Get him to the doc now.
Most likely his AFROTC CoC will be ticked if he doesn't go because he can actually do more harm and risk his commission later on.
He will go through another DoDMERB prior to commissioning. This injury will come out either way. Better to have a doc give him an all clear and be able to prove it, than him saying he had the injury, but never saw a doc...opening the door to the doc looking deeper into the injury.
Tell him not seeing a doc now can also cause higher risks later on regarding surgery. I dislocated my knee at age 18. Put it back in, and didn't see a doc. 2 yrs later, I had to be operated on because the knee was not placed back exactly, my ligaments and cartilage had to be re-braided, and darted. I have a metal patella because it was bone on bone wearing for 18 months.
Had I gone to an ortho, I probably would have never had surgery. OBTW, those 18 months I felt no pain. Just one day may knee gave out. 3 weeks later while on winter break I was operated on. The doc said I felt no pain because my ligaments and cartilage were holding my knee in place until it was too far gone that my body gave out.
Now using me as an example, here is why I say get to the doc now. He will be up for SFT selection next yr. He goes to SFT and does this again there, he will be a medical turnback. He will than have to fight for SFT again.
He can't commission without SFT. He can't become a POC without SFT. He will lose his scholarship if he doesn't become a POC. If surgery has to occur, he has a full yr to heal prior to SFT.
He will have not only SFT under his belt after the surgery, but also more yrs out prior to taking his DoDMERB exit physical. Easier to get a waiver.
Is he trying for a rated slot? Is that the fear? Shoulders, knees and backs are biggies for flight physicals. However, they do give waivers, it might come with caveats, such as non-ejection seat (no fighters), but they still can fly.
Sorry for the long post, but hopefully seeing anecdotal info regarding dislocation without seeing a doc, and understanding there will be another DoDMERB exam he will see the positive of getting to a doc yesterday.