any advice?, DQ last year

[AFhopeful1197]

Here's the situation:
DQ in spring of senior year by AFROTC for hx patello-femoral syndrome and hx chondromalacia patella. Avid runner, 4 years of varsity XC and track. No pain. Had some swelling on 2 occasions in high school which resolved with a week of rest- MRIs were imperfect (some changes to cartilage behind kneecap), as ortho put it, they look like knees of a person who has been active for 4 years of varsity sports- but was never restricted from running.

Long story short, he has been going about college (no AFROTC despite having been offered a scholarship) and doing his best to get past it.

But this kid is patriotic, and wants so badly to serve. Has dreamed of the AF forever, but was open to other branches. DODMERB consultant felt that all branches would DQ for knee history so he didn't try.

So now a year later, my question is this. Is there some other way, at a later time, if knees don't act up and he remains active, that he can serve?

Does the FBI have the same medical screening process/requirements? Or other oganizations? I am just trying to learn what I can about potential options.

 

[justdoit19]

My oldest (4yr varsity track kid too) went through similar story...long story short, he was eventually waived via Medical for a 3 surgery knee issue (I was sure he wouldn’t be waived!) via Air National Guard. Very cool officer programs. Very cool intelligence, drone etc jobs. Very good incentives/bonuses. DS signed a week ago tomorrow after a long process but he is on a great path! In fact, tuition going forward is paid and he can go into an officer program before he graduates (as I understand it. Not an expert. DS did this all on his own so I’m kind of out of the loop). But I’m impressed with ANG.

Adding: DS says that ANG at least has officer recruiters, and enlisted recruiters. DS’s recruiter was actually at our
Local senators service academy open house, as I understand he is an officer recruiter. So talking to the right people would get you the best info. From our experience, medical standards are different for enlisted, officer, path to officer, and branches. So he should go for it. Doesn’t take anything to try!

 

[AFhopeful1197]

My oldest (4yr varsity track kid too) went through similar story...long story short, he was eventually waived via Medical for a 3 surgery knee issue (I was sure he wouldn’t be waived!) via Air National Guard. Very cool officer programs. Very cool intelligence, drone etc jobs. Very good incentives/bonuses. DS signed a week ago tomorrow after a long process but he is on a great path! In fact, tuition going forward is paid and he can go into an officer program before he graduates (as I understand it. Not an expert. DS did this all on his own so I’m kind of out of the loop). But I’m impressed with ANG.

Adding: DS says that ANG at least has officer recruiters, and enlisted recruiters. DS’s recruiter was actually at our
Local senators service academy open house, as I understand he is an officer recruiter. So talking to the right people would get you the best info. From our experience, medical standards are different for enlisted, officer, path to officer, and branches. So he should go for it. Doesn’t take anything to try!

Thank you for the info. I will pass it along. Best of luck to your DS!

 

[Impulsive]

Here's the situation:
DQ in spring of senior year by AFROTC for hx patello-femoral syndrome and hx chondromalacia patella. Avid runner, 4 years of varsity XC and track. No pain. Had some swelling on 2 occasions in high school which resolved with a week of rest- MRIs were imperfect (some changes to cartilage behind kneecap), as ortho put it, they look like knees of a person who has been active for 4 years of varsity sports- but was never restricted from running.

Long story short, he has been going about college (no AFROTC despite having been offered a scholarship) and doing his best to get past it.

But this kid is patriotic, and wants so badly to serve. Has dreamed of the AF forever, but was open to other branches. DODMERB consultant felt that all branches would DQ for knee history so he didn't try.

So now a year later, my question is this. Is there some other way, at a later time, if knees don't act up and he remains active, that he can serve?

Does the FBI have the same medical screening process/requirements? Or other oganizations? I am just trying to learn what I can about potential options.

Just FYI, our DS went through similar problems, turned out to be "never diagnosed" and after speaking with DodMERB and a remedial he was cleared. IF your DS has the above formal diagnoses, you need to get on it now. Patello-femoral pain syndrome is not really an "orthopedic issue" but more of a tendon issue, it occurs with runners who sometimes overdo it. Not being a MD, I do not fully understand the issues, but we were told that because tendons are involved that rest, sometimes for a long period from running of any kind, could clear it up. The chondromalacia issue is more serious, and is "usually characterized by a is a condition where the cartilage on the undersurface of the patella (kneecap) deteriorates and softens. This condition is common among young, athletic individuals, but may also occur in older adults who have arthritis of the knee." The arthritis of the knee being the really bad part. It is a misalignment of the kneecap that causes instability and the kneecap to rub against the thigh bone resulting in pain, excess wear of the joint and eventually arthritis. The AF Academy lists "instability of any joint as disqualification", if he truly wants this he, not you, needs to contact his ROO (if that's what AF calls them) and find out about the waiver process.

You also ask about FBI, I assume CBP, and ICE and DEA too? Those are "Civil Service" jobs and union and the physical given in the beginning of training is pretty cursory, and not really hard to pass. The problem is passing the training at the Academies. There is a lot of running, pulling things using your legs, and the usual normal "cop" things. I would think, because they are non-military, the physical part (unless it has changed under DHS) is a breeze compared to the military. A good "Plan B" so to speak, but he needs to graduate with a Bachelors Degree to be considered at minimum. Also, try ANG, as said above, I know some friends who could not get into any of the Academies because of medical, and ended up in the ANG, and advanced to senior enlisted or warrant officer without any issues. And they deploy (A LOT) so there would AD deployments available to him.