In preparing, formulating and filing for Federal Disability Retirement benefits from the U.S. Office of Personnel Management, whether under FERS or CSRS, it is important to both “understand” the administrative process — the compendium of the entirety of the process and procedures itself, including the relevant statutory and case-law criteria which is relied upon, the methodological approach of the Office of Personnel Management, etc. — as well as have the ability to apply such knowledge in an effective manner. The former constitutes the preparation: i.e., the study of one’s enemy is necessary in the ultimate prevailing of an endeavor. The latter — the application of such obtained and accrued knowledge — is the initiation of the former.
The distinction between the two, and the effective use of both, is important in reaching a successful conclusion to the whole point of the process. Understanding of a subject, person, group, entity, or Federal Agency, is important in the initial, preparatory stages of the administrative process, and as there is much information “out there”, one ultimately has little excuse in not taking the time to reading, self-informing, and compiling the available facts and informative advice provided. The chasm between understanding and “application”, however, is one which differentiates between knowledge and wisdom; and it is the latter which one is attempting to achieve. Once the information is compiled, the key is to apply it in an effective, impacting manner.
The difference is likened to the person who has read upon on how to fly an airplane (i.e., the language game may be memorized), but would you ever step onto a plane being flown by a pilot who has never flown previously, but who assures you that he has studied all available resources?
Sincerely,
Robert R. McGill, Esquire
OPM Disability Retirement, Et Cetera… 