<p>It looks like my son my get a medical turnback because he will miss more than 8 days of BCT. Has anyone had a son/daughter go through this? How was the extra year spent? Did they come home with second thoughts of the Academy and how did you help them through that? A year is a lifetime to an 18 year old and he just seems so disheartened now when I talk to him. Any information would be extremely helpful.</p>
<p>Sorry to hear Soarie. My son is currently sitting in "The Lost Flight" at the academy right now (Mike Knight) with bum knees. He's been there almost a week, and thinks it will be another week until someone issues him the paperwork/ticket home. Is your cadet out of his/her normal flight already? If so, then they're probably together already. USAFA2010Dad's son is there too, and hopefully he will post thoughts for you as his boy is on his second MT....</p>
<p>Good luck.</p>
<p>Soaringhi,</p>
<p>Very sorry to hear this news. As Dknightfam mentioned, my son was a turnback last year, had knee surgery in September and returned this year only to be turned back again. It's a very disheartening experience for everyone involved, but especially for the Basic Cadet, who gets geared up both physically and mentally months in advance, leaves home for the first time, gets yelled at for two weeks and then gets a ticket home through no fault of their own. It's an emotional roller coaster.</p>
<p>Try not to pressure him once he gets home. By that I mean, ease in to the question of whether he thinks he wants to return next year. His thoughts of the Academy will not be pleasant ones and it will take him some time to get over the experience. During the two weeks it will take him to outprocess, he'll be basically sitting and staring at four walls reflecting on his misfortune. This is more unpleasant than up-downs and flutter kicks, which is what he'd rather be doing. He'll probably have his cell phone (though I heard they might be taken away again), a few magazines and access to a TV room, but no real liberties. So again, his head will be filled with negative thoughts.</p>
<p>The best thing you can do right now is support him and get into high gear making alternate plans for the coming ac year. Most schools had admission deadlines of July 1st, so you may have to do some selling. He'll have fun this summer with all of his friends home, but come September, they'll all head off to school while he most likely stays back and attends classes at the local campus, since on-campus housing at his college of 2nd choice is most likely already full. Expect this, and expect him to be disheartened all over again when his friends leave. He'll then have lots of time to think about his future, and will come to his own decision about what he wants to do next year. He'll have until next March to decide. My son realized that USAFA was what he wanted since 8th grade, and put all his physical energy into getting his body ready to try it again. Unfortunately, his knee just wasn't ready.</p>
<p>I apologize if I sound like I'm predicting your future, but this is more or less what we went through over the last year. My son took classes at the local UCONN campus to keep his study habits sharp and get a year of credits under his belt in case something went wrong again. We never imagined it would, but it did. Now he'll be a sophomore and will pursue AF ROTC, and if something happens NEXT year (should be decide to return), well, he'll be an AF ROTC junior and will pursue a different path to serve his country.</p>
<p>I have no idea at this point if Jeff will want to it try a third time. It's entirely his decision, time will tell. The best advice I can give you is to support him and be patient with him. His body and mind will heal, and should he decide to tackle it again, he'll be stronger, wiser, more confident, and he'll have the respect of the Cadre. They may not let on that they know who the turnbacks are, but they do, and they respect their commitment.</p>
<p>Best of luck to you and your son.</p>
<p>USAFA2010dad - You are a blessing I'm sure to those other's with S/Ds getting turnbacks. Your generous giving of support and counseling is touching and, I'm sure, comforting. God has a plan for Jeff Jr. and all the other's though it may be difficult to see now. Our prayers are with you all daily. Bensmom, dad and little brother.</p>
<p>My son was a 2011 candidate recruited to play soccer at the academy, but was waiting on a medical waiver (been waiting since October of 2006). He received his waiver today (8/13/07)! Imagine the frustration we've been through. He moves into a university in 5 days and NOW he finally hears that USAFA made a decision to grant him a medical waiver! Unbelievable! Here's what DoDMERB web site says:</p>
<p>Agency: US Air Force Academy Sub Agency:<br>
Current Medical Status: Commission Qualified - Medical Waiver granted </p>
<p>D241.30 - Asthma/reactive airway disease/exercise induced bronchospasm after age 13
D252.10 - Non-rebuttal code
D259.42 - Waiver Approved - USAFA CQ </p>
<p>He doesn't have asthma (he had a doctor's visit over 2 years ago for seasonal allergies and a one time case of bronchitis). He had a methacholine challenge test done in December '06 which proved he didn't have asthma. Too bad we didn't get these results months ago! Too late now!</p>
<p>Whoops, mispost.</p>
<p>He can still apply for 2012. That does suck though. I wonder what took DoDMERB so long. </p>
<p>Personally, I'd have a long chat with someone at DoDMERB and make it clear that their delay cost him a spot in 2011. Obviously, they can't fix that now, but it may help someone in the future. (and it would make me feel better to vent, lol)</p>
<p>I know DoDMERB is always busy and works very hard, but that kind of delay is unacceptible.</p>
<p>Venting probably won't help much, but I'd be curious as to where the soccer coach was in the midst of all this?</p>
<p>I never said that venting actually helped.</p>
<p>I would hate to see this kind of thing happen again, so I think it would be good to bring it to someone's attention.</p>
<p>So I am currently in basic training at the USAFA. I got very ill and was hospitalized. They eventually saw that it was appendicitis and I had to have surgery. I have missed ALL of Jack's Valley and have been in the hospital for over a week and won't be leaving here for another two to three days. I will not be able to do any physical work for 2 to 3 weeks after getting out of the hospital. Do you think that I will receive a medical turn-back?</p>
<p>You should ask the doctors in the hospital. I'm surprised they haven't kept you informed at this point.</p>
<p>Wow jaywol6443 that is a new one. It will be interesting to see how things turn out. Let us know. Hornet has the right advice though check with the Doc's.</p>
<p>jawol,</p>
<p>It sounds like they have been giving you good medical care and promptly dealt with that bad ol' appendix! I hope you're feeling better! :) Rest, heal and have faith that everything will work out. You now have an instant AF family and I know they are all wishing you well. Many prayers are coming your way! :) :) :)</p>
<p>So yea they did medically turn me back. I am, however, still sitting in my room at the Academy. I am isolated from my squadron, which SUCKS! They didn't put me in the Admin Squadron (41), but left me in Deuce. I also had to watch my classmates get accepted into the Cadet Wing, while I did not. I am not a complainer, but I have been here for almost 10 days now waiting for my Med Turnback to take effect. I can't even walk down the stairs and am barely fed. I seriously wish that the process would be somewhat faster...</p>
<p>It's possible that they dragged their feet intentionally, to extend your care longer. I could see them having some regulation forcing you out the door in x number of days, and they wanted to give you a few extra days of recovery before you had to travel. Put it behind you as quick as you can, and start preparing for next year. You're going through every BCT's worst nightmare, and we all sympathize.</p>
<p>Jaywol: well, as a mom, I would say it sounds like you are on the mend - YOU'RE MAD! I could always tell when my kids were getting well again because they were angry! </p>
<p>Now, put your head on straight again and start to plan for the upcoming year. Studies at a local U., continued PT, working toward optimal strength and conditioning. You know what you want - now you have to put a plan in motion.</p>
<p>I am sorry about the frustrations you have now. But, keep your eye on the prize! While you have time, keep a diary, make lists, prepare a calendar for the upcoming semester. Write to the soldiers serving in Afghanistan or Iraq who miss their families and have put their lives on hold for us. Write to the young men and women at Walter Reed who need your prayers and support. In other words, take yourself "out of yourself" and you will feel better!</p>
<p>So the Commandant signed the form and I am outprocessing tomorrow! YAY!</p>
<p>Are you going to work toward returning next June? Too early to tell?</p>
<p>Jaywol:</p>
<p>I too am very sorry about your setback. If there is anything my son or I can do for you (he got hurt before basic...and has to repeat most of the application process...but it has made him more determined to go.)...please let us know.</p>
<p>Our thoughts and prayers are with you.</p>