Surgery after being medically qualified.

Cmwalili1

Member
Joined
Mar 4, 2016
Messages
12
I am an enlisted sailor waiting for a decision from the Academy. I am currently medically qualified with a SEC NAV nomination. All my paperwork is submitted but unfortunately, I fractured my distal radius on my right wrist 2 weeks ago while playing tennis and my physicians are pushing for an elective surgery to correct the fracture. With my counselor's advise, I notified dodmerb and sent in the necessary paperwork. The healing time is around 6-8 weeks, right around I-day.

My question is, what is the likelihood of a med DQ based on this procedure? If I heal and my doctor signs me off as FFD by end of May, I should be good to go right?
 
Typically there's a 6 month hold after any surgical procedure. You may be looking at a medical turnback.
 
Call the Chief in admissions to talk about this situation as age comes into play for a lot of priors and what happens if you do have surgery. Also really have a heart to heart with the doc. If you don't have surgery what are the risks? He said its elective, why elective versus mandatory? What are the long term impacts to no surgery? Also it's a good chance to talk to the Chief about your application... Example... What if I have surgery or are not admitted this year, what can I do to strengthen my application?
 
OP, so sorry about your injury. DS required wrist surgery to repair a broken scaphoid last year after accepting his appointment. Surgery was at the end of December, and his appointment was put on hold pending notification from his doctor that he was cleared without restriction - at that point his waiver was granted and his appointment reinstated (which happened in April). DS got through Plebe Summer but the pushups were rough, 2+ months after he was declared fully healed, because he was still working on regaining strength and flexibility.

I think NavyHoops gives good advice to call Admissions and talk to them about your particular situation.

Good luck with your recovery and application process.
 
OP, so sorry about your injury. DS required wrist surgery to repair a broken scaphoid last year after accepting his appointment. Surgery was at the end of December, and his appointment was put on hold pending notification from his doctor that he was cleared without restriction - at that point his waiver was granted and his appointment reinstated (which happened in April). DS got through Plebe Summer but the pushups were rough, 2+ months after he was declared fully healed, because he was still working on regaining strength and flexibility.

I think NavyHoops gives good advice to call Admissions and talk to them about your particular situation.

Good luck with your recovery and application process.
Thank you for your input. I got a call from the medical examiner at dodmerb and he said I'll be disqualified. Do you think the academy will proceed to try and get me a waiver for the fracture? Because my doc says it should heal by end of May.
 
Call the Chief in admissions to talk about this situation as age comes into play for a lot of priors and what happens if you do have surgery. Also really have a heart to heart with the doc. If you don't have surgery what are the risks? He said its elective, why elective versus mandatory? What are the long term impacts to no surgery? Also it's a good chance to talk to the Chief about your application... Example... What if I have surgery or are not admitted this year, what can I do to strengthen my application?
Thank you. Doc already talked to me and yes the surgery is very necessary for my long term health status. The only problem is I'm 22 so if I don't get in this year it'll be the end of the road for me. I'm just hoping the Academy will try to secure a waiver for me.
 
Thank you for your input. I got a call from the medical examiner at dodmerb and he said I'll be disqualified. Do you think the academy will proceed to try and get me a waiver for the fracture? Because my doc says it should heal by end of May.
It's impossible for me to say. Once the DQ is issued by DoDMERB, the Academy will decide whether to proceed with a waiver request or not. This is where calling Admissions might give you more information - but I don't know if they can really tell you anything until your DoDMERB status actually changes. Please keep us updated.
 
It's impossible for me to say. Once the DQ is issued by DoDMERB, the Academy will decide whether to proceed with a waiver request or not. This is where calling Admissions might give you more information - but I don't know if they can really tell you anything until your DoDMERB status actually changes. Please keep us updated.
Thanks. I definitely will!
 
OP, sounds like you are doing what you need to do. Keep in constant contact with the Chief in admissions. Get the surgery immediately, do not delay. Rehab like crazy and ensure the Doc is very clear in his documents that you are 100%. All you can do is communicate that and push the process as fast a possible at this point. I hate to say it, but its one of those situations that just simply sucks.
 
Best of luck, Cmwalili1! Follow everything the doctor says!!
 
OP, sounds like you are doing what you need to do. Keep in constant contact with the Chief in admissions. Get the surgery immediately, do not delay. Rehab like crazy and ensure the Doc is very clear in his documents that you are 100%. All you can do is communicate that and push the process as fast a possible at this point. I hate to say it, but its one of those situations that just simply sucks.
I can't thank you enough for the advise. I shall abide to their every instruction. As soon as I'm fit for full Duty I'll send the necessary paperwork in. I'm still optimistic though; I've heard of people with torn ACLs show up on I day so I guess depends on how strong of a candidate I am in the eyes of the board for them to pursue a waiver.
 
They want to increase the number of qualified enlisted Sailors and Marines in the brigade. Keep pushing yourself to heal quickly. God willing, I will be watching you march into Bancroft on I day!!!
 
Agree good luck! Keep the Chief in the loop every step of the away. He could be your strongest advocate.
 
They want to increase the number of qualified enlisted Sailors and Marines in the brigade. Keep pushing yourself to heal quickly. God willing, I will be watching you march into Bancroft on I day!!!
I can't wait for that day to come. Thank you! Also my Divo says he'll talk to my XO and CO who are both Academy Alma Mata to see if they can put in a good word for me. So it's definitely not the end of the road yet, ha
 
Agree good luck! Keep the Chief in the loop every step of the away. He could be your strongest advocate.
I know. I sent him an email right away once I got the call that I'd be disqualified and told him if he needed anything from me I'd provide. I'm just gonna keep pushing to heal fast and hopefully they'll see I'm worthy :)
 
From what I am reading here, you have an infectious positive attitude. It is exactly what the Supe and the Dant want to have more amongst the Mids.

You need to heal quickly - your classmates and you will benefit from working with each other!
 
From what I am reading here, you have an infectious positive attitude. It is exactly what the Supe and the Dant want to have more amongst the Mids.

You need to heal quickly - your classmates and you will benefit from working with each other!
Thank you!
 
Been there. I was disqualified and pushed back a year because I wasn't going to be ready on I-day. The word I got from USNA was that if you'll be qualified (no restrictions on push-ups, exercises) on I day, you'll be good to go.

If you are disqualified and can't go this year, I wouldn't be surprised if they extended an age waiver for you if you were to reapply (an easier process, because you're on their radar). They know that things happen. You've earned your appointment, so you should be given the chance to attend USNA.
 
Been there. I was disqualified and pushed back a year because I wasn't going to be ready on I-day. The word I got from USNA was that if you'll be qualified (no restrictions on push-ups, exercises) on I day, you'll be good to go.

If you are disqualified and can't go this year, I wouldn't be surprised if they extended an age waiver for you if you were to reapply (an easier process, because you're on their radar). They know that things happen. You've earned your appointment, so you should be given the chance to attend USNA.
Wow. If that's the case then I'm very hopeful. They said I should be healed by end of May latest. Did you end up getting a waiver?
 
Last edited:
Back
Top