FormerMid2011
New Member
- Joined
- Mar 26, 2020
- Messages
- 4
Hi everyone,
This is something I have never discussed with anyone in person.... but I figure sharing this with strangers within a forum is the easiest first step. Not sure if this is more therapeutic, but I am seeking advice as to what options I have for repayment of my SA debt, as well as any benefits I am entitled to. All in all, I’m trying to get my life in order and am only now finally able to acknowledge this monster that has been following me for years.... fair warning, this is a long read....I wanted to be thorough to give the best understanding of me and the facts of my case.
Thank you all for taking the time to read about the failures of a stranger —- I am grateful for any comments and advice you may have.
—-
In 2010, I was academically separated following my 2/C year, because I was unable to meet the language requirements for graduation on time. My dream was over and I was gifted a debt of $120k.... USNA was my ticket to a college education I couldn’t afford otherwise. Needless to say, I was a 20 year old lost under a mountain of debt and looming depression. After 3 years, I finally pulled myself out the gutter and enlisted in the USN —- which I was then medically separated from, during boot camp... 2 weeks before completion.... for obstructive sleep apnea.
A little backstory —- I grew up in the Navy, my dad and his dad both did 25+ years in the Navy.... it was my dream, still is. While traveling the world was the best part of my childhood, constantly changing schools had its downsides. Specific to this situation: I did not take any languages in High School. In full transparency, I struggled academically throughout my time at the Academy. Yes there was always more time I could’ve spent in EI or studying, but the fact is that the Academy was challenging for me. I struggled with Spanish 2. I know that seems like a joke, but it was very hard for me... especially having 0 knowledge prior, unlike my peers. And for those that know, once you’re behind.... it’s hard to catch up. Midway through the semester, I was failing the class. I was not getting anything out of the hours I spent in EI and study groups, and finals were fast approaching. A final test grade of a B would’ve warned me a passing grade.... in my mind, tough but not impossible. I quit my varsity sport, I hired a Spanish tutor (teacher from local high school) at $1k/mo, and met with her 5 nights/week for 2 months.... after the test, I walked away from that final feeling like i crushed it. I got a B- and earned a 59.94 in the class.... just enough to fail and be unable to graduate on time.
Before any of you ask.... yes I begged my Professor in tears to let me do anything to earn the .06 I needed to save my career from ending...I pleaded for summer school...I begged to be held back an entire year.... Lots of tears, Lots of hugs from teammates and classmates who promised I was still their brother. But no luck. I was still separated. I never heard from 90% of them again.
I thought being separated was hard.... but let me tell you, going home is so much worse. I can’t tell you how many times I had to relive my failure, just to satisfy the curiosity of everyone in my life. How hard it was to look my dad, a Command Master Chief, in the eye. Eventually, it became too painful of a topic to discuss.... which eventually manifested itself in anger and depression, causing me push my family and friends away and to turn to self medicating through drugs and alcohol.
Depression is like drowning. There’s no better way to describe it. The further I sank, the more I felt everything was closing in on me.... crushing me. I surrounded myself with strangers who didn’t know my past, and I avoided my family and friends for a long time.... that was the worst part. Family is everything to me. My dad is my hero. We had a falling out and didn’t speak for over a year.... my lowest point was when thoughts of suicide became constant. Luckily, my sister saved me. She pulled me off the bottom, and talked me off the ledge. I can’t say I beat depression, because I still can’t talk about it openly with real people.... but she held my head above water long enough for me to start dealing with my demons. I reconnected with my family, I cut off all the darkness in my life, and I finally enlisted 3 years later. I was excited. I was hopeful. I made my mind up and decided I would find a way to recommission, no matter how hard it would be.
Re-enlisting was complicated. It was unclear if I had to go through not camp again, or if I was supposed to go strait to the fleet. Nobody was able to greet a clear answer, so the default was boot camp... yay! In fact, when I arrived in Great Lakes, they even pulled me out with the other priors initially. All in all, it wasn’t bad AT ALL. physically and mentally, it was nothing compared to Plebe Summer....I enjoyed it, I event became the RCPO. I know that seems like a joke to some, but it felt good to get back to an old semblance of who I knew I could be. I went to Great Lakes in February... while this was great in the sense that PT was limited due to the ice on the ground, I unfortunately got an URI while there. 2 weeks before graduation, I went to Medical to get a cold pack. Figured this would hold me over, and I just needed the cough syrup to help me sleep. Big mistake. Little did I know, while prescribing me cough medicine, the Physician Assistant was combing through my medical record....
I know what you’re thinking, here it is! You’ve been reading my novel and FINALLY, here’s what he’s been hiding.... for clarification, this is the SAME medical record that followed me from base to base my whole life. It’s also the same medical record I entered the Naval Academy with.... so I thought there was nothing to hide.
What the PA saw was a sleep study I did when I was a child. During sports trips, my parents would hear me sleep when we shared hotel rooms.... they said it sounded like I was choking sometimes.... This cause my parents to have me do a sleep study when I was 11. The test results were inconclusive. I moved on with my life, excelled in school and my sport.... and eventually, I was recruited to play D1 at the school of my dreams..... physically, Nothing held me back. Unfortunately for me, the PA felt that the Navy needed conclusive results 23 years after the fact. I did another sleep study during boot camp, and was diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea. I never saw the results myself.... next thing I know, I was in separations being kicked out second time.
Once you leave your Division and make your way to Separations, you get a chance to make a phone call. This was one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to do. Arguably, this was harder than the Naval Academy. It took a lot for me to get there, and this was a second chance I knew I couldn’t squander. But this hurt more, because this time it ended because of something I was born with. Listening to my dad cry over the phone is something I still try to forget. I fought it the best I could, hell I couldn’t believe I had apnea (I am 6’2”, weighed 205 at the time). I met with JAGs, my dad worked with the MCPON to find a way for me...I delayed my separation by a few weeks, but there was no way around BUMED.
—-
That was almost 7 years ago. I’ve since found a good job, relocated, and met the love of my life. Some days are dark, but she’s my light. We’re engaged, and with marriage on the horizon, I’ve finally sought therapy and am in a place where I can confront these demons I still have to deal with...So here’s where you come in:
What advice do you have about my SA debt? Repayment doesn’t seem like an option. When I was separated from the NA, I elected to repay my debt through Enlistment. I would argue that I upheld my end of the deal, I enlisted. If I was good enough to be an officer, I should’ve been able to enlist. Physically, nothing changed.
What benefits am I eligible for?
At some point, I’d like to buy a house. $1900/mo in rent would do much better if our towards a mortgage. I can’t afford a down payment , but with a VA loan I can afford a home.
I am also finally in the right headspace to finish my degree. My fiancé has assured me this is something we can make work, but if I’m able to utilize the GI Bill or something similar.... then I can use that $ for a wedding or starter home.
My DD214 says:
Time in service = 3 years, 1 month
Active duty = 0
Is SA time considered “active duty service”?
From what I’ve read and looked up, time spent at a SA is considered “active duty”. I’ve reached out to the NA, but have not received a response. Logically, this would make sense to me. It would explain why I was under the impression that I could go from USNA strait to USN, and it would explain why there was so much confusion on whether or not I was supposed to redo boot camp.
Does anyone have experience with getting service records corrected?
Is this something I can and/or should have corrected?
I have already submitted a request for a records correction to BCNR for my DD214
Lastly, if there is any other advice you have for me —- please share. I’m on a path towards redemption and my goal is to get to a place I can be proud of.
Thank you for your time. Thank you for reading everything that has spilled out, in a way, this was therapeutic
This is something I have never discussed with anyone in person.... but I figure sharing this with strangers within a forum is the easiest first step. Not sure if this is more therapeutic, but I am seeking advice as to what options I have for repayment of my SA debt, as well as any benefits I am entitled to. All in all, I’m trying to get my life in order and am only now finally able to acknowledge this monster that has been following me for years.... fair warning, this is a long read....I wanted to be thorough to give the best understanding of me and the facts of my case.
Thank you all for taking the time to read about the failures of a stranger —- I am grateful for any comments and advice you may have.
—-
In 2010, I was academically separated following my 2/C year, because I was unable to meet the language requirements for graduation on time. My dream was over and I was gifted a debt of $120k.... USNA was my ticket to a college education I couldn’t afford otherwise. Needless to say, I was a 20 year old lost under a mountain of debt and looming depression. After 3 years, I finally pulled myself out the gutter and enlisted in the USN —- which I was then medically separated from, during boot camp... 2 weeks before completion.... for obstructive sleep apnea.
A little backstory —- I grew up in the Navy, my dad and his dad both did 25+ years in the Navy.... it was my dream, still is. While traveling the world was the best part of my childhood, constantly changing schools had its downsides. Specific to this situation: I did not take any languages in High School. In full transparency, I struggled academically throughout my time at the Academy. Yes there was always more time I could’ve spent in EI or studying, but the fact is that the Academy was challenging for me. I struggled with Spanish 2. I know that seems like a joke, but it was very hard for me... especially having 0 knowledge prior, unlike my peers. And for those that know, once you’re behind.... it’s hard to catch up. Midway through the semester, I was failing the class. I was not getting anything out of the hours I spent in EI and study groups, and finals were fast approaching. A final test grade of a B would’ve warned me a passing grade.... in my mind, tough but not impossible. I quit my varsity sport, I hired a Spanish tutor (teacher from local high school) at $1k/mo, and met with her 5 nights/week for 2 months.... after the test, I walked away from that final feeling like i crushed it. I got a B- and earned a 59.94 in the class.... just enough to fail and be unable to graduate on time.
Before any of you ask.... yes I begged my Professor in tears to let me do anything to earn the .06 I needed to save my career from ending...I pleaded for summer school...I begged to be held back an entire year.... Lots of tears, Lots of hugs from teammates and classmates who promised I was still their brother. But no luck. I was still separated. I never heard from 90% of them again.
I thought being separated was hard.... but let me tell you, going home is so much worse. I can’t tell you how many times I had to relive my failure, just to satisfy the curiosity of everyone in my life. How hard it was to look my dad, a Command Master Chief, in the eye. Eventually, it became too painful of a topic to discuss.... which eventually manifested itself in anger and depression, causing me push my family and friends away and to turn to self medicating through drugs and alcohol.
Depression is like drowning. There’s no better way to describe it. The further I sank, the more I felt everything was closing in on me.... crushing me. I surrounded myself with strangers who didn’t know my past, and I avoided my family and friends for a long time.... that was the worst part. Family is everything to me. My dad is my hero. We had a falling out and didn’t speak for over a year.... my lowest point was when thoughts of suicide became constant. Luckily, my sister saved me. She pulled me off the bottom, and talked me off the ledge. I can’t say I beat depression, because I still can’t talk about it openly with real people.... but she held my head above water long enough for me to start dealing with my demons. I reconnected with my family, I cut off all the darkness in my life, and I finally enlisted 3 years later. I was excited. I was hopeful. I made my mind up and decided I would find a way to recommission, no matter how hard it would be.
Re-enlisting was complicated. It was unclear if I had to go through not camp again, or if I was supposed to go strait to the fleet. Nobody was able to greet a clear answer, so the default was boot camp... yay! In fact, when I arrived in Great Lakes, they even pulled me out with the other priors initially. All in all, it wasn’t bad AT ALL. physically and mentally, it was nothing compared to Plebe Summer....I enjoyed it, I event became the RCPO. I know that seems like a joke to some, but it felt good to get back to an old semblance of who I knew I could be. I went to Great Lakes in February... while this was great in the sense that PT was limited due to the ice on the ground, I unfortunately got an URI while there. 2 weeks before graduation, I went to Medical to get a cold pack. Figured this would hold me over, and I just needed the cough syrup to help me sleep. Big mistake. Little did I know, while prescribing me cough medicine, the Physician Assistant was combing through my medical record....
I know what you’re thinking, here it is! You’ve been reading my novel and FINALLY, here’s what he’s been hiding.... for clarification, this is the SAME medical record that followed me from base to base my whole life. It’s also the same medical record I entered the Naval Academy with.... so I thought there was nothing to hide.
What the PA saw was a sleep study I did when I was a child. During sports trips, my parents would hear me sleep when we shared hotel rooms.... they said it sounded like I was choking sometimes.... This cause my parents to have me do a sleep study when I was 11. The test results were inconclusive. I moved on with my life, excelled in school and my sport.... and eventually, I was recruited to play D1 at the school of my dreams..... physically, Nothing held me back. Unfortunately for me, the PA felt that the Navy needed conclusive results 23 years after the fact. I did another sleep study during boot camp, and was diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea. I never saw the results myself.... next thing I know, I was in separations being kicked out second time.
Once you leave your Division and make your way to Separations, you get a chance to make a phone call. This was one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to do. Arguably, this was harder than the Naval Academy. It took a lot for me to get there, and this was a second chance I knew I couldn’t squander. But this hurt more, because this time it ended because of something I was born with. Listening to my dad cry over the phone is something I still try to forget. I fought it the best I could, hell I couldn’t believe I had apnea (I am 6’2”, weighed 205 at the time). I met with JAGs, my dad worked with the MCPON to find a way for me...I delayed my separation by a few weeks, but there was no way around BUMED.
—-
That was almost 7 years ago. I’ve since found a good job, relocated, and met the love of my life. Some days are dark, but she’s my light. We’re engaged, and with marriage on the horizon, I’ve finally sought therapy and am in a place where I can confront these demons I still have to deal with...So here’s where you come in:
What advice do you have about my SA debt? Repayment doesn’t seem like an option. When I was separated from the NA, I elected to repay my debt through Enlistment. I would argue that I upheld my end of the deal, I enlisted. If I was good enough to be an officer, I should’ve been able to enlist. Physically, nothing changed.
What benefits am I eligible for?
At some point, I’d like to buy a house. $1900/mo in rent would do much better if our towards a mortgage. I can’t afford a down payment , but with a VA loan I can afford a home.
I am also finally in the right headspace to finish my degree. My fiancé has assured me this is something we can make work, but if I’m able to utilize the GI Bill or something similar.... then I can use that $ for a wedding or starter home.
My DD214 says:
Time in service = 3 years, 1 month
Active duty = 0
Is SA time considered “active duty service”?
From what I’ve read and looked up, time spent at a SA is considered “active duty”. I’ve reached out to the NA, but have not received a response. Logically, this would make sense to me. It would explain why I was under the impression that I could go from USNA strait to USN, and it would explain why there was so much confusion on whether or not I was supposed to redo boot camp.
Does anyone have experience with getting service records corrected?
Is this something I can and/or should have corrected?
I have already submitted a request for a records correction to BCNR for my DD214
Lastly, if there is any other advice you have for me —- please share. I’m on a path towards redemption and my goal is to get to a place I can be proud of.
Thank you for your time. Thank you for reading everything that has spilled out, in a way, this was therapeutic