IRR Involuntary Mobilization Exemption Case

IIRR Case Study #4

Matter:

IRR Involuntary Mobilization Exemption Case; Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, PTSD

Service:

Army

Summary:

This case involved representation of a fine Soldier and Iraq War veteran who came back from his service overseas suffering far more than he either realized or cared to admit.

Our client was a Sergeant E-5 who enlisted in 2001. His MOS 88 Mike - truck driver. He mobilized, deployed and served honorably, first in Kuwait and then in Iraq as part of the initial invasion force crossing the line in February/March 2003 and in related actions thereafter. He performed well in all manner of convoy operations throughout theater. In February 2005 he ETS'd (separated) from active service and transferred immediately into the IRR (Individual Ready Reserve) to finish out his military service obligation (MSO). Before that happened, however, he got a note from Uncle Sam requesting his presence back on active duty for a period in excess of 400 days. Needless to say, he was stunned. But somehow in his confusion and shock he managed to find, or was otherwise directed to our site - www.meililaw.com.

Our Sergeant had seen and done all manner of things while in Iraq which affected him deeply once he returned to the United States. He isolated, withdrew and attempted to stabilize, but found it difficult at times. He couldn't sleep. He was actually afraid to sleep. And then there were nightmares and cold sweats, bad memories of good friends severely injured when their trucks were blown up by IEDs. There was a lot of anger, and irrational fear; so much so that this once calm and easy going guy, found himself getting into fights and shouting matches for no apparent reasons. His attitude was getting increasingly negative.

When he came to us, I talked to him for some time about the situation and the steps I thought we should take. He followed the advice and did absolutely everything I asked him to do. He was committed to the plan, which included getting professional help, a proper diagnosis. He went to an outstanding private professional who was well-versed in both the identification and treatment of PTSD, and we also had him enter and successfully access the VA healthcare system - which can be a daunting experience if you're doing it alone. He went to other health providers as well, and over time we built a strong case.

Result:

On 9 May 2008, the commander, Human Resources Command (HRC) St. Louis, granted Client's exemption from his IRR involuntary recall. Our initial request went into St. Louis on 4 February 2008. I added some additional material to the packet on 8 May 2008, and we received a favorable decision the next day.Client's honorable discharge paperwork came in a few weeks later. He's done and we're grateful.

Highlights:

Working all aspects of this system hard over time, and ultimately seeing the right result come down for the right reasons. Additionally, having my Client say, when all was said and done, that he would be happy to be a reference for anyone who needed further assurance. As they say, that's priceless.

References:

Please call us at 214-363-1828 or email us at info@meililaw.com for further details and contact information.

I contacted Col. Meili as a fellow practitioner to gain some context and perspective on a pretty complex set of issues. Because I practice in a different field of law, Col. Meili's extensive expertise was invaluable and he was more than generous with his time. A skilled and dedicated professional who cares deeply about obtaining the best possible outcome for his clients, Bill's a leader in this field.

- Steffen Chapin


After an exhaustive search of military attorneys, I came across the name of Bill Meili. From my first email exchange and telephone call, I knew that Bill was the right person to handle my case. I had discussed my unique circumstance with a handful of other attorneys who felt it may be too difficult to achieve the outcome that I was seeking - but Bill was interested in me and my case, and wholeheartedly believed that we had the ball in our court. I could tell that Bill cared about me as a person and soldier, not just viewing me as a paycheck.

- Anonymous