Okay - final post to this thread, but first, THANK YOU for all of those that expressed concern and gave us support and hope. That's KP!!
My son arrived home yesterday evening at LAX - an hour early! American Airlines budgets a lot of tarmac time when flying out of JFK but the flight made it to the runway 2nd in line - completely unheard of - so there was no sitting on the taxiway. Oh, and no traffic either - the scare of "carmageddon" cleared the highways!
He was tired, but filled with great stories and enthusiasm. He definitely belonged at KP, no doubt - but nothing one can do about a genetic issue. Just the way it is.
On the positive side, my son is very enthusiastic about the maritime industry. So much so that on the day of the bad news he asked that I contact CalMaritime to see about getting into there. Same issue for my son, obviously, if he wants to be on a ship - but they have other engineering programs such as facilities that don't have the vision requirement because there is no attendant Coast Guard license.
Unfortunately enrollment to CalMaritime for the upcoming semester is closed. BUT, our KP Commandant, Capt. DeStafney, apparently was the former head at CalMaritime, was very impressed with my son, and said anytime he could help out he would - so I'm hoping that the Commandant's influence can open up the enrollment door for my son to go there for the upcoming semester. It's a long shot, but you never know unless you try!
And if not, then he'll have to get some GE out of the way at the local JC - not his preferred avenue. As he said, "Dad, I'm going from a school with a 4% admission rate to a JC?!" Well, Boy, you do what you gots to do.
And for all the other parents who's children are still at KP - they have some great stories, and yes the regimental training is tough, but I could tell my son would not trade that for anything. And like vamama's son, my boy told me that even if he couldn't get a license he would have preferred to go through KP in its entirety. He LOVED it. Yes, he *****ed about getting yelled at, but he made some great friends already, understood the process, and as I said, wouldn't trade it for anything.
I can tell you - just one week at KP and the growth in maturity was definitely noticeable. Big difference...
I'm so glad and proud that at least my son had the opportunity to participate and be a part of KP for a small amount of time. Thank you all for listening. You are all GREAT parents and have raised amazing sons and daughters.