As I read through this forum getting an education, I see a lot of Chapter 61 retiree’s asking about CDRP, I myself asked about it to get an understanding. The response I see given quite frequently is that they should have sucked it up and did 20 years.
I did 23 years total with 16 plus of that being Active Duty. I was an Air Reserve Technician and had planned on hanging around until mandatory retirement at age 62 or whatever it is. All that changed at the in Nov 2002 at the age of 35 when I had a massive heart attack with the placement of 2 stents (I was physically active and in great shape, I ran, worked out, etc) and the placement of an ICD in Aug 2006 at the age 39, medically retired by the AF in Sept 2008, and by Civil Service in Sept 2009. I’ll be 44 this year, and the doctors tell me I have the heart of an 80 year old heart patient, and that I’ll be lucky if I live to see my 49th birthday. Wow so young yet so old. I don’t even know if I’ll live long enough to walk my daughter down the aisle. I went from living a great life, to not being able to do a whole hell of a lot.
I would have rather done my entire tour and got a normal retirement versus being medically retired. I’d gladly give up all my disability retirements up, just to have my health back. I draw Social Security Disability, FERS Disability Annuity, and just gave up my Military Disability for a VA Disability. All the aforementioned agencies rated me at 100% P&T. Yeah I make good money, but it won’t mean a damn thing to me in 5 years if the doctors are right.
So please don’t assume that Chapter 61 Retirees just took the easy way out, there are those out there that have far worse disabilities than I do. I bet a lot of them would love to have their limbs/sight etc back, and done 20 years instead.
Sorry for the rant, I had to get that off my chest, I’ll get off my soapbox now.
