My DS received an appointment but sprained his ankle last week. They say they are going to DQ him

M

MAG

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Hello. I see some topics on this from 2015, but they seem more hopeful than what we are experiencing. My son sprained his ankle while wrestling last week in a freak accident. He felt it would look bad if he played it safe while he was a team captain. Plus he thought he would not get hurt. He didn't want to lie and just show up to I DAY and then say he got hurt during BCT because he believes in integrity first. But by letting the USAFA know, they are saying they are going to DQ him since any orthopedic injury in the last 6 months DQs you, no exceptions. We pushed back and said he could be totally healed by then. They said show up on I day and a doctor will examine you, and if he doesn't pass, he is out. This is a nightmare. The 2015 info said they might put injured kids into the prep school if he is DQ. Is this still the case? Any info or advice would be appreciated. He has already turned down all the other colleges that accepted him, as well as his ROTC scholarship. So he'll have to go to the junior college for a year if he doesn't get in. thank you.
 
Your son did the right, required and expected thing by updating his medical history. That will be noted. The SAs have an obligation to not cause further harm to inductees; they have to draw the line somewhere.

This is exactly the kind of case that is the seed of all the “bubble wrap the appointee,” “have alternate plans,” “don’t let go of anything until you have to, even if a deposit is forfeited,” “hang into ROTC scholarships until the last minute” threads.

Your son made a decision to support his team, and there was a consequence that arose from that risk - not a right or wrong choice, it’s just an outcome to be dealt with.

My feeling is there is nothing to be lost by reporting on I-Day if the door is cracked open and he is not informed he should not report.

If he is turned away, then he re-groups with the best alternate plan he can come up with, takes the hardest, most USAFA-like courses he can, and re-applies. He’ll have new and good stuff to write about with overcoming this challenge. Admissions can choose to offer something or not, at their discretion. Clearly, he has what it took to get an offer of appointment the first time; Admissions won’t forget that.

If he is turned away, there are still colleges with late Admissions deadlines, easily found via Google. Your son could also get on the phone with the schools he said no to, carefully explain his situation and ask if there is still room in the class and would they consider him. Even if he is told no, he will have given it a shot.

This is an opportunity for your son to demonstrate adaptivity and resilience.
 
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Also, find the best PT program out there and do the work. Make it his job to heal as much as possible. There are lots of therapies available (hydro, for example) beyond the standard “wrap and rest with ice” type thing. He has a good almost 2 months to heal!! That’s great news.

My oldest Mid had his roommate not ultimately make it through his Iday with a reported injury. And my youngest Mid had a peer, from our state, report and be successfully cleared on Iday. So it happens both ways. Like @Capt MJ said, he did the right thing!! And that will be noted. Get busy and do the best he can, to be the best he can. He has a solid 7 weeks to heal!!

Good luck!!
 
Capt MJ said:
Your son did the right, required and expected thing by updating his medical history. That will be noted. The SAs have an obligation to not cause further harm to inductees; they have to draw the line somewhere.

This is exactly the kind of case that is the seed of all the “bubble wrap the appointee,” “have alternate plans,” “don’t let go of anything until you have to, even if a deposit is forfeited,” “hang into ROTC scholarships until the last minute” threads.

Your son made a decision to support his team, and there was a consequence that arose from that risk - not a right or wrong choice, it’s just an outcome to be dealt with.

My feeling is there is nothing to be lost by reporting on I-Day if the door is cracked open and he is not informed he should not report.

If he is turned away, then he re-groups with the best alternate plan he can come up with, takes the hardest, most USAFA-like courses he can, and re-applies. He’ll have new and good stuff to write about with overcoming this challenge. Admissions can choose to offer something or not, at their discretion. Clearly, he has what it took to get an offer of appointment the first time; Admissions won’t forget that.

If he is turned away, there are still colleges with late Admissions deadlines, easily found via Google. Your son could also get on the phone with the schools he said no to, carefully explain his situation and ask if there is still room in the class and would they consider him. Even if he is told no, he will have given it a shot.

This is an opportunity for your son to demonstrate adaptivity and resilience.
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Thank you.
 
I'll respond to Justdoit19's comment...
I fully agree. The problem is - not every therapist is the same, and sadly as patients you don't always know when you're getting good advice. Most orthopedic groups typically are connected with good therapy groups, as they want the people they operate on to have the best outcomes. So if I were in your shoes - (as a provider) - I would go to a well known ortho group (orthopedist) in your town ASAP and hopefully get a prompt referral to their "best" PT (the orthopedists will know and can pull strings for the best therapist in their affiliated group). Just ask...they'll get it and will help get it done. Ortho docs are super competitive, just like your son.
 
Not my intent to make anyone feel bad, but honestly, anyone who gets a spot like this should go out of their way to make sure there are no injuries between now and I-day. Of course, someone can trip on a piece of paper, fall, and hurt themselves but why put yourself in a position where the possibility of injury goes up. What is done is done. As others have said, fix the ankle, do therapy, and hope he can pass the exam when he gets there. I get you can't bubble wrap your kids, but you can make it so that you don't put yourself in that position. Good luck and hope it all works out in the end
 
Great advice given above. Know that USAFA’s main interest is making sure all doolies make it successfully through BCT as full participants in all activities. If they know on Day 1 that an appointee will only be a part-time participant, and won’t be able to give 100% due to physical limitations, that cheats the candidate of the experience of getting fit, learning the ropes and bonding with new classmates. That last part is not insignificant. Much of the first summer — at all SAs — is about shared physical challenges that foster teamwork and trust, and bring the doolies closer.

For lurkers who are anticipating an offer of appointment in years to come, this is a good reminder: If DD/DS has committed to an SA, don’t proactively turn down an ROTC scholarship. It will cancel itself after DD/DS reports to the SA. Also, buy an “insurance policy” by putting down a deposit at Plan B. You’ll likely lose the deposit when DD/DA doesn’t show up, but that’s a small premium to pay for peace of mind. You’ll be out a few hundred dollars, but you also won’t write a tuition or room-and-board check for the next four years. A fair trade-off, in my mind.
 
Humey said:
Not my intent to make anyone feel bad, but honestly, anyone who gets a spot like this should go out of their way to make sure there are no injuries between now and I-day. Of course, someone can trip on a piece of paper, fall, and hurt themselves but why put yourself in a position where the possibility of injury goes up. What is done is done. As others have said, fix the ankle, do therapy, and hope he can pass the exam when he gets there. I get you can't bubble wrap your kids, but you can make it so that you don't put yourself in that position. Good luck and hope it all works out in the end
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I hear you on "why take the risk", but I think the answer to that question lies in the psychological makeup of the typical SA, ROTC, OCS applicant. These tend to be highly driven, competitive individuals, who are not risk adverse. Throw in the typical teenage invincibility mindset and many are not willing to step back and play it safe. In this case the OP shared his frame of mind, "He felt it would look bad if he played it safe while he was a team captain. Plus he thought he would not get hurt." As parents all we can do is give them our best advice. It is up to them to take it or leave it and what do us old folks know anyway? For every kid who gets hurt before reporting, there are hundreds (thousands?) who continue competing with no issues. I too hope OP's DS gets the best treatment possible and is able to successfully report on I-Day.
 
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DocDD said:
I'll respond to Justdoit19's comment...
I fully agree. The problem is - not every therapist is the same, and sadly as patients you don't always know when you're getting good advice. Most orthopedic groups typically are connected with good therapy groups, as they want the people they operate on to have the best outcomes. So if I were in your shoes - (as a provider) - I would go to a well known ortho group (orthopedist) in your town ASAP and hopefully get a prompt referral to their "best" PT (the orthopedists will know and can pull strings for the best therapist in their affiliated group). Just ask...they'll get it and will help get it done. Ortho docs are super competitive, just like your son.
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Exactly what I was thinking, if not articulated well. A good Ortho/sports medicine DR should get you a good referral. Or try you schools Varsity Football DR. No one wants their kids healed faster than the varsity football coaches.

We have REALLY good support/referral. State of the art stuff. They have gotten my guys going with dry needling, other things.

My point, is to seek out really good care and work at it. Vs wrapping and icing. He CAN make progress!!
 
This is an excellent lesson in operational risk management, an everyday skill for military leaders. You have to envision the range of outcomes and do the analysis to associate a degree of risk with key decisions. That includes the worst and/or least likely outcomes. You decide if you can live with it, and develop a plan for that eventuality. If you absolutely cannot live with it, you adjust risk levels accordingly.

The good news here is this young man still has a range of options open to reach the goal of becoming an AF officer, with a history of USAFA acceptance and ROTC scholarship, and otherwise DoDMERB qualified, with some viable alternatives should USAFA close the door - this year. He will also have learned the classic “When man plans, God laughs.”
 
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I wish your son all the best. AND just wanted to throw out that if a prep school option comes up, that wouldn't be the worst thing. Prep school 4/C's often are the best prepared for the physical and psychological intensity of their plebe/swab summers and 4/C years because they've been somewhat immersed in the culture for a year. They have another year of life experience and maturity, and overall do well when they get to the academy. So if the academy does offer your son that option, consider it strongly! And best of luck in his recovery. I know this is tough for him and you too.
 
My mom heart feels for you and your appointee. There is no right or wrong. No way to Monday morning quarterback this one.
Your son did what he felt was right in a team setting in a leadership role. For the betterment of his team. That is what good officers and enlisted men and women do.
I hope he gets specialized PT and passes Indoc. If by chance he doesn’t succeed in that he has so much fuel and fodder for essays and interviews.
While we may want to wrap our sons and daughters in bubble wrap, ultimately it is out of our hands and life happens. Even after Indoc things change and mids and cadets face medical challenges that threaten their commissioning. One day at a time. One challenge at a time. Focus on the end game and personal and team well being.
 
@MAG , on the bright side it is not long term Covid effects nor a catastrophic injury. I hope you can ignore the next paragraph!!!!

If it's a no-go, your DS can look back and see the opportunities presented in the extra year, although so painful at the time. My parent's club BFF's DD was a turnback. But just this week she was saying how that extra year was a godsend. She took community college classes and had an internship, which directly translated to a leadership position within her class, being the only one with this certain type of experience. She was year older and just that tad bit more mature. NOW THRIVING. While you may have to reapply, i'd also advise DS to inquire about an LOA. And no matter what happens, he will be successful. Whether as a reapplicant, discovers ROTC, or anything he didn't realize at the time was as great a path. Only upside! He did nothing wrong. No woulda-shoulda-coulda. Anything can happen, even with bubble wrap.

To future candidates, pivot your mindset. Your #1 goal once you accept the offer of appointment is to be the best wingman possible. Your duty is to report on I-Day physically and mentally prepared for the team. This means bubble wrap. You do have an obligation to your high school activities - but depending on your sport/activity, decide if that's as an active participant, or stepping aside to let the new captains lead without you looking over their shoulders and let succession planning be the active role you take.
 
I am under the impression that appointees that get hurt before starting are normally given an LOA for the next class. And I thought the the "Reappointee" category on each graduate class's Fact Sheet is for graduates who had that happen to them.

The class of 2021 has 2 Reappointees and 4 Turnbacks. (I THINK Turnbacks are cadets who start BCT but get hurt and can't finish and are "turned back" to the next class and therefore don't have to reapply. I'm not really sure though)

Anyone know for sure?
 
SOLL said:
I am under the impression that appointees that get hurt before starting are normally given an LOA for the next class. And I thought the the "Reappointee" category on each graduate class's Fact Sheet is for graduates who had that happen to them.

The class of 2021 has 2 Reappointees and 4 Turnbacks. (I THINK Turnbacks are cadets who start BCT but get hurt and can't finish and are "turned back" to the next class and therefore don't have to reapply. I'm not really sure though)

Anyone know for sure?
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Know for sure about turnbacks?
At USNA, turnbacks is the term that is also used for midshipmen who repeat a year due to academic issues, not just physical issues and not just during BCT/Plebe Summer
 
OldRetSWO said:
Know for sure about turnbacks?
At USNA, turnbacks is the term that is also used for midshipmen who repeat a year due to academic issues, not just physical issues and not just during BCT/Plebe Summer
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When I was at USAFA, turnbacks were medical returnees. To my knowledge, no one repeated a year due to academics. They just left involuntarily. That was some time ago so I'm interested if that has changed.
 
I'm not sure about turnbacks, just assumed it would be for any cadet that delayed a class, or even 2, for various reasons such as medical issue or what we used to call "Stop Out" which allowed a cadet to take a year off before starting their Junior year to make sure they either wanted to stay in or not before they had an active duty service commitment. Also, some from the Mormon faith used it to stay out 2 years to fulfill their missionary requirement. (Although that may have been allowed at any time and may not have been "Stop Out").

Usually, when a cadet failed an academic class they did a summer school class. Also, as a Senior, some cadets failed a class and had to wait to graduate in the summer, or on rare occasions, in December.

At least that's what I remember.

I still think an appointee with a medical problem before BCT starts gets an LOA. Is that really the case? Anyone know?
 
99Gold said:
When I was at USAFA, turnbacks were medical returnees. To my knowledge, no one repeated a year due to academics. They just left involuntarily. That was some time ago so I'm interested if that has changed.
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Most academic boards resulted in dismissal but some who were deemed to be especially deserving were allowed to repeat the year. One of my roommates had entered with the class above me but ran into an academic buzz saw as a 3/C mid and ended up turning back to do a second 3/C year and was moved to my company. By the way, he retired as an O6 with 30 active and reserve and ended up heading up a company that made rocket motors.
 
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