November 10, Medical Separation Logistics

So, on a logistics level, here is a post to describe what being medically separated really means:

In the Peace Corps Manual, "Medical Separation" is defined and underlined in the following way: 

• If a V/T has or develops a medical condition that Peace Corps cannot medically accommodate or resolve within forty-five (45) days, the V/T will be medically separated. This decision is made by the Office of Medical Services (OMS) in consultation with the Peace Corps Medical Officer and, if needed, appropriate medical consultants.
• If a V/T is medically separated overseas, the Country Director (CD) will ensure that arrangements are made for the V/T's return travel to the United States, and that the Early Termination Email, Description of Service Statement, and other documentation are completed. See 8.1.1 "Termination Travel to a U.S. Home of Record and 9.0 "Required Documents for Early Termination." The Country Director will also ensure that the V/T is aware of his or her right to appeal medical separation under the provisions of Section 3.3 of this Manual Section.
• OMS will assist medically separated V/Ts in applying to the Office of Workers' Compensation Programs, Department of Labor, to obtain any post-service medical care or disability benefits for which they may be eligible under the Federal Employees' Compensation Act (FECA). See MS 266. 

What Medical Separation means for me personally:

• I have already made multiple requests to be medically evacuated, not medically separated. These requests were obviously not met by the OMS. I have a chance to appeal to Washington, DC once again, although it is highly doubtful the decision will be repealed. I believe a more viable option now is to ask to be reinstated should my health improve and be deemed manageable in TZ. I can also look into re-enrollment. But, I'd rather not keep wasting my efforts fighting to be medically evacuated, and instead focus my efforts on getting healthy. 
• REINSTATEMENT: Reinstatement is the return to service of a Trainee or Volunteer who, having previously early terminated or completed service, now wishes to return to his or her original country of assignment. A Trainee or Volunteer may be reinstated only to the country in which he or she served or for which he or she was trained to serve. The effective date (Paragraph 5.5.) of any reinstatement must be within one year of the date of the Trainee's or Volunteer's early termination or completion of service date, otherwise provisions of Paragraph 6.4. apply. A Trainee or Volunteer is often reinstated to complete the original term of service. However, the Country Director has authority to establish new COS date upon consideration of programmatic factors.
• RE-ENROLLMENT: Re-enrollment is the return to Peace Corps service of a former Trainee or Volunteer in a country other than the country of previous service for another full term of service (generally two years).
• I will not be able to get noncompetitive job eligibility, but my time in country does count towards my number of vacation days should I become employed by the federal government in the future. (Vacation time changes after two years of employment with the federal government. I get five months counted towards my two years thanks to my service here--meaning more vacation time more quickly if I get a federal job.) 
• I do still qualify for the graduate school benefits under the Paul D. Coverdell Fellows Program, so long as the specific university is still on-board. 
• I should be fully covered medically by worker's compensation, as I got sick while serving in Tanzania. 
• The country director is happy to write me a recommendation letter, particularly about my ability to overcome adversity. I have also completed a "Description of Service" or DOS report, and will fill out more forms on Tuesday. 
• I am privy to the career-resources information and guidance normally given to RPCVs. 
• I leave Tuesday night or Wednesday most likely. I find out Tuesday, as Monday is a holiday. Nothing like short notice...