Medical Separation 3 months to graduation

[usna1985]

Call 'em anyway. They are not doing much else these days.

If you really want your MOC to help you, get your ducks in a row before making contact. You don't want to tell half the story b/c the MOC will definitely learn the other half. To have the best chance of the MOC helping you (if this is an option), you want to come across as thoughtful, professional, and considered. A letter/email/call made in haste could have the opposite effect . . . and you never get a second chance to make a good first impression.

 

[Humey]

Anyone know how his 3.75 years would transfer to a civilian college. Does he get the full three years and has redo the last? I mean if all he had to do was 3 months, that would be incredible but I am sure that wouldnt happen

 

[Capt MJ]

Anyone know how his 3.75 years would transfer to a civilian college. Does he get the full three years and has redo the last? I mean if all he had to do was 3 months, that would be incredible but I am sure that wouldnt happen

Each college and university has its own credit transfer policy and degree criteria. The “normal” college courses would likely be transferable. The ProDev courses such as Seamanship and Navigation, no.

 

[AROTC-dad]

Each college and university has its own credit transfer policy and degree criteria.

Also, most colleges have a requirement of a certain number of units to be completed at their university in order to be awarded the degree. To further complicate matters, many schools place a "cap" on how many total undergraduate units you may have in order to graduate.

In other words, you could also be prevented from graduating by having too many units!

 

[Humey]

Each college and university has its own credit transfer policy and degree criteria.

Also, most colleges have a requirement of a certain number of units to be completed at their university in order to be awarded the degree. To further complicate matters, many schools place a "cap" on how many total undergraduate units you may have in order to graduate.

In other words, you could also be prevented from graduating by having too many units!

crazy

 

[elnavy]

As a parent of a DD, I know USNA has a place where you can go if you are in need of someone to talk to to sort out issues. You do not get "written up" or stigmatized for going there. Midshipman Development Center. Also, Chaplains are readily available to consult with in time of need. Depression is serious but treatable. If Mids are led to believe they can be separated for seeking help, well, that is harmful. USNA, I'm convinced, does not want to separate Mids. Their admissions office works hard to screen students who receive appointments. Rollgoats18, other paths await you and I wish you well. If you made it through these many years of rigorous study and discipline, a bright future awaits you.

 

[usna1985]

Elnavy makes excellent points. Lots of folks at USNA go through tough times. Some even may be "depressed." I put that word in quotes because there is the normal give and take of daily life at USNA that can lead to bouts of unhappiness/depression, which is obviously different than a medical diagnosis of clinical depression. Folks who are struggling should seek help -- as Elnavy states, there are lots of resources in place for just this purpose and availing yourself of them does not set you on a path to separation.

 

[Humey]

Like it has been mentioned before, there is more to the story. I doubt he was feeling down on himself because of the pressure and now is being thrown out

 

[Nemo567]

Like it has been mentioned before, there is more to the story. I doubt he was feeling down on himself because of the pressure and now is being thrown out

There is not necessarily more to this story. It is exactly stories like this that leads to a culture of not seeking help that exists at the academy. One diagnosis or one prescription can lead to being ruled non-commissionable and separated through a med board.

 

[kinnem]

I agree with Nemo and would hope folks still seek help, regardless when needed. I also agree with Humey that there is more to the story. The reason I think that is that the OP is not being allowed to graduate. Many folks have been allowed to graduate under similar circumstances so I have to wonder why that's not being allowed here.

 

[Old Navy BGO]

There is not necessarily more to this story. It is exactly stories like this that leads to a culture of not seeking help that exists at the academy. One diagnosis or one prescription can lead to being ruled non-commissionable and separated through a med board.

> Statements like this create unnecessary angst among Parents and Midshipmen. The Naval Academy (and the Navy ) takes your health seriously, and has great support and medical services are available, if only you ask it. No one is looking to throw you out ...guaranteed. As for the rest of the story, I have a pretty good feeling of what it could be, but will not speculate publicly with the exception of saying that it likely extends beyond a medical diagnosis. As I mentioned early in the thread, I had a company-mate with a similar situation, and I didn't hear the rest of the story for 30 years.

 

[helmsdown]

Based on the lengths they go to retain kids during Plebe summer they are not looking to kick people out, but rather find a way for them to be successful and stay.

 

[kp2001]

There is not necessarily more to this story. It is exactly stories like this that leads to a culture of not seeking help that exists at the academy. One diagnosis or one prescription can lead to being ruled non-commissionable and separated through a med board.

And this person does not appear to be going through the Med board process so likely more to the story.

 

[Nemo567]

And this person does not appear to be going through the Med board process so likely more to the story.

Except they state that they are being medically separated after being medically disqualified from commissioning. That means the med board process, there is no other way of being medically separated.

 

[kp2001]

Except they state that they are being medically separated after being medically disqualified from commissioning. That means the med board process, there is no other way of being medically separated.

Ah, good catch and my mistake for not re-reading the OP after many days. However, there are other ways to be medically separated other than through a formal medical board. Personality Disorders and adjustment disorder used to be two of the quickest. (May still be, but it’s been more than a few years since I last worked in a psychiatry setting)

 

[wlkdead]

hmmm.. drug scandal at the Academy on Saturday and the next day someone being medically separated, or basically kicked out

 

[ship_shape]

hmmm.. drug scandal at the Academy on Saturday and the next day someone being medically separated, or basically kicked out

The OP clearly stated that he is being disqualified medically for seeking help for depression.
What would make you think the "scandal" has anything to do with the OP's situation?

 

[THParent]

Suspicion, innuendo, and rumor. They are the only evidence required in the court of public opinion these days.

 

[Nemo567]

hmmm.. drug scandal at the Academy on Saturday and the next day someone being medically separated, or basically kicked out

Screw off. You have absolutely zero information backing up your innuendo.

Your post history shows that you are a candidate. You have absolutely no idea what you are talking about and should learn when it is better to keep your ideas yourself.

Mental health is big issue at the academy, OP's story is similar to that of friends of mine and of stories I have heard about in the Brigade.

 

[BDHuff09]

There is not necessarily more to this story. It is exactly stories like this that leads to a culture of not seeking help that exists at the academy. One diagnosis or one prescription can lead to being ruled non-commissionable and separated through a med board.

I don't think this is fair. I personally know of midshipman on antidepressants due to suicidal ideation, and there are no plans to med board them at this time. Significantly more people than you would guess make use of the MDC and Chaplain Corps to "get help". There is a requirement that you must be off of anti depressants by the time you graduate, but a diagnosis of depression and the use of prescription drugs in and of themselves are not show stoppers. It could be possible that the determination was made that it would not be safe for the OP to be taken off medication by the time May 25th rolls around, and that is why s/he is being separated. Personally, I think there is more to the story, and I think Old Navy BGO and I have a similar idea of what that story could be, but I also don't feel it's appropriate to speculate much on what the story actually is.

Also of note, a company mate of mine was ruled non-commissionable in January due to an autoimmune issue. They are still being permitted to finish the semester and graduate in May. I know several others in similar situations due to a variety of other conditions or injuries that were developed in the past year. The point is, the Academy would not normally let a medical issue that occurs this close to graduation preclude a midshipman from finishing his or her degree. The fact that they felt it was necessary in this situation indicates there is likely more going on than we know about.