Golden Handshake

Update: DS met with his GI doc yesterday and was cleared of some conditions but they want more testing for others. He will meet with the head surgeon on Monday to talk about his commissioning/graduation status...so we continue to wait and pray.
 
This is an "object lesson" for those who think the "golden handshake" is a great deal. The fact is that almost all (if not all) 1/C want to commission and serve.

One of my classmates was DQ for subs, aviation, surface line and USMC -- for various reasons. He was desperate to commission. Finally, they let him go crypto (at a time when it was very rare for crippies to serve on ships).
 
usna1985 said:
This is an "object lesson" for those who think the "golden handshake" is a great deal. The fact is that almost all (if not all) 1/C want to commission and serve.

One of my classmates was DQ for subs, aviation, surface line and USMC -- for various reasons. He was desperate to commission. Finally, they let him go crypto (at a time when it was very rare for crippies to serve on ships).
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Absolutely! There is nothing he wants more than to commission--it just may be out of his hands.
 
Update #2: DS was able to graduate on Friday with his classmates! He graduated but his commissioning status is still on hold. They have given him a month leave in hopes that better nutrition (not King Hall food) and Rx meds will help him. He will then go back to Annapolis in July to be medically re-evaluated. This is still a fluid situation and his future is still unknown, but what a blessing that he was at least able to participate in graduation. He has been speaking to a few businesses about career opportunities and interviewing in case his Plan A doesn't work out and commissioning is not an option for him.
 
islenavymom said:
Update #2: DS was able to graduate on Friday with his classmates! He graduated but his commissioning status is still on hold. They have given him a month leave in hopes that better nutrition (not King Hall food) and Rx meds will help him. He will then go back to Annapolis in July to be medically re-evaluated. This is still a fluid situation and his future is still unknown, but what a blessing that he was at least able to participate in graduation. He has been speaking to a few businesses about career opportunities and interviewing in case his Plan A doesn't work out and commissioning is not an option for him.
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That is wonderful news about graduation. Fingers crossed the medical clears up with a little home cookin'. Tending to Plan B seems to a be constant thread in this forum. Either way he graduated from THE USNA! He did it!

Don't Give Up the Ship!
 
islenavymom said:
Update #2: DS was able to graduate on Friday with his classmates! He graduated but his commissioning status is still on hold. They have given him a month leave in hopes that better nutrition (not King Hall food) and Rx meds will help him. He will then go back to Annapolis in July to be medically re-evaluated. This is still a fluid situation and his future is still unknown, but what a blessing that he was at least able to participate in graduation. He has been speaking to a few businesses about career opportunities and interviewing in case his Plan A doesn't work out and commissioning is not an option for him.
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This is a great update. My heart is happy for you and for him.
 
Thanks for the update! I was hoping he was in the seats when I watched parts of graduation. Fingers crossed he gets that commissions next month!
 
Wanted to circle back on here to finally put a period to the end of this roller coaster. DS went back to USNA after his month home (July 2022) and was required to live back in Bancroft--as a USNA graduate. After about 6 weeks, they allowed him to move into an apartment in Annapolis while making Midshipman pay--which you cannot live on. Their response was he could always move back into Bancroft--no thank you. He was not allowed to get a job or work/intern on the Yard. He was still being medically evaluated and his days consisted of waking up, doing what he could at the gym and cooking dinner. His emotions were all over the place and as you can imagine, doing nothing all day for months put him in a not-so-great head-space. In October of 2022, he was told he could take the PRT and instead of the running (which he now couldn't do without vomiting), he would be able to ride a stationary bike. He did that and passed and was told that he would be able to commission Restricted Line. After leaning into it, he began to get excited about the new direction and the ability to still serve his country! In December, he was told his waiver was denied and he would have to do the running-which he couldn't do. Of course, he couldn't pass it and he was then informed in February that he was going to be medically separated...now 9 months after graduation.

He left Annapolis in April and is working for a defense contractor...still serving his country but in a different capacity. I can't help thinking that between Covid, Vaccines, and everything else that is out there, there has to be others that are/have gone through similar situations. It has been agonizing as a parent to watch but I have faith that he is where God intends for him to be. He is still grateful for his time at USNA, but this has been a long almost 6 years (NAPS, USNA, one year in limbo after graduation). Know that if you are going through this, you are not alone.
 
islenavymom said:
Wanted to circle back on here to finally put a period to the end of this roller coaster. DS went back to USNA after his month home (July 2022) and was required to live back in Bancroft--as a USNA graduate. After about 6 weeks, they allowed him to move into an apartment in Annapolis while making Midshipman pay--which you cannot live on. Their response was he could always move back into Bancroft--no thank you. He was not allowed to get a job or work/intern on the Yard. He was still being medically evaluated and his days consisted of waking up, doing what he could at the gym and cooking dinner. His emotions were all over the place and as you can imagine, doing nothing all day for months put him in a not-so-great head-space. In October of 2022, he was told he could take the PRT and instead of the running (which he now couldn't do without vomiting), he would be able to ride a stationary bike. He did that and passed and was told that he would be able to commission Restricted Line. After leaning into it, he began to get excited about the new direction and the ability to still serve his country! In December, he was told his waiver was denied and he would have to do the running-which he couldn't do. Of course, he couldn't pass it and he was then informed in February that he was going to be medically separated...now 9 months after graduation.

He left Annapolis in April and is working for a defense contractor...still serving his country but in a different capacity. I can't help thinking that between Covid, Vaccines, and everything else that is out there, there has to be others that are/have gone through similar situations. It has been agonizing as a parent to watch but I have faith that he is where God intends for him to be. He is still grateful for his time at USNA, but this has been a long almost 6 years (NAPS, USNA, one year in limbo after graduation). Know that if you are going through this, you are not alone.
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Holy smokes, what a ride. I'm sorry it didn't turn out the way he had envisioned. I am glad he sought a Plan B and is taking care of himself. I work for a Defense Contractor as well, it's a great field to get into. I love my company and their culture and wouldn't want to work anywhere else.

I am sure he was picturing a different outcome, and this must have been very difficult for him, and you as his parent.
 
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