Athletes and Injuries

[BOBBY_J]

Lets say I do recieve an appointment. as i have been recruited by the WP football program i would join the team. Now i was wondering what happens to an athlete who has a season ending injury such as a torn ACL or something of that nature. Obviously they can no longer participate in the PT or anything during Summer training sessions. What happens to them??

 

[Momof2cadets]

Unlike an athletic scholarship at another college, a sports career ending injury at USMA does not meant they cut you loose. If you get a chance to visit (or if you've been think back) notice the number of cadets you see on crutches or in slings. It is a place filled with athletes -- there are a constant stream of orthopedic injuries! When you become a cadet, you join the military. Among other benefits is full medical care. If you get broken, they will fix you. During the time you are rehabilitating, you are excused from normal PT, but will have your own program designed by the physical therapists. If you miss a summer requirement you will make it up.

If it is an injury from which you will never fully recover the ability to fulfill the requirements of being an active duty officer, you will go before a medical board who will decide the exact course of action. I know of cadets who for medical reasons failed their commissioning physical as a firstie, and were allowed to graduate, but not commissioned. While a very bitter pill to swallow after all their work, they are still graduates of USMA, and have done quite well.

 

[LineInTheSand]

It also depends on when the injury occurs. I've had classmates who had problems early, and they were far more likely to just be medically disenrolled. I had a classmate with eye problems that developed in our junior year. He graduated without a commission. He wasn't happy about that, understandably.

In the end, remember it's tax payer money sending you to school. The tax payer doesn't want to pay for 4 years of your college, without a return on that investment.

When ever there's an injury in a sport, whether it be on TV, or in person, from any of the service academies, we had a habit of saying "well there goes that commission". Usually not the case, but sometimes it it.

They injury you're talking about though just requires surgery and recovery, and wouldn't result in losing that commission. People get hurt call the time. Torn ligaments, broken bones, cuts, bruises....all the time, don't worry about it, just go out and have fun!

 

[shaq32]

Hi Guys

I would love some info on this. My son is athlete that is being recruited. So if you suffer a injury that requires surgery and a year of rehabilitation what do they do? Are you able to continue your schooling at West Point during this time?

I was reading above that if the injury was bad and you graduated without a commission? What dose this mean? You are released from the Army after Graduating?

Just trying to learn more any weight things out. I would hate for him to go and get hurt then released from the school then not other school would want him as well.

As a comparison if you go to UCLA and get hurt and are not able to play anymore. Well you are still in school there and can go on to graduate from the college.

I'm just looking for the best option for him to be able to complete his education if anything were to happen.

Thanks so much for any help and info.

 

[ca2midwestmom]

Have heard of injured athletes having surgery and staying on at West Point.
Have heard of injured athletes getting a medical turnback -- going home before/after surgery, recuperating and returning with the same graduating class (becoming a June or Dec graduate) or with the next year's graduating class.
Have heard of injured athletes being separated.
Have heard of injured (or ill) athletes graduating but not commissioning.

I have no personal experience with this, but just the stories I have heard. Hopefully someone with personal experience can respond. I don't like playing "what if" scenarios. Your son needs to decide which route (USMA or UCLA -- both great) he wants to take. Anything can happen, and not just to corps squad athletes. Good luck!

 

[NavyHoops]

As the big 3 SAs are D1 schools they deal with injured athletes day in and day out. I was one of them and got hurt plenty. The SAs have a great athletic training staffs and Orthos. If he gets injured they will take care of it and get him back up and running. Even if it is a year or more to get healthy, not an issue. Only in extreme situations would an injury keep someone from commission. Heck I know a guy at USNA who had 8 surgeries on his elbow and was in a cast for nearly 2 years and was commissioned with no restrictions. I had a half dozen teammates blow out knees. They all were fine and half of them are now F/A-18 pilots. If they were injured and were deemed non-commissionable it would mean they graduate and become a civilian. This is rare, but it does happen, usually its for folks who face extreme things such as cancer, develop Type 1 diabetes or an auto immune issue such as Chrones or Lupus. Honestly, he is better off in terms of support as an athlete and future than at another school like UCLA for support. If he can't keep playing at UCLA or decides to quit, sure he can stay at the school, but now you owe a big pay check. At USMA if he decides to hang it up or he gets an injury severe enough to stop playing, he will remain at school and continue on. Also remember that SAs do not use traditional red shirts or medical red shirts except in extreme cases. Usually its because a student was hurt enough that they were sent home to recuperate. When I say rare, probably happens once every other year or so.