Recruit put on medical hold.

[Karen ~ Corpsman Chris' Mom]

I just found out my son was put on medical hold, due to a stress fracture in his heal. Does anyone have any experience with a recruit being put on medical hold? I pray they do not medically discharge him and allow him to recover and finish bootcamp. It's been a lontime dream of his to become a Navy Sailor.

 

 

[jackie]

my granddaughter is on medical hold for a stress fracture in her ankle and thigh. she has been since june 6. she is doing fine and should become a sailor mid august. it is scary, but he will be fine. they will make sure he is healed and readt to continue full training.a girl i worked with was in rcu due to a stress fracture in her heel. she was due to graduate in may. she graduated last week. iknow you can't help but worry. he is in good hands. an unexpected bump in the road not an end to a budding navy career.

[Karen ~ Corpsman Chris' Mom]

That is encouraging, that they will work with them. I was afraid they would send him home. This has been a long time dream of his to be in the Navy. I don't have a new PIR date yet, but he said they have him on light duty right now. He said his PIR date will get pushed back two, three, or maybe even four weeks, depending on how he heals

[TN Navy Mom (Stennis Nuke Mom)]

We lived the same type of nightmare for a while. My son went to RCU (Recruit Care Unit) on 3/19. Was originally suppsed to PIR on 4/9 after arriving in Great Lakes on 2/10. He injured his knee and was on LLD for a few days and when it didn't improve, off to Ship 6, Div 2341. My sailor was on Week 5 day 1 when he was ASMO'd. It took a while for him to go through therapy and get through the bone scans and MRIs but ultimately he finished bootcamp from RCU rather than joining another division and completing his training with them.

Being on Ship 6 Div 2341 is tough on the SRs. They go from intense training to a lot of down time and uncertainty about their future. There are counselors available and chaplains on duty, my sailor said that he talked to the Chaplain. He was threatened with discharge several times but i think it just made him work harder to prove himself to the RDCs.

I, as his mom, was a mess the entire time he was in RCU. We only heard from him every other week, usually on Sunday afternoons. BUT the bootcamp saying, No News Is Good News most definitely applies in RCU.

We got the "I'm a Sailor" call on 4/30 and waiting for final medical releases and waivers took a few more weeks in THU (Temporary Holding Unit) before he left for A School. He hit O'Hare airport on 2/10 to arrive and hit O'Hare airport on 6/9 to leave. It took him a while, but he did finish and is now in A school.

Hit me with a friend request if you want to talk. I've been there and I understand.

Keep writing - constantly - uplifting encouraging words are important. Also, funny stuff because this change is kind of depressing for them.

[ChrisAmo]

Stress fractures seems to a common complaint among recruits. Part of it is due to all the instense PT they have to do. My son was in terrific physical condition when he went in (he was going into Spec. Ops. so knew he'd be really pushed) but started to develop shin splints due to all the running. He saw a therapist (?) there who advised him to try and change his running style (not sure what that entailed) and that it might help. He tried it and it did and he was able to PIR on time. So your son isn't alone and they probably won't discharge him.

[Marilyn]

My daughter was in RCU for about 6 weeks, middle of April to end of May, with a stress fracture of her pelvis. It was a difficult time for her, but the doctor assured her she would be able to pass her PFA and graduate. She graduated May 29, could not go to PIR because her division had graduated April 9. She is just about finished with A school and will be heading for Japan the end of August. My daughter got through the hold up by doing what she was asked to do, volunteering, going to church and bible studies. The chaplin talked with those in RCU at least once a week to keep the morale up. She worked hard during therapy sessions and tried to keep a poitive attitude. She was so ready to get out of boot camp that I think that inspired her to work harder too! She was injured a week before she was to graduate, so that was very frustrating for her. Her pelvis will take 6 months to a year to heal completely. It still bothers her at times but she grins and bears it. She was told that one of the causes of so many stress fractures is that they always run the track in the same direction so it puts more stress on the left leg. She was able to call us almost every weekend, sometimes more often due to "good" behavior. Hang in there, I am sure your son will make it through!

[TN Navy Mom (Stennis Nuke Mom)]

my sailor was Yeoman in THU after he completed BS and said that a lot of the SRs he knew from RCU ended up separated and a lot of them were for depression, BC is tough without an injury,that's why it's not for everybody.

[Karen ~ Corpsman Chris' Mom]

That's what I'm afraid of! He's already phoned his girlfriend saying he wants to come home. I wish there was something I could do or say to him to convince him to hang in there. I keep encouraging him through letters, but I havn't actually talked to him. He has only recently spoke to his girlfriend and she says he was very down and wants to come home! Is there anything I can do? He doesn't see the light at the end of the tunnel, he has always wanted to join the Navy since I can remember. I am actually a bit surprised he is wanting to leave and come home. I know he will regret it, if he leaves!

[jackie]

i think that it is not at all un usual to want to come home, espically when you are close to graduation and get injured. it's hard to see light at the end of the tunnel, but with each step forward he takes it will get easier. there are many wonderful and supportive people in rcu, that should help him along the road to recovery. i sent my granddaughter3or 4 cards every week. in one of them i told her i was sure she would be in phaseIV of therapy soon because i was running out of cute cards. i got a letter the nest day from her telling me she would be starting phaseIV the next monday. what great timing. encouragement and lots of love from home really goes a long way.

[mrssauce60]

My son was just put on medical hold also. I got a letter a couple of days ago and he was very distraught, also saying he wanted to come home. In the past two days, we have sent 4 letters and a card and I have other friends and family writing hin also. I hope my son and the other recruits can find support with each other because it sounds like a lot of them are feeling pretty down and out about their situations.

[Karen ~ Corpsman Chris' Mom]

Hi Mrssauce60, I'm sorry to hear about your son. What was your son put on medical hold for? Did he also get moved to ship 6? Maybe our sons can pull through this together. How far into bootcamp was your son when he was asmod'd? My son's first name is Chris. I too have been non stop sending letters of encouragement as is the family and are my friends. That and prayer are my only hope right now that he'll look beyond his injury and see the big picture and some how dig deep within and find the inner strength to carry on and get through his injury so he can continue on with bootcamp and eventually PIR and become a US Navy Sailor!

[jackie]

your son is sure to find much support in rcu. that support should help him stay focused on his recovery. if he is like my granddaughter, he will take tremendous pride in each step he makes toward full recovery and graduation. it is so hard to leave your division but new friends and experiences await. keep up the letters and cards,be patient, take each day at a time.i drove myself almost crazy with worry at first,but i realized my granddaughter was in really good hands. she is very close to graduation.i will keep your son in my prayers.

[Karen ~ Corpsman Chris' Mom]

Thank you Jackie! He has a Dr. appt tomorrow, I'm praying I hear good news from this.