Medical profiles are cumulative

  • Published
  • By 2nd Lt. Katherine Roling
  • 71st Flying Training Wing Public Affairs
VANCE AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. --  After 12 cumulative months of being on a medical profile, Air Force members are subject to a Medical Evaluation Board, which could end their military careers.

An MEB determines if members have a condition incompatible with military service. If they cannot resume daily activities, then they are referred to a Physical Evaluation Board.

The PEB determines whether to return the member to duty with or without assignment limitations, place the member on a temporary disabled/retired list, separate the member from active duty or medically retire the member.

Generally, Air Force members are unaware of the MEB's purpose. Maj. (Dr). Stacey Branch, Chief of Aerospace Medicine for the 71st Medical Group, said of the MEB, "The process is confusing to many because there aren't many black or white answers."

The MEB is initiated after 12 months of being on the same medical profile. If a member is put back on a profile, their current time spent on profile is added to their previous time. If a new medical condition arises, then the cumulative time for the previous illness or injury does not count.

"The important thing to remember is the purpose behind the MEBs, which is to evaluate the individual Air Force member with any medical condition," said Dr. Branch.

"If it is determined that the individual should remain on active duty, the PEB establishes appropriate deployment restrictions to keep the individual safely performing his or her Air Force duties, whether at home or deployed," she said.

The MEB is not meant to be a daunting experience. Master Sgt. Tracy Cabatit, 71st MDG NCO in charge of Public Health Element, said, "There are numerous conditions which automatically drive MEB action. However, many conditions allow patients to return to duty with an assignment limitation code and the member's condition is reviewed yearly to determine continued service.

"Basically, an MEB isn't necessarily the end of an AF career for a great deal of cases. Each case is individually reviewed by a PEB to determine how things will proceed," Sergeant Cabatit said.