Thank you all for the well wishes!
However now I have a slightly different issue and I'm not sure it would be appropriate to start a new thread for it given the nature of things: I am having... difficulties working with the Officer assigned to handle my application.
From the beginning he seemed to be somewhat hostile towards me (I suspect because I notified him of the issues detailed above, and then I was able to turn in the application, albeit it technically being late. It seemed to me he had a chip on his shoulder because to him I was able to "game the system").
To save from giving every detail of our exchanges, I missed his deadline to submit my PFT results (is there a national deadline for this or is it up to each individual officer to handle when they want it due? I could not find a national date, and am seriously beginning to suspect he was just looking for a technicality to catch me on). The date was missed partially because I had a family friend's funeral, partially because he never clearly stated the deadline, and partially because the SSgt who he advised I contact to take the physical test has STILL not responded to my email, a week later.
After I sent him an email explaining the circumstances his response was short, and can be summarized essentially by "I'm sorry to hear about that, I can't/won't offer an extension now, try again next year."
In addition shortly after that last email I was notified my application has been "withdrawn" from the system, I only assume by this Officer.
I understand this is a very serious and competitive scholarship and as I believe I said above, I certainly won't be angry if it's not awarded to me, but I will be upset if I'm not even given the opportunity to compete for it.
I know it sounds like I may be trying to play the victim or blame this Officer for things I didn't do, but I genuinely believe I have done as much as I am able to comply with this Officer's directions, and that he has been slightly unfair to me in correspondence and regarding the process in general. I at one point even asked him to clarify when certain elements would be due, and he still gave me an unclear answer, and did not mention the PFT.
If anyone can offer help, advice, or any sort of guidance it would be greatly appreciated!
Update: shortly after posting this I received a reply to him on my email explaining the entire situation, to which he says it is "unfortunate" and that he can't give me an extension because it may show preferential treatment...
Again I can see where he is coming from but I was not even given an opportunity to schedule my PFT, let alone take it.
