Last month, Army Medicine hosted the Integrated Disability Evaluation System (IDES) Training Symposium to share lessons learned, receive updates on strategic initiatives, and participate in plenary sessions on behalf of our wounded, ill, and injured Soldiers. Nearly 250 stakeholders from the IDES Service Line (SL) met for four days at MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa, Fla.
Attendees hailed the IDES Training Symposium as both an historic event and a shining accomplishment for the IDES process. They were extremely grateful for the opportunity to ask questions directly to senior leaders, and to engage in interactive, face-to-face discussions with important stakeholders and colleagues from around the nation.
Hosted by the IDES Service Line (SL) Director, Col. George Goodwin, the week featured guest presentations from key leaders and partners such as Ric Fiore, MEDCOM chief of staff, and Larry Fink, director of policy and planning and director of the IDES Program Office for the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).
Participants included Physical Evaluation Board liaison officers (PEBLOs), Medical Evaluation Board (MEB) providers, deputy commanders of clinical services (DCCSs), DOD Office of Warrior Care Policy, Army G-1, and the VA gathered to discuss the way forward for the Disability Evaluation System (DES) process.
Part of the week's symposium included split breakout workshops for the PEBLOs and medical providers, who shared and discussed vital lessons learned on a range of topics for the benefit of their IDES peers.
What is IDES?
The Department of Defense's (DOD) disability evaluation process provides disability compensation for service members who are injured or become ill in the line of duty and can no longer perform their responsibilities. IDES provides two other significant advantages to recovering service members. First, it enables service members to file their VA claim before leaving military service, so that they continue receiving their military paycheck while being evaluated.
Second, IDES ensures service members establish a relationship with the VA before leaving the military so that their transition to VA healthcare is smoother. Additionally, IDES helps keep Soldiers and their Families better informed about DES and where they stand in the process, making the significant life event of transitioning to Veteran status a little easier.
IDES has made tremendous progress since its initial inception in 2007, which was exemplified by the enthusiasm and commitment by attendees at the IDES Training Symposium. With the help of a dedicated workforce, the SL continues moving forward to centralize standardized processes, maintain accountability, and increase transparency for our service members and their Families.
Social Sharing