I loved running before I got hurt, but I couldn't swallow my pride and accept the fact that a permanent profile wasn't the end of the world. I took the med board at 13 years and regretted it before I even finished my terminal leave. That was 11 years ago, and I still kick myself for that decision.
Turns out that carrying 80-100 extra pounds of body armor, weapons, and gear isn't the best way to promote joint health........who knew?
I was resolved on getting out with a month shy of 11yrs, even before my 1st year of that contract was up. Granted that year was in Iraq. Hit the ground in Japan and finally allowed myself to admit I wasn’t all that good to go…. Army be damned. I had too much pride and stubbornness to take that one step into med boarding.
FWIW, my board would have been with the USAF doctors at Yokota. Looking back, I’d rather have the “retired benefits” package by doing the med board, even though my VA benefits are amazing.
Even being broken as fuck, they put me on orders for Ft Carson and the first thing smoking back to Iraq… 4mo before my ETS. I noped those orders and had to answer to every swinging dick, up to and including the Garrison CSM to explain myself.