Fighting to Stay Active

Marines' Hearts, Warrior Spirits Help Overcome Loss of Limbs

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If the board of medical officers agrees that the Marine's medical condition restricts a return to a full duty status, a MEB report is developed and forwarded to the physical evaluation board.

"The MEB evaluates the service member's medical condition, while the PEB evaluates the person's ability to perform," said Culver. "It doesn't question if they have a diagnosis of any sort. The PEB determines if the Marine is fit to continue service. Not necessarily, fit for full duty, just fit to serve in some reasonable capacity. That is an area that is frequently misunderstood."

Marines rotate from elliptical machines to stationary bikes to slow movement-stretching exercises at the Physical Therapy Department at Robert E. Bush Naval Hospital, Aug. 4, 2005. The hospital's physical therapy department treats approximately 250 Marines weekly for non-combat and combat related injuries. 'Most of the injuries are to the lower extremities, which means the Marine survived an attack because of his protective gear, but they're returning pretty banged up," said Lt. Cmdr. Candace Cornett, a staff physical therapist.

Photo by Sgt. Jose E. Guillen

The first level of review by the PEB is called the informal PEB. That is a three-member board consisting of one senior medical officer and two senior line officers with significant military experience. These O-5 or O-6 officers review all the medical and non-medical evidence contained in the MEB report, and vote whether the Marine is considered to be fit or unfit.

"I've personally voted on 2,500 cases when I sat on the informal board," said Culver. "There is no set formula for each case. Each package we receive is a unique individual to us and we look at every page in it. The key part of this is if Marines want to stay, we try our very best to support their desire. We want to give them whatever is best for them and the Corps."

If the Marine is found unfit by the informal PEB, he has a legal right to demand a formal hearing, Culver said. The Marine will be assigned a military legal officer who will assist in preparing and presenting his petition to another board of three senior officers. This board is called the formal PEB. The Marine is flown to Washington to appear before the board in person. If the Marine can prove the ability to perform appropriate duties and not cause further harm to himself or others by staying on active duty, he may be found fit.

"We found an infantryman with one leg fit for duty," Culver said. "He was an example of a remarkable person that you just can't slow down no matter what. He embodied the complete Marine; prosthetic or no prosthetic."

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