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up a budget that will prevent hopeless entrapment in
overburdening and ever-increasing debts.
Consultation with a legal assistance officer when
the member contemplates large purchases on credit will
help the member avoid commitments that may be
difficult or impossible to carry out.
Be cautious of the high-pressure salesperson.
Think carefully and seek advice before signing an
agreement or a contract. Never sign a blank contract and
always multiply the number of payments by the amount
to determine the total payment. Note particularly the
penalty clauses.
Failure to pay just debts or repeatedly incurring
debts beyond a member’s ability to pay is evidence of
irresponsibility and may jeopardize the member’s
security clearance status, advancement status, duty
assignment, qualification for reenlistment, or extension
of enlistment, and in aggravated circumstances may
become grounds for disciplinary action or
administrative discharge.
A saving may be realized by setting funds aside
to provide for cash purchases through civilian or
military stores.
Take advantage of the saving, counseling, and
lending services provided by credit unions organized by
and for Department of the Navy civilian and military
personnel.
Bankruptcy is not an easy way out of
indebtedness. The Navy neither encourages nor
discourages the filing of a petition of bankruptcy. The
circumstances prompting bankruptcy proceedings are
considered officially since they may reflect adversely on
the military character of the petitioner. A discharge in
bankruptcy does not give a member immunity from
prosecution for offenses of failure to pay just debts
committed before a petition of bankruptcy.
The member must fully understand the Navy’s
position on financial indebtedness. Refer to the
MILPERSMAN,
Article
6210140,
for
more
information on indebtedness of naval members.
MEDICAL BOARDS
Medical boards identify members whose physical
qualification to continue on full duty is in doubt or
whose physical limitations prevent their return to full
duty within a reasonable period of time. They are
convened to evaluate and report on the diagnosis;
prognosis for return to full duty; plan for further
treatment, rehabilitation, or convalescence; estimate of
the length of further disability; and medical
recommendation for disposition of such members.
The findings of a medical board may affirm the
physical qualification of a member for assignment to
duty (fit for duty). A decision of unfit for duty is not
within the responsibility of a medical board. This
determination is made only by the Physical Evaluation
Board (PEB) upon review.
The information contained in a medical board report
plays an important role in determining the rights of an
individual to certain benefits (such as pensions,
compensation, promotion, retirement, and income tax
exemptions). The report includes all available
information with documentation concerning the origin,
nature, aggravation by service, and other significant
facts concerning each of the member’s conditions.
CONVENING AUTHORITY
COs of all naval hospitals and naval medical clinics
may convene a medical board on any member of the
armed forces. Medical boards may also be ordered by
the Chief of Naval Operations (CNO); Commandant of
the Marine Corps (CMC); fleet commanders in chief
(FLTCINCs);
C h i e f o f N a v a l P e r s o n n e l
(CHNAVPERS); Commander, Naval Reserve Force
(COMNAVRESFOR); Chief, Bureau of Medicine and
Surgery (BUMED); and Officer in Charge (OIC), Naval
Office of Medical/Dental Affairs (MEDDEN AFFAIRS,
Great Lakes, Illinois.
A convening authority (CA) may delegate, in
writing, signatory responsibility for approving or
disapproving recommendations and findings of board
members. Delegation is not granted below the
directorate level in a hospital command or below the
level of the executive officer at a naval medical clinic.
CONVENING OF A MEDICAL BOARD
A medical board is convened when any physician
trained and certified to be a member of a medical board
determines the following:
A service member has a condition that may
permanently interfere with his or her ability to fulfill the
purpose of service on active duty.
A service member is temporarily unable to
perform full duty, but return to full duty is anticipated
and it is necessary to follow the patient for more than 30
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