Wearing non-issue boots

[armyvern]

The regulations are quite clear regarding kit.

If you don't fit into a stocked size...it's a Supply resp and no chit is required.

If you want to modify existing kit or purchase kit using taxpayers money for a medical reason, then it must be via a chit where the MO is certifying that he has verified your medical requirement for it. TB guidleines for use of public funds and CFMOs in this area are quite clear. A certified valid medical requirement. Then the chit comes to Supply (Clothing Stores if it's clothing) and we do the purchasing of it. Now if MOs, & physio are not certifying that there is a valid medical reason for that purchase before signing that chit as such as per their CFMOs, then it's their problem when the auditors come knocking.

And PMedMo, no offense, but if you resoled your own boots at your own expense due to hips/bursitis etc, something is wrong. Sounds like a medical requirement to me.

Oh Blackadder,

We're getting a lot of very tall people these days...we buy an awful lot of extra-long sleeping bags these days for troops who are just too damn tall for the stocked items; and they don't need chits to get them. They are pretty obvious!!

 

[PMedMoe]

And PMedMo, no offense, but if you resoled your own boots at your own expense due to hips/bursitis etc, something is wrong. Sounds like a medical requirement to me.

No offense taken, Vern, I just couldn't be bothered to wait the time to get things approved.  I could legitimately get a chit.  Here's a question: How is it that I had a medical chit (for boots) on my clothing docs in Petawawa but when I got to Kingston, it was no longer there?  You would think that once it's there, there would be no requirement to go through the process again.
BTW, CFMOs are now obsolete.  We use Policy and Guidance (PGs)

 

[armyvern]

No offense taken, Vern, I just couldn't be bothered to wait the time to get things approved.  I could legitimately get a chit.  Here's a question: How is it that I had a medical chit (for boots) on my clothing docs in Petawawa but when I got to Kingston, it was no longer there?  You would think that once it's there, there would be no requirement to go through the process again.
BTW, CFMOs are now obsolete.  We use Policy and Guidance (PGs)

Why would your wait have been too long?? Perhaps because of the people going in with no medical problems... It's like I pointed out below, those that abuse the system take away from the ones who need it. And the ones who need it end up suffering/waiting/paying themselves in the end.

Some bases remove the chit as the requirement is that it be issued from the base that you are posted to. This is because footwear is purchased using the specific Base's budget...not national's budget. So each Comd, of course, wants to ensure that his allocated funding is spent properly and IAW regulations. IE Gagetown monies spent on boots must be based on authorization...from Gagetown (ie the BHosp here). Petawawa can not authorize (via chit) the spending of Gagetown funds... make sense? That also explains why people who do wear purchased footwear...have a really hard time getting it from another base without doing the medical thing over again.

If a student from Pet comes here on course and doesn't get the new purchased boots that he requires from his HOME UNIT prior to reporting...we have to do up the paperwork to go back to his Home unit...requesting permission to buy for THEIR soldier...and asking for a Fin Code from their Base to pay for them. Most bases say "no he can wait til he's back" as he should have gotten his kit here prior to going on course just like his joining instructions say." Some bases say yes and give us the Fin Code, and then we can do the buy...but it's a decision that is made by the Members Home Unit (because it's their money being spent)...not the Unit he is on course at.

The chit is not good for life...but rather only for 2 years (as foot problems can change so the reassment is due every two years...as your orthotics may change as well). If you have a medical chit...it entitles you to a purchase of those boots once in a two years period.

As for the CFMOs/PGs....the policy & guidelines for orthotic footwear/orthotic insoles/mesh sided boots...are still in there.

My biggest peeve is the people who go to the MIR for chits...just because... If there is no certified medical requirement for those boots (and they fit into issued boots) then the crown IS NOT obligated to pay for them for those soldiers. If they just want the soles...they can pay for them themselves out of their damn pockets. Then people like you with actual medical problems can actually make it through the medical system in good time, have your problems dealt with, and have the boots you require purchased for you at Crown expense as you ARE entitled to. Really, I can't be the only person who realizes this.

Vern

 

[PMedMoe]

Thanks for the info.  In Petawawa, I would have had to wait at least 6 weeks, just for the specialist appt.  Not sure what wait time is in Kingston.  I do fit regular combat boots, just need the soles.  I had ordered a pair of boots prior to my posting in Pet.  I believe I had ordered them at least two months before my posting date, but they never arrived.  I quite sure someone else has them now..... :
Yes, the CFMO info is in the PGs.  All someone did was cut and paste.  No updates at all.