Young Navy Ensign Gets a Second Chance — Here’s His Story

Navy Ensign’s Hopeless Situation Resolved with NPQ chit, Redesignation and Reclassification through a POCR Board              

About one year into my service in the Navy, I became sick with an unknown allergy that was specific to my geographic location. Despite multiple civilian doctors asserting their professional opinions that my issues were caused by my location, my command and medical clinic would not move me. Instead, I was placed on hold status with the hopes I would get better. Having never experienced this before and overcome by the dizziness and recurring infections brought on by my condition, I struggled for a long time with what course of action to take. It was when I had been on hold for almost an entire year that I reached a breaking point and knew I needed to take action.

I stumbled upon Bill Meili’s website – www.meililaw.com – while searching for military lawyer expertise and set up a face-to-face meeting with him. He took the time to listen to my entire story from start to finish, careful to take down every detail. It was clear from the start that he related and sympathized with me – he truly cared for what I was going through.

Having been stuck in a stalemate for months (my physical and mental health deteriorating and my career stalling) he helped me sort through a multitude of options I did not realize I had at my disposal and to weigh the benefits and drawbacks of each.

Together, we made a plan based on this information that would help move things forward for me. Along the way, he reached out to significant contacts at my command and sources of information on his end to keep me properly informed and making the correct decisions for my well-being throughout the process.

Fast forward 3 months and my command had granted me a Not Physically Qualified (NPQ) chit and written me orders to a new location and new designator that will keep me out of that region for the rest of my time in the service. I fortunately avoided a MEDBOARD and resignation of my commission, two options that I held as last resorts. I received re-assignment through a Probationary Officer Continuation and Redesignation Board (POCR) and have been reclassified into a new community. My issues have improved tremendously and my career is back on the right track moving forward.

Before I met Bill, my situation seemed hopeless. I was overcome by a sense of helplessness that can be brought on by being part of such a large organization like the military. When I hired him, though, everything changed. I was expecting a lawyer; not only did I get an excellent one but also a partner with whom to navigate my seemingly impossible situation. I would have done anything to get out of the circumstance I found myself in and knowing that Bill was on speed dial to help me navigate whatever challenges each new day brought can only be described as priceless. Should anything ever go awry for me again in the future, Bill will be my first call!         ENS, USN