Refractive Surgery at USMMA?

[Jbmz]

Hello everybody and season's greetings,

So I'm an active duty soldier. I turn 24 this March and began working on my USMMA application about a month ago. I'm making wonderful progress: Transcripts sent in, Waiting on decision for congressional nomination, scheduled to take my ACT(again...) this January, training for CFA, got recommendation letters all squared away. I Found out this month that the army qualified me for free eye surgery.

It's been something I've been wanting to do for a very long time as a step closer to reaching my personal goals. I scheduled my pre op/surgery Jan 23rd. Due to my extensive research I found out that I sadly may have to defer it due to it being a disqualifying factor in the SA application process.

I'm taking a little bit of a gamble here putting it off indefinitely, but I have a strong feeling that getting into this school is worth it.

With that being said, is there any refractive surgery opportunities that King's Point offers like the other service academies (USMA, AFA,USNA, etc). Are there any detailed anecdotes that this forum can share about Midshipmen having surgery done while they went to KP whether it's at the school's expense or not?

 

[Capt MJ]

Good for you on the research - and I learned something new today - that the no-older-than age cut-off for USMMA is 25. USNA, for example, is 23. That was my first concern.

USMMA is different in many ways. One of those is their midshipmen are not on active duty, do not receive pay from DFAS at the midshipman/cadet rate as the other 4 SAs do - and are not eligible for free TRICARE medical and dental care, what you have right now.
https://www.usmma.edu/academy-life/activitiesservices/health-services
They offer great flexibility in career paths, whether commercial, government or AD service with the Armed Services and NOAA.

Unless you find out that there is a program to provide that procedure if you seek an active commission from there, if your focus is on USMMA, then that’s the long pole in the tent.

Can you delay the Army surgery until you find out if you have gotten in to USMMA?

I am sure others more knowledgeable about this will chime in - maybe not today, given it’s Christmas. There is a pause in the general bedlam here at my house.

Primary sources at USMMA will give you the definitive answer. At the other Academies, there is usually a counselor in Admissions who advises enlisted applicants regardless of service. I would hope there is a similar person at USMMA Admissions. Reading the link below, clearly prior enlisted are welcome and expected.
https://www.usmma.edu/admissions/application/prior-service
Call and ask!

Yours will be an interesting journey to follow, if you keep us posted. There’s a whole lot more saltiness involved in this path!

 

[Jbmz]

Can you delay the Army surgery until you find out if you have gotten in to USMMA?

Hello! Thanks for replying. That's my second course of action. I gotten in touch with the admissions office this Friday and I'll probably get a response back from them after the new year. I'm doubtful about deferment, since by the time I get a decision from the school I'd probably have to report to the school by the end of June and the medical center will want follow up appointments. Perhaps I can see about getting at a military hospital close by the school...

Yours will be an interesting journey to follow, if you keep us posted. There’s a whole lot more saltiness involved in this path!

Indeed I'll provide updates. I can only imagine if there are other's in my situation. The last thing I would want to do is pay out of pocket... But if that's how the dice roll so be it!

 

[Capt MJ]

If you have any thought of seeking an AD commission out of USMMA, research any restrictions and limitations for those.

Get smart on your status WRT military healthcare eligibility if you do end up being appointed to USMMA.