what happened if something went wrong during swab summer

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flyingtigre

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I am new to academy experience and my DD is the first in the family to apply to any service academy. I read somewhere here that the appointee could get sent home if her weight was a factor. My DD does not have weight problem. However, I am curious to know what happened if she did not "pass' swab summer (i.e. injury or unable to meet the physical demand - cant do a particular physical task). Does the academy 'kick' the appointee out? or would the candidate get all the possible chances to perform? I would hate to have "her sent packing" at end of summer without prospect of attending another university except maybe a community college and reapply to regular college the following year.
 
This depends on the situation. If your DD (or DS) does receive an appointment, and does decide to attend USCGA, you will see some pictures of swabs with injuries. Some complete Swab Summer. (I would say most, but I don't have the data to back that up). Some are given medical deferments to attend the following year. However, I think, based on hearsay, that injuries that severe are rare. Once past Swab Summer the Academy works hard to keep cadets that continue to maintain standards but might be in difficult medical situations. I can think of one who missed semesters and was given the opportunity to finish and graduate with a following class. I know a cadet in a similar situation, and the Academy has worked to allow them to complete. However, I knew another cadet who could not maintain weight standards and was dis-enrolled in their last year. And there are always those who are not allowed to graduate right up to the last week before graduation.
 
DS part of class of 21. They lost people during this past summer. Some just decided this is not what they want and some had injuries. As I understand it depends on the injury if they get a deferment to the next class. If it's something that does not medically disqualify you to serve then your good. As for weight and other reasons to leave my DS said the academy works really really hard to help you so you stay. The same goes during the year with academics. They don't bring you in just to loose you. They really want your cadet to succeed. Stuff happens all the time but I think it's very individual
 
I know USMA has changed the approach and am reasonably sure that that the others have as well. In the old days, it was an attrition model. Bring in 1500 and eliminate the perceived weak to get 1000 graduates. If you couldn't pass the PT test or your grades slipped, you were told to sink or swim.

Today's approach is much more of a developmental model where the entire cadet chain of command is responsible for cadet's performance. The cadet chain of command is now partially held responsible for the success or failures of underclass cadets. A cadet being slightly over weight or not passing the PT test as a plebe will have his/her cadet chain of command work closely to help overcome those issues.

Now with that said, a First Class Cadet with similar problems may not be given the same opportunities.

Serious injuries during the summer are very rare and as long as your cadet is doing well they will be given a chance to recover. The only injuries that would stop that would be things that would create an condition that stops commissioning.
 
I think USMA 1994 nailed it. The academies want the cadets to succeed but they will be severely tested. Our son is a 2nd year at USMA and is assigned a plebe to lead/mentor. His military grade is very much based on how his plebe adapts/succeeds during plebe year. His plebe sounds like a tremendous kid, smart, athletic but has struggled in 1 class. Our son has spent many hours working with him to help him through this phase....really effective first leadership experience..
 
While what USMA 1994 and RedDragon say, that cadets mentor younger cadets and the Academy works to have you succeed, there is still attrition. It runs about 10% for Swab Summer (IIRC) and about 20% overall by graduation.
 
The simple answer, as others have indicated, is yes, you can be sent home during swab summer as well as at any time during your four years there. During swab summer, the most common causes of attrition are medical reasons and people choosing to leave. The medical reasons are typically due to pre-existing conditions or more chronic medical issues. When I was a senior, a new policy was implemented that stated that a swab could only be on limited duty (i.e. restricted physically due to some type of injury) for a certain period of time before disenrollment was considered. I'm not sure if that policy is still in place as it's been a few years since I've had any visibility on swab summer. If someone is disenrolled, there is the possibility of them receiving a conditional appointment and deferment to the next incoming class the following year, as long as they are cleared medically and fulfill a few other requirements such as taking certain academic courses, retaking the PFE, etc. I was medically deferred from the class of 2013 to the class of 2014 during swab summer. I met all of the requirements and returned to complete swab summer with my class. Yes, I was at home all year and attended community college as it was too late to be accepted or attend a four year institution but I can say with complete honestly that some of my community college courses provides the most diverse learning experiences I've ever had. To be in a class with not only recent high school graduates but adults returning to school at 40, single parents, active duty military, etc. was a great opportunity to hear different perspectives.

The possibility for injury is also why some on this forum would recommend maintaining a Plan B, often by putting down a deposit with a school and asking the institution if it would be possible for a spot to held for your DS/DD through the summer. As far as I know, a person would not receive a deferment for conditions such as color blindness or weight issues. I had a classmate kicked out the week of graduation for not making weight. There are standards and everyone is required to meet them.
 
It sounds like you have a gut feeling that your daughter might not physically be able to succeed. There is over six months left for her to get in shape before she reports. If she gets an appointment, life will be much easier for her if she is fit.

I'd encourage her to get into a fitness regimen that will build her body and help her structure her time to include academics and fitness.
 
Thanks everyone for responding. None of our immediate family is in the military so everything is new and unfamiliar to us. The closest thing to military experience was my brother got accepted to West Point back in the late 70s and he turned them down after getting a full scholarship to Cooper Union (as a side note, acceptance to Cooper Union back then meant full scholarship; now they offer half scholarship to all applicants). I think my DD could do the work but I just want all scenarios to make an informed decision. Looking back, she should have applied to an ROTC or NROTC (?) but then she didn't want to attend any other academy except CGA. I think attended AIM might have sealed the deal for her.
 
flyingtigre said:
Thanks everyone for responding. None of our immediate family is in the military so everything is new and unfamiliar to us. The closest thing to military experience was my brother got accepted to West Point back in the late 70s and he turned them down after getting a full scholarship to Cooper Union (as a side note, acceptance to Cooper Union back then meant full scholarship; now they offer half scholarship to all applicants). I think my DD could do the work but I just want all scenarios to make an informed decision. Looking back, she should have applied to an ROTC or NROTC (?) but then she didn't want to attend any other academy except CGA. I think attended AIM might have sealed the deal for her.
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Totally get it. I was a worried mess for my DS all last year. If I could have wrapped him in bubble wrap I would have. lol. In the end everyone says things work the way they should. Good luck to you DD. Mine is 4/c and is as happy as a 4/c can be. [emoji4]
 
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