by Maj J Whiteman RM

I previously wrote an article for the G&L highlighting the different Recovery and Resilience activities that are available for those in a Recovery Pathway or are downgraded. I thought that I would follow up with an article that not only shows a few more of these but also goes through the next steps. The lead up to my Medical Board (MB), whilst attending DCMH and having other tests was quite a stressful time, so I hope that this provides some clarity for those that are going through a similar experience.

Learning new skills. Not bad for a DIY biff!

My last MB was in May 2024 and I am due another one in May 2025 as by then I should have finished my DCMH therapy and any testing should be complete. From December 2023 in the lead up to my board my mind was chopping and changing as to what I was hoping would happen, whether I’d be leaving or staying and what the pros and cons were for both from a personal perspective. If you speak to one person, they will tell you that you will get loads of money and a tax free med pension, if you speak to others, you won’t get much. All of this depends on time in service, pension type and the severity of your injury; although I have been through this, I am not qualified to explain it fully, so in this article I will hopefully signpost you to the relevant groups.

When leading up to a MB you should receive a brief from Gareth Thomas, who is the Naval Resettlement Information Officer (Medical). He will brief you on the process, all the nuances of the different pensions and will give you a rough estimate as to how much money you would get, he will also see you on completion of your board if you are medically discharged. This brief provided me with a lot of clarity, but also a lot of confusion. Preparing for my MB, along with trying to get my driving licence back led to my DCMH therapist giving me a break as all of these factors were affecting the therapy. This was probably one of the best things for me as it enabled me to have some space and time to think, which meant that when I came back my head was clear and ready to continue.