The Broken Soldier

I learned the other day that I’m not on ADME orders, and the decision to place me on ADME orders hasn’t been made.  This, of course, conflicts with what we’ve been told, what the forms I signed led us to believe, and places us in a difficult spot financially.  As my wife and I were planning, and had reason to plan, on active duty pay and allowances.  When my wife and I again pleaded with those ‘in the know’ to a) get us correct information and b) get that information to us quickly, somehow confusing this as an argument, those ‘in the know’ responded with ‘you haven’t requested all of the months of Incap Pay for which you’re eligible.’  God damn it, am I going to have to do another didactic series on fallacy theory?

So again, the Army and the MI ARNG put us in it, try to blame us for it, and basically deny any and all responsibility for the bed we’re lying in.  We were left with a parting suggestion, paraphrased, “If you need clarification or information, call us.”  As though the statements, ‘You’re being placed on active duty orders, sign these forms before your surgery, and you’ll begin collecting active duty pay’ are unclear.  They’re not unclear, they just happen to be wrong.  And those who made these mistakes go home to paid bills, no collection calls, able to answer the phone, no threats of being taken to court, not so much as a slap on the wrist, and my wife and I continue to deal with these things and other problems we didn’t create but for which we’re held responsible.