USMA academic probation & demotion

Flyarmy92

Flyarmy92

Member
Joined
Feb 12, 2020
Messages
33
My heart is breaking for my USMA Yuk (should be a Cow). He was one of the 2020 COVID year Plebes. When he arrived so many things went wrong. During the admin process of taking blood they punctured his vein (blood went into the arm) causing extreme pain and limited use of his arm. He then had to go through Beast without knowing that was the cause. He hated life, called us to say he wanted to quit (3x we got the call) and we told him don’t give up on your dream, you’ve got this. In the process of his first year, there was no accountability, no formations, classes were online. They were isolated, no visits and no breaks. If someone on your floor was COVID positive they isolated everyone. (Subsequently WP class of ‘24 had many cadets leave.) He went into a deep spiral. He missed several classes (slept right through them) and barely passed the classes. His leadership was upset with him because they thought he lied….when in actuality he didn’t want to say that he had “horrible thoughts”. He didn’t reach out like he should have. Fellow Cadets did stick up for him and got him the help he needed. He recognized that he had to take control of his issues and finished out his Plebe year, but it wasn’t finished. His Yuk year went better. Grades were good (3.0), was in charge of a Plebe and all around did better. But, he had to go before a board about his Plebe year. We still don’t know the whole story (he’s embarrassed to tell us) but 2nd semester of his Yuk year he was put on academic probation. The two classes he slept through and the omission of why led to this. Now, here is my problem….leadership knew he was on probation but told him he was to have a Platoon during this Summer, with the Cadets names and all. A week before they yank it away saying, “you’re on probation”. He went a month without doing “anything”! No field training, no leadership….it boggles my military retired husband’s mind. Then, he goes to Air Assault school and passes. Proud day. Then he is preparing to go back (2 weeks before) and knows that he going into a different company because they scrambled. New TAC called to introduce himself etc… then informs my son that he will need to retake the classes he missed Plebe year and he will remain a Yuk until further notice. One week before returning he is then told that he will not scramble and will remain in the company that he was in as a Plebe/Yuk. It really hit home last night when his “should be” class had their Affirmation ceremony. Hard to look at those pics without my son being one of them. My hope is that he can finish the two recommended classes, go before the board and appeal the probation next semester. Is this a possibility and does this happen? I don’t think he’s so far gone that he will be a year behind. He just wants to graduate with the rest of his class. Please understand that we are grateful that he is given the chance to continue….just feel like they were building up hopes and dashing them at the same time. He knows what he did, no excuses and he’s learned from it. He is doing better and wants to finish strong and become an Army officer. (sorry for the “book”, no one to vent to.) Would love to know of others who have gone through similar with positive results.
 
Many many cadets have been able to appeal late graduations for academic struggles, so long as they are able to catch up. I recommend he enrolls in STAP next summer to get back on track. In reality his DAC should've recommended that he do so this past summer when his detail was taken away, but life goes on. The path to graduation is not linear for everyone, and ultimately if he pushes through the difference of a couple months on his career will not sway the fact that he is a USMA graduate.
 
prospective2019 said:
Many many cadets have been able to appeal late graduations for academic struggles, so long as they are able to catch up. I recommend he enrolls in STAP next summer to get back on track. In reality his DAC should've recommended that he do so this past summer when his detail was taken away, but life goes on. The path to graduation is not linear for everyone, and ultimately if he pushes through the difference of a couple months on his career will not sway the fact that he is a USMA graduate.
Click to expand...
Ty. Don’t think that’ll be possible since he will most likely have to play catch up on his Summer leadership next Summer. Have you seen back to back Summer leadership before? My OG husband had to do it his Firstie Summer but wasn’t sure if that is still an option.
 
Did he get sent home or kicked out? No. Did he get Academic Separation with Re-admission? No, he did not. Your job, mama, is to support your child and remind him that there is a path and he is on that path. No feeling sorry for himself, he should rejoice that he is still at school, buckle down, use his resources and move on through to graduate. He might feel alone but he is in with an entire group of kids who will find one another and support one another. Do not let your disappointment overshadow the fact that USMA believes in your kid enough to keep him there. That our lives are long and an extra year of school will not destroy him and he may get a double major.
Further, it would be highly unlikely that an appeal would meet with a successful change in the outcome. It is always worth trying but know that the outcome is unlikely. He should be lockstep with the Registrar's Office.
One of my kids was a December grad. If you want to talk, drop into my DMs and let's arrange a Zoom or phone call. Happy to chat.
Do you want this to happen? No...but here you all are...so make a plan and move on.
 
DrMom said:
Did he get sent home or kicked out? No. Did he get Academic Separation with Re-admission? No, he did not. Your job, mama, is to support your child and remind him that there is a path and he is on that path. No feeling sorry for himself, he should rejoice that he is still at school, buckle down, use his resources and move on through to graduate. He might feel alone but he is in with an entire group of kids who will find one another and support one another. Do not let your disappointment overshadow the fact that USMA believes in your kid enough to keep him there. That our lives are long and an extra year of school will not destroy him and he may get a double major.
Further, it would be highly unlikely that an appeal would meet with a successful change in the outcome. It is always worth trying but know that the outcome is unlikely. He should be lockstep with the Registrar's Office.
One of my kids was a December grad. If you want to talk, drop into my DMs and let's arrange a Zoom or phone call. Happy to chat.
Do you want this to happen? No...but here you all are...so make a plan and move on.
Click to expand...
Thank you….totally agree. Hopefully we’ll learn more after this semester.
 
It would help you to help/support HIM if YOU know “the full story”. It’s important that you get ALL of the info from him; if, for no other reason, his “unloading” will be the mark of the start of his return to where he wants to be.

No need to share “the full story” here necessarily unless you think it will help others. However, at the minimum, give @DrMom the full story so your conversation(s) will be relevant.

I’m new here but can already tell that this is the source of great information and support.
 
Flyarmy92 said:
Ty. Don’t think that’ll be possible since he will most likely have to play catch up on his Summer leadership next Summer. Have you seen back to back Summer leadership before? My OG husband had to do it his Firstie Summer but wasn’t sure if that is still an option.
Click to expand...
Yes. You can fit a leadership detail with other requirements. I did three graduation requirement details this past summer. It was tough, but not impossible.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top