Showdown! Job vs. Sports

[Packer]

Thanks for the insight. I do understand that it is possible for both, but it would be hard and extremely taxing to get up at 4 to milk 70 cows, go to school with 3 AP classes and numerous other hard classes, go to cross country/ track practice and stay same and healthy. Possible, yes, but I don't want to burn myself out. I will work next summer and during basketball season(I don't play basketball). Thanks again for the insight.


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The concussion may possibly be the deal breaker here.

However on the job front, how many of you that are telling her to do it all have ever milked one cow let alone 70. Even with modern milking technology this is a big job with alot of responsibility. Livestock handling, veterinary issues, sanitation, etc and those cows have to be milked twice a day 365 days a year. Fortunately, it sounds like her boss is going to work with her on a seasonal basis to allow her to do a couple of sports.

If the AF actually want diversity, this is somebody who will give them that and more.

Good luck!

 

[Pima]

Packer, I do agree, and I think my post might have been read wrong. I look at her chores as a job, and she can with help from her ALO use that as job experience on her application
~ Heck I bet it would make one heck of an essay be it for MOCs, colleges, etc.

I was stressing that there are many kids that have 15-18 hour days. I.E. our DS got up 2 hours later, but got home at 10 at night and he still had hours of h,w. (Can't do h.w. if your job is making sure nobody drowns in a pool). Thus, our DS would go to bed at midnight, get up at 6 and start it all over again. He did this for two years, including weekends. Summer was FT Lifeguarding so it was a vacay just to sleep in until 9.

I am just saying that long days are not unique for the majority of candidates. Just me, but I felt the burn out was a defense mechanism without realizing as a new poster the level of competition for an AFA is the same level as any student wanting to attend an IVY. SAs are Ivies from an admission perspective.

As for the concussion. There are many threads on the DoDMERB forum. As Fliegler and all of us have stated we are not docs, nor sit on the med.board, this is all just anecdotal info and a chance to get in front of the 8 ball because with the back story it appears to me that getting over the job aspect is less important than the medical aspect if you want to commission AF. The fact is as you get further in the process everyone will tell you have plan B in place, which you already know is ROTC.

If you do a quick search on this site it would appear that she will get a D211.50.
Mabry responded regarding the issue.
Basically any TBI, which a concussion is considered will be disqualifying. He had stated it is a tricky situation, but one of the factors is prescribed meds by a doctor, including OTC(Tylenol, aspirin) as a daily regiment in the past 3 years is a DQ.

This is why I am saying maybe a DoDMERB consultant is the way to go for the OP. I am not someone that believes if you have minor issues spend the $$$$ on a consultant. The OP in their words is way passed the got a concussion and was back riding the next week.
~ JMPO this issue needs someone in the DoDMERB field to help navigate their situation. AKA like the ALO with their candidate package regarding shoring up the weak points in their profile from an AFA perspective.
~ My DD barrel raced and if you have never seen it, it is insanely frightening to watch, these horses go full speed and as they come around the barrels their bodies will slant 30 degrees or more to hug the barrel. As a spectator you go home blowing brown snot for the rest of the day because that is how much dirt is thrown up into the stands from these horses....don't even get me started on the dust on your clothes. She started doing thus when she was 10, she is 22 and still rides, barrel races whenever given the opportunity. I am just saying the concussion might just be the tip of the medical issues if the OP did rodeos. You just don't get thrown on a horse and do a rodeo, you are trained for quite sometime. Getting thrown is common, which means that they may have more than just 1 severe concussion in their records, they may have had a twisted knee, broken arm, etc. All of their medical records are up for review after the age of 13. Our DD has been thrown a lot, luckily like the OP, only 1 concussion....she was wearing a helmet and still went out like a light for a few minutes.

They have yet to understand this process and we need to support them by giving any anecdotal info in our experience to assist their future goal. Be it sports, jobs, medical or academic.

Right now IMPO the OP has a competitive package, esp. If they realize milking cows is a job, but they need to be honest about how academics will matter more than sports. They can be a 3 varsity letter winner, but if they have only a 1200 SAT super score, and their rank is top 25% with 0% going Ivy, the 4.0 cgpa will appear as a school grade inflation.

Sorry for being Jainie Raincloud.

 

[akammes1997]

Thanks for someone insight. I guess I should've posted a little about my academic background- I'm a rising junior, I scored a 26 on my ACT earlier this spring, with lots of room to improve. Last year I took- Algebra 2, English 10, Spanish 2, Health 10, Biology, Geometry, Music Theory and History, Intro to Ag, and Band. I made it to state in forensics, solo and ensemble, and state dairy judging. I'm hugely involved in 4-H, I'm an ambassador, I've held every office in my club- currently secretary. I do a lot of volunteer work both through 4-H and on my own time. I'm in basically every club under the sun (well, the clubs offered in my small school)- FFA (Vice President), FBLA (secretary), year book, library club (lots of volunteering), book club, but 4-H is my big one and favorite activity. My class schedule for next year includes- Precalculus, Spanish 3, Honors English 11, AP Biology, AP Physics, Personal Finance/ Physical Education (1 semester of each), Band, Chemistry. My senior year i will have basically exhausted my schools curriculum, so I will be taking 4 or 5 classes at the tech school that's a few blocks from my high school. So, I've made myself as academically competitive as I possibly can, the next thing is my extracurriculars , which I have a ton of, but I only have 1 year of sports. I'm not worried about being DQ'd, because I know I probably will be. And there's no use stressing over it right now. I'll deal with it when the time comes. I'm visiting my aunt (she's an officer through OCS) in a few weeks, and she has some friends that want to meet me who are academy graduates, I'm planning on interviewing them about the academy to decide this is truly what I want. This isn't something I want to blindly dive into head first.

As for my job, it is an actual full time job, I don't work on the family farm. I have a lot of responsibility, which I absolutely love, and it's a very physically demanding job, which is great, but I also exercise a lot on my own. Thanks again and keep the posts coming. I'm having a good time reading them! I'm learning a lot.




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[Pima]

1. Yes, you have lots of room for improvement regarding the ACT.
~ The fact is you want to be over the avg, and to feel safe from a national pool list, you want to be in the 30s.
~~~ AFROTC is best sitting and type 1 is 31. Type 7 is not far behind.
~~~~ AFA profs will not slow down classes, you need to have that academic foundation because they do not call the AFA the LITTLE ENGINEERING SCHOOL IN THE ROCKIES for nothing, Take the time and review now what are your mandated classes at that AFA even if you want to major in history.

2. Your I know I will be DQd, thus no need to stress over it now is the wrong approach IMPO. The ADAF is about being proactive regarding your career. This IS the time to stress over it.
~ DQs can take 6-9 months before an answer.
~~~ Your life literally could be at best filling out paperwork and doctor exams, at worst plunking down $$$ for dorm deposits while you await the results.

Getting in front of it now will get you in front of the paperwork needed and MAY reduce your waiver waiting time.

I am an AF F15E WSO O5 retired wife, and a DS C130J pilot Mom. We never took the sit back and wait approach for anything, especially medical. We always got in front of it as soon as anything became an issue.

Just my 0.1987643 cents and with 2 bucks more you can get a Starbucks small coffee.

PS When you interview them, make sure you ask about how the AF is holding RIFs and SERBs, and their opinion on his they will cut the 8% due to the sequestration issues. Not trying to be rude, but it is the entire picture you need to look at, not just the one spectrum that right now is a factor to you. Asking a rated officer about the future AF is probably going to get a different response than asking a Maintenance officer. Asking an Intel officer their prediction will be different than MS or SP. The question needs to be specific, not just like chance me here on this forum.
~ Also ask what state they came from, because there are competitive states, a 26 ACT from your state might be competitive, a 26 from VA wouldn't make it passd the MOC level.

 

[Packer]

^ You realize she has a full year before the application process even begins for her.

 

[akammes1997]

Yes, I still have a full year before anything begins for me, that's why I'm not stressing about it at this exact moment. I was hoping that talking with some academy graduates will help send me in the right direction, because I have absolutely no idea where to start with the DoDMERB and a DOD consultant. (And I don't understand a lot of the acronyms people are using)
I was happy with a 26 ACT because I got it in the spring of my sophomore year, there wasn't anyone else in my class even close my number. But I do realize there is more room for improvement, which I am expecting. I'm taking Precalculus and honors English, which I think will greatly improve my score, I'm shooting for a 34.


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[Packer]

Thinking about it and researching it are the right things to be doing now. Stressing about it serves no purpose as you can't change the fact that you had a concussion.

If you decide this is a path you want to go down, you will have to have all of your medical records lined up to provide DoDMERB as well as reports from specialists saying there are no lingering effects. This is where a DoDMERB consultant could possibly help. Note that most people navigate the system without the help of a consultant but most people have not had a concussion as serious as yours sounds.

Your ACT score will likely improve significantly between your sophomore year and the end of your junior year based on the classes you will be taking. Help yourself though by getting a study guide and taking practice tests. This will familiarize you with the test and help you figure out what you need to improve on. Getting that score as high as possible will help you whether or not you pursue an academy appointment. Try the SAT test as well. Some people do much better on one than the other.

Good luck and stay in the middle of the horse.

 

[Dad]

Yes, I still have a full year before anything begins for me, that's why I'm not stressing about it at this exact moment. I was hoping that talking with some academy graduates will help send me in the right direction, because I have absolutely no idea where to start with the DoDMERB and a DOD consultant.

DoDMERB link (Read FAQs): DoDMERB

(And I don't understand a lot of the acronyms people are using)

Try this link: Acronyms

I was happy with a 26 ACT because I got it in the spring of my sophomore year, there wasn't anyone else in my class even close my number. But I do realize there is more room for improvement, which I am expecting. I'm taking Precalculus and honors English, which I think will greatly improve my score, I'm shooting for a 34.

As a HS Math teacher, I know that the majority of the ACT math questions comes from Algebra and Geometry. There are a couple of Trig questions, too. I recommend getting a ACT Prep book (Baron's Princeton Review, etc.) or take an ACT prep class if you can afford it. At the top end, it may add 1 or 2 points (31 --> 33) to your score. Concur with Packer about trying the SAT, too. Best wishes.

 

[Packer]

As a HS Math teacher, I know that the majority of the ACT math questions comes from Algebra and Geometry. There are a couple of Trig questions, too. I recommend getting a ACT Prep book (Baron's Princeton Review, etc.) or take an ACT prep class if you can afford it. At the top end, it may add 1 or 2 points (31 --> 33) to your score. Concur with Packer about trying the SAT, too. Best wishes.

After Algebra II comes pre-calc which gives a lot of extra practice on the algebra stuff as well as the trig. My son took the ACT as a sophomore just to see where he was at and scored a 30 Math. After taking pre-calc as a junior and taking a couple of practice ACT test he scored a 35 Math at the end of his junior year. Significant improvements are possible.

 

[akammes1997]

Hi all!


Enclosure 4, #26: Neurologic

i. History of moderate head injury (854.03).
(1) Moderate head injuries are defined as:
(a) Unconsciousness of more than 30 minutes but less than 24 hours, or
(b) Amnesia, or disorientation of person, place, or time, alone or in combination, more than 24 hours but less than 7 days duration post-injury, or
(c) Linear skull fracture.

(2) After 12 months post-injury, applicants may be qualified if neurological examination shows no residual dysfunction or complications.

I did sustain a moderate head injury, but there is no lasting symptoms at 12 months post injury and by the time I actually apply it will be over 2 years post concussion. I am worried about my chances of getting a waiver, but how likely is it for me to get a DQ if there is no symptoms remaining?

 

[fencersmother]

I thought you did say there was a residual detail: different organizational skills and patterning?

- - - - -

I am no guru here but I would suspect you will receive an automatic DQ, then must apply for a waiver.

Best advice (as others have said): don't wait.

 

[akammes1997]

Yes, I guess you could say my only lasting symptom is better organizational skills now than before. I'm in the process of gathering all my medical records now, but I know others have said I shouldn't wait, but what can I do now? My application doesn't start for almost a full year.


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[akammes1997]

Here is kind of an update to my whole sports versus job thing- I'm doing both. I am in cross country this fall, I go to practice three days a week, and work two days a week (And on the days that I work, I practice with one of the coaches when I'm done milking. The coaches were willing to work with my schedule as was my boss), I will be managing the wrestling team this winter, and start up track this spring. I'm working with my track coach this winter before school, we're trying to make state track a possibility for me I got all the classes that I wanted this year- English 11, AP Biology, AP Psychology, Animal Science, Precalculus, Anatomy and Physiology, Band, and Civics/ Current Issues. I have all my required classes done, which means that I could graduate at the end of this year, but I am going to stay in school and take the rest of the AP and college classes that my school has to offer to make my package more competitive. This year I narrowed my activities, I was in everything I could possibly be in, but this year I narrowed it down to the activities that I held leadership positions in- FFA (Vice president), LEO club, yearbook, and 4-H (President). I am working with my towns events coordinator for some community service hours once I get settled into school. I scored a 32 on my ACT from last fall, with lots of room to improve. I know I am not as competitive as some applications, but I am well within the average, so I am going to keep working on my dream of the Air Force Academy and see where life takes me.

 

[isticht]

Sport or job

Good luck on your aspirations as my daughter just joined the equestrian team at the academy and has no real experience on a horse. To me it sounds like you already have a job at home on the farm and you can emphasize on your application. I would definitely opt for a sport and then pick up either or both some community service or a club at school that could help. Asb or debate or some other leadership activity as these are also beneficial activities for your application. Hope you make it. Maybe you will meet her next year.