they are just kicking people out with regard for the exceptions and the gray area.
Why? Because they haven’t had to do this stuff for years, so the people who are supposed to be “experts” don’t have a clue because they haven’t been told how things should work.
At least in the 90s when they were kicking people out, they were giving them “something” to get out. Now they are just kicking people out the door and not even opening it first.
Remember that the Senior Enlisted Advisors from each service sat before Congress telling them “Cut personnel…”
Yeah I remember when I was “involuntarily separated” back in the 90s. That separations pay came in handy. Except that I didn’t get any.
I believe it went something like this:
I’d like to reenlist.
You can’t. No slots due to the drawdown.
So I’m being involuntary separated?
No, you’re eligible to reenlist, there’s just no spaces. Thanks for 13 years, don’t let the door hit you on the way out.
2 years later they’re offering bonuses for my MOS and rank because they don’t have enough people
I never heard of a Company giving 180 days of medical when you quit let alone being fired. Frankly at the rank of Major thats pretty good pay. They should be able to pony up six months of Obama care before they find word.
/sarc
They lied?
Well, what were you all expectinv from an administration that changes its mind with the way the wind blows and talks out of both sides of its face?
BOHICA… bring your own K-Y.
Officer tears are the tastiest.
It’s an evil question but one anyone in the military should ask about a promise of a benefit. “Did they put it in writing?” I’m reading tired so if I missed it in there I apologize.
Why would you expect them, govt., to be any different then 40 years ago (Vietnam era)? They promised “FREE” health care for life upon retirement. That was from the recruiters. Was not in writing… Never happened. So much for giving you word.