airbornedaddy
Member
- Joined
- Mar 12, 2019
- Messages
- 68
A lot of people are in the midst of the process of applying and will be beginning the DODMERB process soon. I wanted to share our experience in hopes that it will help an applicant or their family.
So, our son had ACL reconstruction as an 8th grader. Freak deal playing football. Anyway, he fought back and played sports all of the way through his junior year. As he was applying to all of the academies, he tore his ACL in his other knee in June of the summer going into his senior year. He didn't really understand the spot it put him in regarding recruitment and even qualifying for admission into a service academy. But, he had the surgery and fought through physical therapy.
At his DODMERB physical, he was automatically DQ'ed. As he was jumping through all of the other hoops, we began completing the remedials and submitting additional information to DODMERB. It seemed slower than it was. The people as DODMERB were great and thorough. Ultimately, he received his waiver...great news, right?! Well a few months prior to indoc, we find out that he has a hernia. The doctor recommended surgery and we immediately went to the coach at USMMA, admissions, and DODMERB to let them know. Like I told my son, we could get the surgery and keep our mouths closed and take a chance...but you don't want to start your career as a leader of honor on clouded circumstances. We developed a plan B (NMMI), had the surgery, submitted information to DODMERB as requested, and prayed/worried. Luckily, he got his waiver and is up at USMMA now with a peeled head loving life--I'm sure.
Moral...be patient--there is hope--be honest--trust the process. Good luck to all that apply.
USMMA has such a different feel from other service academies. More like a family and wow--they will have some major opportunities. Sidebar, I went to West Point and reached out to some friends who made it a career and asked their opinion--West Point or USMMA. They all said USMMA. Retirement is no longer a defined benefit plan and is a portable 401K. Would you rather be socking money away making $100k or 60K starting out your career?
So, our son had ACL reconstruction as an 8th grader. Freak deal playing football. Anyway, he fought back and played sports all of the way through his junior year. As he was applying to all of the academies, he tore his ACL in his other knee in June of the summer going into his senior year. He didn't really understand the spot it put him in regarding recruitment and even qualifying for admission into a service academy. But, he had the surgery and fought through physical therapy.
At his DODMERB physical, he was automatically DQ'ed. As he was jumping through all of the other hoops, we began completing the remedials and submitting additional information to DODMERB. It seemed slower than it was. The people as DODMERB were great and thorough. Ultimately, he received his waiver...great news, right?! Well a few months prior to indoc, we find out that he has a hernia. The doctor recommended surgery and we immediately went to the coach at USMMA, admissions, and DODMERB to let them know. Like I told my son, we could get the surgery and keep our mouths closed and take a chance...but you don't want to start your career as a leader of honor on clouded circumstances. We developed a plan B (NMMI), had the surgery, submitted information to DODMERB as requested, and prayed/worried. Luckily, he got his waiver and is up at USMMA now with a peeled head loving life--I'm sure.
Moral...be patient--there is hope--be honest--trust the process. Good luck to all that apply.
USMMA has such a different feel from other service academies. More like a family and wow--they will have some major opportunities. Sidebar, I went to West Point and reached out to some friends who made it a career and asked their opinion--West Point or USMMA. They all said USMMA. Retirement is no longer a defined benefit plan and is a portable 401K. Would you rather be socking money away making $100k or 60K starting out your career?