<p>Soaringhi and momofhopeful,</p>
<p>:) My thoughts and prayers are with you and your boys. :)</p>
<p>Soaringhi no matter where his path takes him, he will have a bright future, and will always be an Eagle!</p>
<p>He’s home now, in one piece and with some very interesting stories just from the very short time there. He had several observations that were interesting and I will post them in another post. I called the doctor and he has an appt next week with a surgery date on the books for July 11. He will start PT on July 14 and will go on from there.
He said that Barbara from admissions told him to call her on July 1 and she will help him start the new process and make most of the parts of the application NA for him. They have been very nice, so he is still in fairly good spirits knowing that they have a place for him next year.<br>
Hearing Soaringhi’s news, though, makes me worried… a second medical turnback would be devastating for everyone and I am so sorry for her, her son, and their family. I will keep all updated regarding my sons surgery and PT/rehab.</p>
<p>Please don’t let my son’s experience deter your son from coming back next year, fully healed, more mature and more determined. I am at a loss that this happened again. I pray that there is a reason. God bless and enjoy your extra year with your son.</p>
<p>sorainghi, there must be a reason for this turn of events. I’ll keep your child in my prayers (you, too!).</p>
<p>Hello momofhopeful,
I am so sorry to hear about your son. Our son was a medical turnback last year too. During a softball game between squadrons he broke his foot, spent a few days in the hospital and then came home. It was devastating to him emotionally and he said at times that he would not go back. </p>
<p>Let your son ride out the emotions but try to keep him connected to any and all friends he made while at Basic. Our son was in the admin building for 4 days with other cadets going home. They became friends so we contacted those parents through teh cadets. We, the parents made sure our cadets stayed in contact by email and phone. We flew the kids back to visit each other and they have all now reunited at Basic this year. They will support each other and keep the flame alive. </p>
<p>We have other ideas too if you are interested further. Good luck</p>
<p>Oh my. I’ve been away from CC for a while and thought I’d check the forum to see how the 2012 class was coming along in BCT. Sorry to hear that so many were turned back already - especially your son Soaringhi. I’ll PM you all…</p>
<p>As ya’ll may recall, my son was a 2011 turnback in Week 3. Swollen knees. Spent the year getting them looked at / rehab’d (and yes, that year went fast) but in the end the knees we’re not ready for this years BCT. So he’s instead heading to UD for AFROTC knowing that the physical end of that program will not be as intense the first year or so (and hopefully giving him more time to get the knees sorted out). So while the AFA is no longer his route to a career in the military, he’ll end up (hopefully) working alongside of your sons and daughters in a few short years…</p>
<p>I was surprised to hear that day one turnbacks have to go thru the Appointment process again. Guess that’s because they did not take the oath? My son was told he did not need to reapply and that his slot would still be open in 2012, but again, he made it thru to week 3 before the turnback was forced upon him…</p>
<p>BTW - that extra year here at home (and community college) will probably end up being a great thing. He was on the young end of the class, and I think he’s really “aged” well in the last 12 months. Got a taste of working for a living (around his classes) and so he’s raring to go to college now! :)</p>
<p>Good luck to the rest of turnbacks - it’s a VERY emotional time, but just keep reminding your kid that the year will go quickly, and that whatever path they end up having to take, they were accepted to a top Academy. If thier medical situation doesn’t let them return, then any other school out there would love to have them, etc. </p>
<p>Hang in there!</p>
<p>DKnightfam</p>
<p>Hey all…</p>
<p>I sure do understand your pain. My son sustained a severe shoulder injury during a high school baseball game just before basic. His orthopedic surgeon determined that he needed 3-6 month rehabilitation before he was academy ready. We conveyed this to the academy, and they turned him back before he even got there.</p>
<p>The boy is so upset…as he fought through a broken leg and two shoulder/labrum tears and repairs during football and basketball his junior and senior years…so he could pass the academy physical and get a waiver.</p>
<p>Just when he thought all of his perseverance (sp?) paid off and he was heading for the academy he had dreamed of since preschool…his dreams were dashed.</p>
<p>The rehab is going very well…and he managed to ge re enrolled in his second chance school here in South Dakota…where he will take an ROTC class as well as science, math, and English…but the boy just feels the universe is out to get him.</p>
<p>I am doing my best to keep him buoyed up and looking toward the future. I will let him know your stories as well…it might help him to know he is not alone.</p>
<p>Thanks
BigDreams1</p>
<p>I am glad his rehab is going well. My son had surgery on his knee on Friday and it was indeed a lateral meniscus tear that had to be removed/could not be repaired. He started PT today. He also registered today at our local college for Calculus, Chemistry, and English (per admissions suggestion). He is doing well and is still very committed to heading back to Co. Springs in June, 2009. Feel free to PM me and we could even get the boys to correspond is you want. This way, they know they aren’t alone, too.</p>
<p>MomofHopefull good to hear he is doing well. He will benefit greatly from the CC classes. It will make USAFA calc,physics, and chem much easier. It will seem like a rehash, but will make doolie life easier.</p>
<p>Our son also is being medically turned back for a torn meniscus. Happened while he was running sometime in the second week. I would love to keep in contact with you other parents (and have Nick be in contact with your sons) to keep him going strong during this next year. He is meeting with the orthopedic doctor at AFA tomorrow to determine if surgery is going to be necessary. I’ll keep you posted</p>
<p>Please let me know what you find out. I would love Nick and my son Rich to keep in touch. Perhaps they can spur each other on to keep the dream alive.</p>
<p>Best of luck and you’re both in my prayers.</p>
<p>BigDreams1</p>
<p>Warz57 - Have him hang tough now that he is in the 41st (lost) squadron. My son was a medical turnback last summer and it took him almost two weeks to outprocess. But, he needs to go the process in order to keep his appointment and nomination. Keep writing him letters, tell him you love him, and that there is a plan for him when he comes home. It will be a year of roller coaster emotions but you have your son with you one more year. He will mature, physically, emotionally and academically. Our thoughts and prayers are with you. But, all will be well.</p>
<p>I pray for all these wonderful young people, that they return to full health (perhaps minus a meniscus) soon. I guess telling them when God closes a door he opens a window probably won’t sit well now, hindsight being everything. Just keep plugging along, with the AFA dream, or its replacement, always in sight.</p>
<p>I wonder after reading all of the posts from all of these supportive involved parents if all these young adults truly know how lucky they are to have it! All of you seem so sincere and encouraging. I think it is wonderful!</p>
<p>Good luck to all the torn meniscus turnbacks out there. I just had the ortho surgery myself (at 45 yrs of age) and the recovery was pretty easy. One day on crutches, light walking for a few days afterwards, and then just some PT to keep things stretched out (hammies, etc). Back up to full stride about 4 wks later.</p>
<p>My son was also a turnback last year (different type of knee problem) and unfortunately he was still not ready for this years BCT so he’s opted instead to go the ROTC university route. Personally the depressing week long holding period he spent in the “lost squadron” there at AFA probably helped in that decision (i.e. he didn’t want to go thru that again if he got pulled aside again). Too bad the AFA can’t find a way to get injured cadets off campus faster as that period is ROUGH on them. Not only are the hurt cadets sitting around in an empty building, in an empty room, with little to do but wait for chow 3 x daily, but they may also be saddled with a roomie that’s a sad-sack case (i.e. one of the cadets that decided on day one that the AFA was too tough or not for him/her, i.e. they went for mom-n-dad not themeselves, etc). That can be pretty depressing for those cadets that really wanted to be there but then got hurt… So if your kid is now in the “41st squadron” keep the letters & support flowing - they’ll need the encouragement while they await the dozen or so signatures the turnback paperwork/file requires before they’re scheduled for a flight home.</p>
<p>And as has been said her before, once they are home let 'em vent for a while but in the end you and they might find out that that extra year (especially with some community college experience/learning) was the best thing to happen to them… :)</p>
<p>Good luck to all MTB’s - PM me if you need any advise on how things work during the “lost year”.</p>
<p>DKnightfam</p>
<p>PS: Keep in mind that since your cadet is now considered “active duty, extended leave” that they can be treated under Tircare, the Air Force Medical Plan. Just make sure your doc works with them - alot don’t. You’ll also need to get approval from a local base if you go that route. Also remind them that the military justice system controls them officially so if they really get into legal trouble (very doubtful ! !) they’ll have more than the local police to deal with 
So to keep em out of trouble, send em to the local movie theatre alot - they now get the military discount with thier ID cards :)</p>