Author Topic: All of you out there, I need some advice, BADLY. (Read 506 times)

Serenity · « **on:** August 18, 2007, 06:19:27 PM »

Well, I just got back from the hospital, with the most depressing news of my life. As some of you know, I want to be an Air Force Heavy Bomber pilot when im out of school. But, that dream might just have shattered. I got the news today that i've severly injured my left knee. The kneecap has moved FAR out of place, its twisted, tilted, and in the wrong spot. Now, as painful as it is, I can live with the pain. BUT, with divine intervention and a miracle, it can heal... in at LEAST 3 years. However, theres a very good chance that this will never heal. And in 3 years, Ill be out of highschool and applying for the Academies. And I know IF the military takes me with this lovely little problem, they WONT let me fly. So, while I'm still going to work toward my military goal, I need to start thinking of some other careers I might be able to take up, while I still have time. So, I was hoping you folks could give me some ideas.

Ever since I was 8, my life has consisted of two things: Flying and the Military. And both seem to have just been ruled out. My interests are aviation, the military, and not much else. And, as much as I hate to say it, money is an issue. So, first, do any of you ENJOY your jobs? Can any of you think of any careers that might both pay well AND be enjoyable? I honestly cannot imagine my life WITHOUT being in the military, so I need some real help with this. Thank you all for any SERIOUS replies.

AquaShrimp · « **Reply #1 on:** August 18, 2007, 06:28:34 PM »

If you can't run you can't be in the military. You have to at least be able to jog several miles.

Serenity · « **Reply #2 on:** August 18, 2007, 06:31:05 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by AquaShrimp
If you can't run you can't be in the military. You have to at least be able to jog several miles.

I can run. I can push through the pain, no matter how much it hurts. I dont think they would take me because, well, its damaged. Im physically damaged.

nirvana · « **Reply #3 on:** August 18, 2007, 06:37:47 PM »

I'd personally get in contact with a recruiter and see what they say. They have waivers for that type of thing if it's not extremely bad i.e. cause you to lag behind if you were to (God forbid) get shot down. When you go through the MEPS process I think they evaluate you for conditions like that, not totally sure though. I know there are several spots on the medical form about knee issues.

You could always go into the civilian sector of piloting. It's probably not quite as interesting as the military but it's flying no less. Best of luck bro, listen to the doctors and let it heal.

Stang · « **Reply #4 on:** August 18, 2007, 06:40:36 PM »

Serenity what is wrong with the knee exactly? Is it the result of an accident or a deformity you were born with? If it is an injury, it can be fixed, especially for someone your age. You just need to find the best doc out there to do it.

Recovery could be more painful than it ever has been, but if you want to pursue your dreams it is probably worth it.

texasmom · « **Reply #5 on:** August 18, 2007, 06:40:46 PM »

Try flight surgeon ~ you'll be taking care of your favorite people, and they'll appreciate you for it.

And doctor is never a bad way to go.

Dichotomy · « **Reply #6 on:** August 18, 2007, 07:07:06 PM »

serenity

how old are you and what are your surgical options.

Squid wants to join the Army when he graduates and we had his achilles tendons surgically repaired at the beginning of summer to correct.

Don't give up until you've exhausted ALL of your options.

Serenity · « **Reply #7 on:** August 18, 2007, 07:08:29 PM »

Basically Stang, whats wrong is that, Ive grown 6 inches in a year. And my dad has been working me like a dog, so all that growth and no rest. My body has broken down pretty badly in general, but my knees, mainly my left knee, has grown into the wrong place. Its moved to the left, and twisted. So, its VERY painful to move my left knee, and it randomly just stops supporting my weight. It drops right out from under me, seizes up, and I fall. And it got a LOT worse two weeks ago, because the muscles holding it where it was were overstressed and apparently sepparated partialy from the knee, meaning I need a brace now just to be able to walk. And, its beyond easy repair because when it first happened my dad didnt want to take me to the doctor because he was too busy fighting with my mum to give a damn about my health. So, the two options are excerscise it and hope, or surgery. Im too young for both. They wont even let me do the physical therapy yet, because they dont want to stunt my growth. Im 5'11. Im tall enough. My parents have said, and so have I, I dont care about stunting my growth, I want this FIXED!!! But they wont even let me begin the therapy until my body has 'fully matured', so it will be two or three years before they do anything about it. And surgery wouldnt be an option for at least 20 or 30 more years. I dont mind the pain. I was raised to ignore pain and push on through, so im damned good at that.

edit: Dichtotomy, im 14. Ill be 15 next saturday.

Tachus · « **Reply #8 on:** August 18, 2007, 07:12:19 PM »

First let me say, I hope you get to realize your dream, and achieve your goals in life; and remember life has a way of working out, at least most of the time.

When I joined the Army, I wanted to fly Helicopters. I couldn't because of some stupid decisions I made when I was a teenager; So I did my time and was discharged. It might seem like a sad story, but I almost certainty would not have met my wife if I had remained in the Army. (Which I would have, if I had been able to fly.) So looking back, which would I choose? Flying of my wife? My wife a 100 times over. We have 4 daughters, which I wouldn't have had. I love my life, and have been greatly blessed. Would I still like to learn how to fly? Sure I would, but I sure wouldn't change the way things turned out.

So go to school, take a variety of classes and see what you like. Enjoy life, (without doing to many dumb things, that get you in trouble) take care of what you can take care of, and don't fret the rest. At least not until you have to.

If it turns out you can't join the military, STAY IN SCHOOL... get a Masters, get a PhD, double major in Philosophy and Physics, minor in Chemistry, or Mathematics.

Then you can always teach college. It's not huge money, but it's not bad, and you can take summers off if you like. Even if you do something else, you can teach part time, or between jobs. What you want is options. I often tell my daughters, if when you grow up you "Want" to be a Wal-Mart greeter, or work at Taco Bell, go for it; but don't get stuck there, because you can't do anything else. Be a truck driver if it makes you happy, but do it with a Masters Degree. (I hope they don't become truck drivers

)

Lastly, though it might seem hard to believe now, for most of us life is a pretty long process (Thankfully) and it sounds like you have your head screwed on straight, so you're way ahead of allot of young people your age already. In light of that, I'm sure things will work in the end.

Take care,
--Tachus

Xargos · « **Reply #9 on:** August 18, 2007, 07:15:51 PM »

1SADS was born without legs but was still was able to own and operate his own plane plus he was a skydiver. If you don't believe me go to the roster page on the Muppet website to see pictures of him back in the late 1970s.

Do not let a knee injury discourage you.

Fishu · « **Reply #10 on:** August 18, 2007, 07:33:04 PM »

There are civilian planes around too. Besides, aviation is not only about the planes - There are many kinds of interesting stuff to get involved with.

I've got into air traffic controlling as a hobby, although the real work is still just a dream and may never come true in this awfully small country of mine (less air traffic, less controllers, but lots of applicants). It's still not the end of the aviation. You can train to become an aviation mechanic and get to fix planes, not to mention some occasional flights that you may come across. Or you can spend few years studying and get to plan things for the planes, get in the management and so on forth.

If you're bored with that, you can get your own license. If you study hard and try hard to get a nice job, you might even be able to afford a plane of your desire. Maybe even a Fw190 replica

Of course you could become one of those crazy stunt or race pilots.

Only a very small portition of people becomes military pilots, but alot more are involved in keeping the planes in the air.

texasmom · « **Reply #11 on:** August 18, 2007, 07:46:06 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by Fishu
I've got into air traffic controlling as a hobby, although the real work is still just a dream and may never come true in this awfully small country of mine (less air traffic, less controllers, but lots of applicants). It's still not the end of the aviation.

Oh yeah, why didn't I think of that too? That's what I did in the army, and then later as a civilian. It was a super gig.

tedrbr · « **Reply #12 on:** August 18, 2007, 07:47:34 PM »

Serenity,

I can't give much advice on the medical end, and that includes the financial aspects of you getting better as well as the physical aspects.

Priority one is to get better. Listen to the doctors. Follow the therapy when the time comes. Be determined but do not do further damage that will set you back further.

Second: keep the dream, but be prepared to deviate as necessary. Going to be brutally honest here: Air Force is tough to get into right now, and if applying right now with such a condition, your chances would be very slim. That could change in a couple years. USAF is still downsizing their end strength to some degree, and not all graduates of the USAFA that get commissioned actually get orders for a posting these days.

There are also alternatives. Bomber pilot might be out, but crew chief may be an option in Air Force when the time comes. Navy aviation career can be even tougher to break into than the Air Force, but it may have opportunities at the time you enlist. There is also the Coast Guard, now under the DHS, and I'm not sure how their requirements would effect your chances.

There are also other branches that have air components: Army has pilots for helicopters and fixed wing aircraft. If things stay as they are in Army end-strength and recruitment problems, and everything about you but the knee score high (ASVAB scores, grades, clean record, glowing recommendations from teachers, any ROTC time,...), you may be able to get a waiver for flight status in some aspect of the Army.

Finally, you may try to back door your way in. Get into a job line in the Army, Navy, or Air Force in piloting UAV's (Unmanned Aerial Vehicles) . Get in. Get the Military Medical system working for you and that knee, then try to transfer OVER to flight status once the knee is fully repaired.

Just recognize it is not an all or nothing proposition. You may end up flying, but not the planes you were hoping to fly. Get better. Get strong. Keep your grades up and your civilian record clean. Consider ROTC or similar to start developing your "networking" skills and gathering contacts that can help you now and in the future. Keep your options open as military end strength, recruitment numbers, and requirements keep changing and there is no telling what the situation will be in a couple years.

Dichotomy · « **Reply #13 on:** August 18, 2007, 08:00:58 PM »

Okay just talked it over with She Devil who is like a walking medical library and she explained why you can't CURRENTLY have surgery. The type of surgery that you need can't be done until you are finished growing because it involves your growth plates which, in most cases, is 21 yo. But don't despair just yet. You may have physical therapy options available to you until that point in time. Rehab time is around a year so that puts you joining a branch of service around 22 years old with possibly a bachelors degree in something that would help you.

I don't know much about Air Force requirements and I'm sure there's some people here that can advise about charting that particular course but it's something to think about.

Serenity · « **Reply #14 on:** August 18, 2007, 08:05:46 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by Dichotomy
Wait a minute the doctors telling you that you can't have surgery to correct?

Not for about 20-30 years. Its possible, but surgeons wont do it until a certain age.