This episode we get into the weeds with Brandon Alborg, a 16 year Veteran who has deployed 3 times to the middle east. We talk about transition and the Medical Evaluation Board (MEB) process, Not wanting to get out of the military, VA rating versus Army rating, and we conclude our episode with thoughts on suicide and dealing with the loss of fellow Soldiers not only to battle but also to this terrible tragedy. For all the Veterans out there who have made it back from your journeys, lets honor those who haven't made it back or possibly made it back only to, as Brandon puts it, "give a permanent solution to a temporary problem".

To all the brave men and women out there still protecting our freedom 🇺🇸 🫡 Thank you for your service!

Timestamps:

⌚ 0:00 - Intro

⌚ 1:42 - morning routine now versus active duty

⌚ 7:52 - How did you join the Army?

⌚ 21:07 - What brought you to the point of leaving the military?

⌚ 39:34 - Getting through the waiting period of a pending medical separation from the military

⌚ 50:40 - How to sort out good and bad advice

⌚ 53:50 - Having self awareness to know how you learn - does learning from Youtube work for you?

⌚ 59:27 - The transition process and what was important

⌚ 1:06:17 - Benefits Delivery at Discharge - going to foreign doctors for your medical evaluation OCONUS

⌚ 1:13:40 - not retired, medically separated. multiple ratings for med board. what rating you need to be medically retired from the Army

⌚ 1:16:50 - The MGIB and securing college tuition for your kids

⌚ 1:17:36 - The types of disability ratings and why they matter (100% or 100% Permanent and Total)

⌚ 1:20:23 - getting help from external advocacy groups to bring your rating up to 100%

⌚ 1:27:20 - Letting down barriers to help others

⌚ 1:34:53 - The TikTok mentoring moment about transition

⌚ 1:37:10 - How to not take advice and get out of your own way

⌚ 1:44:41 - What would you tell your 16 year old self?

⌚ 1:48:27 - Timely advice about getting unstuck, getting out of the bottomless pit, reaching out for help when you need it

⌚ 2:00:17 - the ideations of attempted suicide, and the loss of a brother in arms from suicide - just reach out to someone please

⌚ 2:11:34 - Using your voice for good

⌚ 2:14:30 - Get in touch with Brandon

⌚ 2:17:49 - outro

⌚ 2:19:00 - Dedication to SSG Jason Matthew Lowe - Oct 20 1992 - Aug 15 2020. RIP brother.

Links:

🔗 MEB - Medical Evaluation Board explained: https://home.army.mil/monterey/application/files/2716/5455/4754/Physical_Evaluation_Boards.pdf

🔗 CSX: https://csx.com

🔗 MRT - Master Resilience Training: https://www.armyresilience.army.mil/ard/R2/Master-Resilience-Training.html

🔗 SFL-TAP: https://www.armytap.army.mil/

🔗 Trade School benefits: https://www.shamrck.com/the-benefits-of-trade-schools

🔗 Job Corps: https://www.jobcorps.gov/

🔗 BDD - Benefits Delivery at Discharge: https://error.vba.va.gov/BENEFITS/benefits-delivery-discharge-program.asp

🔗 Veterans Advocacy Groups: https://vaclaimsinslider.com (just one of many DYOR please - this is not a recommended resource)

🔗 Permanent and Total disability: https://veteran.com/permanent-total-disability-ratings/

🔗 Veterans Guardian: https://vetsguardian.com/

Where to find Brandon:

🔗 TIKTOK: https://www.tiktok.com/@brandonfett19_dadalorian

🔗 FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/brandon.alborg

🔗 TWITTER: https://twitter.com/BrandonFett19

🔗 IG: https://www.instagram.com/brandonfett19/

Thanks to my recording platform of choice:

Riverside.fm #riversidefm for their amazing software https://riverside.fm/?utm_campaign=campaign_2&utm_medium=affiliate&utm_source=rewardful&via=john-mcconnell

All of my recording/editing equipment can be found here: https://kit.co/Chief_McConnell/john-mcconnell

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