Command Sponsorship Medical Screening?

[audette]

So, DH's command sponsorship packet (for me) did not get lost this time around, and they just contacted him to let him know that I need to have a "routine physical EFMP command Sponsorship appointment" with my provider at the base clinic.

So, I called up the appointment line to book that, and the person making appointments isn't quite sure what the heck it is that I need.

She ended up booking a well-woman visit for me, which has me puzzled, but what the heck, at least I have an appointment slot, and it's likely for a long enough appointment that it will work for what is needed. I've got a call into EFMP to see if this is what is needed, or if they need something else. We'll see if/when I hear back...


I know a few folks here have gone overseas. Was there anything particular you remember about the overseas screening done before you got command sponsorship?

[basilosaurus]

I've also run into confusion. The first one I did, the doc didn't even know what to do with me (I was also told I needed EFMP physical), so he just read a list of diseases and asked if I had them. I guess that was good enough. I was told I needed the appt because I didn't have records with the military yet as I was newly married.

For the most recent one that I accomplished while NCS in Korea, I ended up going to the local Korean hospital and a doc signed my paperwork. They couldn't figure out what I needed, either, and were going to have me do a UA and EKG, but I said those aren't routine in the US, so they just signed after a few questions.

Basically, what they want to confirm, and any doc can do this, even civilian (or Korean!) is that you don't have any issues that the overseas location wouldn't be able to handle. You have to make sure you've seen a dentist in the last year and that you're up to date on your Pap. If you have no special conditions, there's really nothing else they worry about.

[panicked]

Yup, it's pretty easy. They ask you if you have any issues, you answer yes/no, they sign off. You should get a form that they sign and date. The EFMP office on post should have them, if you don't have one already.

[audette]

Ah, so no one really knows what it's supposed to be. Fun.

I am working on trying to figure out the cause of fatigue, but we're near the point of them telling me they have no clue why I'm tired, and it sucks, but there's nothing they can do about it.


Otherwise, I'm all healthy. I've been to the dentist recently (june), had a Pap last year (I'm 30+ and monogamous, so should only need one every three years or so now, but I'll do another if they want to). I guess this is more of a "check the box" requirement...


I just wish the timing was better. I learned about it today, and leave on Sunday for a two week business trip, which is now having a one week personal crap trip added on at the end to deal with medical issues for MIL. So I can't get in for an appointment until the end of the month (thereby delaying the sponsorship packet by a lot). Blargh.

[basilosaurus]

It's possible someone might sign it without seeing you if they know you and your records.

[audette]

Aug 2, 2012 18:14:29 GMT -5 basilosaurus said:

It's possible someone might sign it without seeing you if they know you and your records.

That actually makes sense.

However, I suspect it might be faster to just go to the appointment. It's scheduled for early morning on the second day I'll be home, and tomorrow is the only business day left before I leave...

[kpol]

When I was doing all of this, I was told if I had a well-woman visit on my records that was less than one year old, I didn't have to schedule another exam. I was able to take that record (from a civilian hospital by Lewis) and turn it in when I scheduled my screening appointment.

The Dr. at my screening appointment briefly looked it over, asked if I had XYZ issues, signed it and I went on my way. It took less than 5 minutes.

[audette]

Aug 2, 2012 19:10:54 GMT -5 kpol said:

When I was doing all of this, I was told if I had a well-woman visit on my records that was less than one year old, I didn't have to schedule another exam. I was able to take that record (from a civilian hospital by Lewis) and turn it in when I scheduled my screening appointment.

The Dr. at my screening appointment briefly looked it over, asked if I had XYZ issues, signed it and I went on my way. It took less than 5 minutes.

Good to know! My last well-woman visit was over a year ago, so I guess they'll want that. So maybe the appointment I made was the right one. Yay!

[kpol]

I also wanted to add that my sponsorship packet was approved very quickly. M was in contact with the S1 the entire time and she was helpful at letting us know where we were in the process and was able to push it through.

I know everyone has different experiences, but try to have your H get in touch with the right people. It seemed to make a difference for us.

[audette]

Aug 2, 2012 19:24:54 GMT -5 kpol said:

I also wanted to add that my sponsorship packet was approved very quickly. M was in contact with the S1 the entire time and she was helpful at letting us know where we were in the process and was able to push it through.

I know everyone has different experiences, but try to have your H get in touch with the right people. It seemed to make a difference for us.

Unfortunately, this whole thing feels like one giant cluster to me. DH has no orders, and they have said they don't know when he'll get orders, but they want him to start the process of all the paperwork to go, including sponsorship. They can't even tell us if there will be _any_ sponsored slots, but have said to start the process if we want to go. Oh, and they also don't know when they'll be able to say if there are any slots, either.

We are less than 6 months from boots on ground, though...

[kpol]

Aug 2, 2012 19:43:18 GMT -5 audette said:

Aug 2, 2012 19:24:54 GMT -5 kpol said:

I also wanted to add that my sponsorship packet was approved very quickly. M was in contact with the S1 the entire time and she was helpful at letting us know where we were in the process and was able to push it through.

I know everyone has different experiences, but try to have your H get in touch with the right people. It seemed to make a difference for us.

Unfortunately, this whole thing feels like one giant cluster to me. DH has no orders, and they have said they don't know when he'll get orders, but they want him to start the process of all the paperwork to go, including sponsorship. They can't even tell us if there will be _any_ sponsored slots, but have said to start the process if we want to go. Oh, and they also don't know when they'll be able to say if there are any slots, either.

We are less than 6 months from boots on ground, though...

Sounds like a mess!

M got orders in April and we left at the end of June. The thing that took the longest was the No-Fee Passport but you can't even apply for that without orders!

Does he have an idea of where he will be in Korea yet? I'll keep my fingers crossed that you guys get what you need shortly!

[basilosaurus]

Oh, less than 6 months sounds like a load of time. I've moved overseas twice with less than 40 days notice.

It was fairly fast the last time since there were no family members where I was, therefore nothing to prevent me from essentially walking up to the person I needed and just asking or a signature.

IIRC, I needed the medical form, and the med group cc had to sign off on a records review. Then I had to have a social worker (or similar) at mental health sign off on me. I'm pretty sure that was it. I was also going from one of the smallest clinics as space a to one of the most robust hospitals in the system, so it's not like I had anything to be concerned about.

Going to Japan I had to go on my tourist passport. The no-fee didn't even arrive until I'd been there for 3 months.

[panicked]

I never got a no-fee. It took too damned long (3+ months) and we had already been waiting 8 months. I was able to get my SOFA stamp and visa on my regular tourist passport. Our CS took FOREVER, but we were one of the first CS families at our post, so we were the guinea pigs.

[audette]

< 6 months wouldn't spook me if I didn't already have a crapload of travel planned for work between now and then.

Texas, Louisiana, Brazil, California, India, Germany, and probably one more to Texas...

None of the trips will be less than a week. These are just the trips I know about today. (yay for airmiles, right?)

Oh, and we will be going out of country for Christmas, too.


So everything I have to do (and do with my passport) has to fit in between these trips. I don't think I can get a no-fee official passport because I'm a foreign national.


If I was going to be here at the beck and call of the folks that I need to coddle to get the sponsorship paperwork handled, it would be one thing. But, my time here is going to be sporadic, so it adds a level to the challenge...

[NomadicMama]

Our EFMP screening was a cluster eff of ginormous proportions. DH and I joked that our marriage had survived infertility, treatment, a 15 month training/deployment and the paperwork/process to move to Germany might be the demise of our relationship.

During the course of the process, we learned that they'd screwed up my EFMP renewal paperwork in 2010. Someone had miskeyed my diagnosis (they had me having bi-polar disorder, I have ADHD--a difference to the care needed). They enrolled LO into EFMP even though he'd recently "graduated" from speech therapy. (I still need to undo this "gift".).

The EFMP coordinator at one of the posts (we were in the DC area, so there were several Army posts to choose since DH was at the Pentagon) SUCKED. In 2010, my paperwork needed to be renewed. She forwarded the paperwork to DH (who was in Baghdad at the time). Unfortunately, the paperwork she'd emailed him was another solider's paperwork. Ummmm, hello privacy screw-up!! DH took that straight to the clinic's commander.

Fast forward to November 2011 when we had to get the EFMP/medical screening done. She would not return phone calls to my DH. Finally, we just showed up at her office. The earliest appointment she could get for LO and me was over two weeks out. She mentioned that they might be able to see us sooner at the other local post. So, I dropped DH off at work then LO and I headed off to the other post. We were seen THAT day!

It took a while for our approval to come through, in fact, I seem to recall DH having to stay on it and get other people involved--but that is likely because LO and I are both special snowflakes. (Thankfully, our special snowflake-ness is not extreme.). Ultimately, we were approved. Getting here was one giant PITA. I hope it goes much more smoothly for you!!

I see that you are coming to Germany--what part of the country will you be in?

[audette]

Aug 2, 2012 23:58:30 GMT -5 NomadicMama said:

Our EFMP screening was a cluster eff of ginormous proportions. DH and I joked that our marriage had survived infertility, treatment, a 15 month training/deployment and the paperwork/process to move to Germany might be the demise of our relationship.

<snip>

I see that you are coming to Germany--what part of the country will you be in?

Ah, so not all screenings go smoothly. Here's hoping mine goes more toward the trend shown in the other posts.

As for Germany, work is sending me to Frankfurt for a week. I'll be working in one of the areas reachable on the S-bahn, but it's a bit out from the city center. Kinda an industrial part of town...