Posted on May 9, 2015
SPC Evac Plt Medic
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One of my favorite benefits in the Army, right after free college tuition, is our healthcare! How amazing is it to have a job where if you wake up ill or hurt- you can go to the doctor's office (sick call, for FREE) and not worry about a pay cut or your boss flipping out?!? Not to mention, no annoying trips to CVS or Walgreens for your over priced/under insured meds! Bless Tricare!

This is why I am truly saddened when I hear my fellow comrades making fun of soldiers who go and refuse to themselves! Unfortunately, just like every good thing does, we have those violators- the ones who take advantage of sick call. Maybe they want to get out of a ruck, or are too tired from gaming the night before and are hoping for quarters, maybe tiny heart syndrome? As a current medic that has worked in an aid station performing sick call ops - I too am guilty of talking smack about repeated sick call offenders! Was it right? Not at all!

When I hear my battle buddies (male and female) competing in their "I've been in the army for x amount of time and have never gone to sick call" I just laugh to myself. GOOD JOB! You're obviously the toughest and meanest and the most soldier-est (new word) of us all! Lies lies lies! I'm so sick of the stigmas put on sick call. Your health and wellness should be number one in your basic soldiering. Why do you think we recieve the benefit to begin with? Uncle Sam wants the healthiest! (Aka- biannual HIV tests, mandatory PHAs, immunization requirements!)

Everyone gets sick or hurt at some point. It's one of those messed up parts of being human. If you are sick and cannot perform your daily duties because of it, do us all a favor and be seen! The faster you are seen the sooner you can get to feeling better- and the less chance of infecting your entire company or BATTALION! Chronic pains - schedule an appointment, and emergencies go to the ER! That's my take on it. What do you think about our sick call procedures and the stigmas on them?
Posted in these groups: Healthheart Health
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Responses: 30
1SG Eric Rice
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Bottom line up front...if you are sick, injured, or hurt go get fixed. That is what the military medical system is there for. You need to take care of yourself in order to perform your function in the military. Those of us that have been in for some time have seen folks that have neglected themselves over the years only to have some kind of debilitating injury that results in a permanent profile restricting what they can do. It is not about being strong or weak it is about being intelligent. That being said if someone is riding the system to get out of work then they should be dealt with accordingly.
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1SG Special Forces Senior Sergeant
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There is nothing wrong with sick call, we spend millions of dollars to train and maintain the medical community. In fact it's probably tens of millions which just drives the point home further. When I was a PV2 I would sway away from it unless I really needed it, the reason why? I was stupid, that's what half of being a private is about and why we require grown up supervision. Now that I'm the adult I see it as my job to overcome Joe's desire to run with scissors, fail to negotiate childproof pill bottles, OR refuse going to sick call.

To be honest if you are anything less than 100% I want you healed and back to normal as soon as possible! When you decline to go for no other reason than pride you have effectively crossed the border from hard and entered stupid. Lastly, soldier-est has a decent ring for a made up word.
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SPC Nate Lamphier
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Ive seen both sides where a Soldier refuses to go due to "pride" reasons. Then Ive seen Soldiers go because they want to get out of a PT test (which takes place about a week beforehand). Where I was at if someone went and said their shins hurt from running it was a given theyd get two weeks of no running.

My thoughts on the matter....if you are broke....get fixed because if I need you to save my life or someone elses....I want you at your best. If you are doing it to skip a PT test or another assignment....I wish they could boot you on the spot (wishful thinking I know but man this group of individuals really bothers me). With that said....Im now thinking of a known "dodger" that I was with from AIT through my enlistment and its got my blood going again!
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