Most any girl that played soccer would be out.
Was told just under 1 out of 40 doolies gets concussed.
Again, I’m not saying concussions won’t ever happen. If you choose to play football, I think the risks have already been well advertised. My point is there is an unusually high amount of concussions in one particular class based on observation and first hand accounts that have been reported. It seems at some point critical thinking would denote looking at the actual numbers and deciding if it is worth this risk. And this class is not a choice, it is a requirement.
Are you saying 2020 was the first year boxing was required for all cadets? This is one of my questions. Someone gathered data in 2015 on the high amount of concussions in the USAFA freshman boxing class and attempted to present to the Athletic Department. It was a LOT and some of the stories were very disturbing. I find it amazing that they doubled down and then made it a requirement.DD's class (2020) was one of the first for which boxing was required.
She received her first bloody nose of her life during it, but no concussion.
She also took the unarmed combat class; said the only thing she learned from it was that if she was ever in a fight, she would lose.
It’s not just the risk of injuries
While I appreciate this, when you talk about risk vs. reward, anecdotes and subjective stories aren’t really helpful. Numbers and medical stats are. I believe this should be looked at. For every service member you tell a story about, I can provide another example of a pilot with a long, award-filled career who never took boxing. Also, our knowledge of concussions and their effects has evolved. That’s why Lindsey’s Law now exists and many new protocols are now being applied.
www.ringtv.com
So a class, that is required, and only 10 45-minute lessons long should account for 25% of concussions and that’s ok? I’d say that’s ridiculous and considering it’s totally unnecessary and preventable, shows a serious lack of critical thinking and stats analysis. I also think taxpayers would not enjoy knowing they are paying for deviated septum and shoulder dislocation surgeries that are preventable. The cadets learn plenty of combative skills in the other classes. Notice the other classes do not show up in briefings to cadets or news articles as a primary cause of concussion. Boxing does. I maintain that boxing, specifically, which mainly revolves around blows to the face and head, is dangerous and not worth the risk considering what we know now. And again, many, many classes have gone through USAFA without this class being required and gone on to have long, illustrious careers serving their country. I hope they do get rid of it. This is not being snowflakes, as was stated earlier, it’s operational risk management. When a pilot chooses to CANX a flight due to dangerous weather or instability of a crewmember, it’s not weak. It’s just basic intelligence. Tragedies do happen all the time, in training and military service. Well aware of that. But when they happen, they are investigated. And we decide certain protocols must go into place to prevent them from happening again. We don’t keep doing the same thing over and over. We evolve with new knowledge and lessons learned. Thank you for sharing the article.
one of the first years required for females, not sure about all cadets, but I guess that would be true as well.
The merit of combatives is not being debated. The cadets take several other combative classes that are much more useful and realistic (as in, they could possibly need to use the things they learn in real life). And believe me, those classes are intense and you fight. Those classes were featured on the AF Facebook page yesterday and you are welcome to read about them. The issue is the boxing class specifically, and the fact that it accounts for many cadet concussions. USAFA is producing, or supposed to be producing, future pilots. You get physically disqualified from being a pilot after 3 concussions. Boxing class is not a “potential” risk, it is a “known” risk as many concussions have been reported. I believe, like you said, there are better ways that don’t involve brain injury to teach what boxing teaches. Many cadets and parents have grave concerns about this. Some cadets are sent in to this class with past concussions because USAFA has made this class MANDATORY. I can’t understand the logic of this. That is the concern.
In one of the studies referenced above there was a striking difference in boxing class concussions between the SAs.
Right, so if all the obvious mitigations are in place and concussions are still frequently happening (factually)? Which is the topic. No one is debating the usefulness of combatives. Also soccer statements are 100% irrelevant as the post was about boxing class. A mandatory class at USAFA. Does your DD want to be a pilot? Otherwise, irrelevant. I’m asking why we are risking pilot qualification when multiple concussions disqualifies you. I can’t help but be amused by all the parents that say “My kid was ok and didn’t get a concussion, so it’s a good class!” The parents of the kids who have gotten multiple concussions in boxing don’t feel that way. I promise. Some had to leave USAFA. However, I’m glad to hear (outside this forum but from actual staff) that this is being looked at because of the disruptiveness concussion protocol is causing at the schools. Maybe logic will prevail.
Yes, my DS wants to select aviation, just finished pre-commissioning physicals. And boxing is mandatory at USNA so he did experience that. Doesn't change my prior statement.