Hi my son is a senior GPA 3.8 out of 4, unweighted. Seven AP classes,varsity football and varsity rugby and a fair a mount of community service including voleenteer firefighter. Interviews all set up for nominations and has passed CFA. So you are probably wondering what my question could be - he has injured his shoulder during Homecoming game! This young man has been planning and working towards a military career for years - if you meet him you’d think he could be the poster boy. Serious, determined,smart, athletic,competitive,honorable,popular and independent. I swear he has been all grown up since he was 13! If we make it thru football and IF he gets into West Point we still have rugby season and I can’t convince him to laylow- he just says “West Point doesn’t want quitters.” Whole thing is giving me an ulcer.(but I am very proud). So…what happens if he’s injured
Hi I’m a Nurse Practitioner and do a lot of ortho. Has this been evaluated by his PCP?
Physical therapy?
Get the advice of a doctor and take it. West Point also wants people who can follow orders.
He doesn’t get to decide. The parents in consultation with a doctor decide.
Get him medical intervention, take their advice, and go from there. I know kids who soared at ROTC when they didn’t make it into one of the academies; one of my kids has a friend who is doing exceptionally well as a JAG officer even though he was heartbroken not to get into West Point; it is teenage thinking at its best to believe that the upcoming rugby season is going to be make or break on his military career…
I’m a West Point grad and sit on Congressional Boards to interview candidates and make suggestions to our congressman. It is important that a candidate demonstrate that they are athletic. In your son’s case he has already demonstrated that he is athletic so the fact that he would sit out sports at this point to let his shoulder heal would definitely not be held against him. He will need to pass a DOD physical at some point and further aggravation of the shoulder might prevent him from getting an Appointment altogether. He’s got solid stats and should be a strong contender for a congressional appointment and admission. You do need to realize that getting into the Academy is extremely competitive and a lot depends on what congressional district you are in and how many spots the congressman actually has available. He needs a fallback plan and should also consider Annapolis and the Air Force Academy. It is possible your congressman or senator has available spots at USNA or USAFA but not West Point
If you son is seriously considering a military career, I"d encourage you to check out serviceacdemyforums.com
You will get advice from people who have gone the military route or who have children who have gone in that direction.
Check out the DoDMERB section since you have a medical question.
My son is a WP cadet. I also wanted to ‘bubblewrap’ him but he had none of that. His reply was similar to your son’s reply to you.
Forgive me for not knowing the technical terms, but here goes …
I know a boy who wanted to go into an academy and had successfully jumped through all the hoops, but injured his shoulder playing football his senior year and had to have surgery. He was not admitted to his desired academy but was told that they would defer much of his app until the next year and that he could try again. He went to a regional uni, killed it and reapplied and is now a sophomore at his desired academy. There’s more than one way to skin a cat. Good luck to your ds!
West Point doesn’t want people who can’t pass a Candidate Fitness Assessment…two parts are throwing a basketball and pull ups. If he can’t do that because of an injured shoulder, it doesn’t matter how many seasons of sports he has played. So I would talk to a sports medicine/orthopedist and tell them that he usually plays rugby and also wants to be ready for the CFA (find out when that is usually done) and what do they suggest.
http://www.usna.edu/Admissions/Candidate-Fitness-Assessment.php
This may not be relevant but if surgery is needed, check out prolotherapy or platelet-rich plasma treatments as an alternative.