This came up while discussing the relative merits (?) of going tubing, flying off hills, landing in snow banks, etc. while waiting to see if an AFA appointment is forthcoming. He understands that an injury now could end everything, but what about once someone gets to the AFA? I have seen many threads that discuss all the possibilities for skiing in the CS area--there have to be some cadets that twist an ankle or even break a bone. What happens then? Are they booted out since they can't pass a fitness assessment while injured? Does it matter what year they are in? 1st degree and almost done or 4th deg. and just beginning? Really just curious, I'm sure the cadets aren't wrapped in bubble wrap for 4 years!
Injuries while at AFA
- Thread starter USAF52
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greentrees
10-Year Member
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- Jun 30, 2009
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Once at AFA if you get injured they (AF) take care of it. However, if injury occurs during BCT and they can't complete the required number of days and the required physical activities (you can miss a certain number of day) you become a medical turnback, where you leave current AFA class, go home for the year and return the following year for BCT again (assuming you are once again medically qualified).
If after BCT - you stay.
DS dislocated his shoulder snowboarding last year - was relocated at the ski area, then when he got back to AFA he saw the doc there and they put him in therapy. He was medically excused from PT til the shoulder was better. He missed the PFT spring semester so he received no grade for it and thus not eligible for Athletic list. He did manage to complete his PE class, though not the best (boxing) the last part of spring semester. He had validated the run in the fall so he didn't have to do that in the spring, though he says he could have run with his shoulder hurt. Couldn't do the PFT cause he couldn't do pullups or pushups with his shoulder. Did complete Recognition training, though had limits put on him with the shoulder injury (no pullups, pushups, other arm stuff, though he did some rifle stuff with one arm. He did LOTS of leg stuff while classmates doing arm stuff)
He knows someone who had a knee injury - started in BCT but the kid made it thru BCT. A few months into the school year he had surgery. He was medically excused from PT stuff all year, thus had no run or PFT scores so was put on recondo this fall. Passed the tests in the fall and was fine.
Also knows of current 4* who tore his ACL at the end of BCT, but had completed enough days to stay. Think he's still on medical form but is still good to go on everything else and still at AFA.
I'm sure there are some medical issues that could cause you to be disenrolled but for the most part once there you'll get treated for the injury.
If after BCT - you stay.
DS dislocated his shoulder snowboarding last year - was relocated at the ski area, then when he got back to AFA he saw the doc there and they put him in therapy. He was medically excused from PT til the shoulder was better. He missed the PFT spring semester so he received no grade for it and thus not eligible for Athletic list. He did manage to complete his PE class, though not the best (boxing) the last part of spring semester. He had validated the run in the fall so he didn't have to do that in the spring, though he says he could have run with his shoulder hurt. Couldn't do the PFT cause he couldn't do pullups or pushups with his shoulder. Did complete Recognition training, though had limits put on him with the shoulder injury (no pullups, pushups, other arm stuff, though he did some rifle stuff with one arm. He did LOTS of leg stuff while classmates doing arm stuff)
He knows someone who had a knee injury - started in BCT but the kid made it thru BCT. A few months into the school year he had surgery. He was medically excused from PT stuff all year, thus had no run or PFT scores so was put on recondo this fall. Passed the tests in the fall and was fine.
Also knows of current 4* who tore his ACL at the end of BCT, but had completed enough days to stay. Think he's still on medical form but is still good to go on everything else and still at AFA.
I'm sure there are some medical issues that could cause you to be disenrolled but for the most part once there you'll get treated for the injury.
- Joined
- Jul 6, 2009
- Messages
- 366
If that happened
If an injury got you booted out after BCT, who'd want to play football or rugby....or box, play basketball, ski, hockey, or jump out of perfectly good airplanes?
If an injury got you booted out after BCT, who'd want to play football or rugby....or box, play basketball, ski, hockey, or jump out of perfectly good airplanes?
Good point! Thanks, glad to hear the kids can still be kids and "play"!