Torn ACL

Damien435

Damien435

Active member
In short, what are my options with the Army after a torn ACL? I've crossed Airborne off of the list, my heart wants me to go into the Airborne, especially after talking to by step-grandpa who was in the 101st during Vietnam, but I am worried that my knee would be a liability, even if it is only in my mind, so I have shot down that idea. What I would like to do is work with the Army's new STRYKER battalion, but for some I doubt members of the South Dakota Army National Guard can assigned to a unit stationed in Texas and still go to school full-time. Last April I tried to re-enlist as a medic but found out in a terrible way that there is a minimum one year wait on ACL's, which my recruiters neglected to tell me BEFORE I had told my family, job and school that I was going to basic in May, that was a great story to tell over and over again. I would like to go medic simply because if I do ever get deployed, even if I had sinced changed MOS's, that kind of training could prove useful. I'd also like to go down the road of an MP or perhaps Infatry again, although it just isn't the same when I don't get to jump out of a plane at 3,000-10,000 feet.

So that's kind of what I am interested in doing, and since I can't get a straight answer out of a recruiter I am asking you guys if any of you know of a list of MOS's that are closed off to me because of my ACL reconstruction surgery that I had in July, 2005.
 
Damien435 said:
In short, what are my options with the Army after a torn ACL? I've crossed Airborne off of the list, my heart wants me to go into the Airborne, especially after talking to by step-grandpa who was in the 101st during Vietnam, but I am worried that my knee would be a liability, even if it is only in my mind, so I have shot down that idea. What I would like to do is work with the Army's new STRYKER battalion, but for some I doubt members of the South Dakota Army National Guard can assigned to a unit stationed in Texas and still go to school full-time. Last April I tried to re-enlist as a medic but found out in a terrible way that there is a minimum one year wait on ACL's, which my recruiters neglected to tell me BEFORE I had told my family, job and school that I was going to basic in May, that was a great story to tell over and over again. I would like to go medic simply because if I do ever get deployed, even if I had sinced changed MOS's, that kind of training could prove useful. I'd also like to go down the road of an MP or perhaps Infatry again, although it just isn't the same when I don't get to jump out of a plane at 3,000-10,000 feet.

So that's kind of what I am interested in doing, and since I can't get a straight answer out of a recruiter I am asking you guys if any of you know of a list of MOS's that are closed off to me because of my ACL reconstruction surgery that I had in July, 2005.
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What Reenlistment Code do you have on your DD214?

Look for the RE code.
 
You'll most likely have to get a waiver either for your RE code (if it's a 3) or your surgery. Once you get the waiver, your physical profile will be determined. Every MOS in the Army has a physical profile, they call it PULHES each job will have the serial requirement for that listed.

Example is let's say 11Bravo. You need a PULHES of 111221. You may have a 2 for "L" instead of a one, so they can waiver that, or you can look for jobs that allow you the two for your knee.

Check out the jobs you're interested in and look at the PULHES requirements as well as the physical demands (light, heavy, etc) and compare. Write down the ones you're interested in and once you're physical'd and ready to choose an MOS, you can start doing the match work.

All of that said, if you can get back in, I don't see any reason why you can't be infantry, abn may be an option but realize it puts a lot of stress on your knees. I'm in my early 30s and my knees have been shot for years now.
 
I tried to join the Army with a busted up ACL (and three screws in my knee) and was told flat out that enlistment was not an option. Same with the USMC. Same with the Navy. Same with the Air Force. Same with the bloody Coast Guard. (In that order. :) ) All the best to you, friend. I can't tell you how much I'll envy you if you get in. :salute2:
 
moving0target said:
I tried to join the Army with a busted up ACL (and three screws in my knee) and was told flat out that enlistment was not an option. Same with the USMC. Same with the Navy. Same with the Air Force. Same with the bloody Coast Guard. (In that order. :) ) All the best to you, friend. I can't tell you how much I'll envy you if you get in. :salute2:
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It's more than possible to get in after knee surgery (ACL, MCL, etc). A waiver is almost always required which costs the recruiter time and headaches, so sometimes finding the right one makes all the difference.
 
I had the same question. I started playing rugby to lose some weight in get back into shape so i could try and go to Marine OCS after i graduate, but ended up tearing my acl half way through the season. I found this
(1) Loose or foreign bodies within the knee joint (717.6).
(2) Physical findings of an unstable or internally deranged joint (717.9). History of uncorrected anterior (717.83) or posterior (717.84) cruciate ligament injury.
(3) Surgical correction of any knee ligaments if symptomatic or unstable (P81)
Seems to me if the surgery went good the sky is the limit or am i reading this wrong?
 
ACL injuries are nasty. Someone's dog ran out in front of my friend while he was going 40 on his dirtbike. The peg landed directly on his knee and the doctor said his ACL was just... gone. So, he got a cadaver ACL and some painful surgery.

Maybe if you get a dead guy's ACL they will let you serve?
 
major liability said:
ACL injuries are nasty. Someone's dog ran out in front of my friend while he was going 40 on his dirtbike. The peg landed directly on his knee and the doctor said his ACL was just... gone. So, he got a cadaver ACL and some painful surgery.

Maybe if you get a dead guy's ACL they will let you serve?
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yeah it sucked pretty bad.My ACL is now a hamstring ligament from my own leg. Im three months post op now and finally started jogging again this week. Its slow right now but i know that my knee feels better everyday. Im just looking at it as more encouragement to get in the best shape i can.
 
bulldogg said:
What kind of physio are you doing to strengthen the supporting muscles?
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I did it on my own. I did the usual stuff, at first. leg raises and stretching. Then i started riding a stationary bike, and then went on to my road bike. My quad is still a little smaller on the bad leg but its getting better every day. I have full movement now also. My doc is having me wait a few more months before i touch weights with my legs though. He was a very conservative doctor.
 
Best to be conservative. Be sure you follow his advice. Is he a sports medicine doc? If not, you might want to find one ;). Orthopods are good but ones who have specialised with sports medicine are the best for this kind of injury.
 
With the hamstring graph you're looking at about 6 months before you're back to moderate shape. Your doc is good to make you wait on weights, while you heal faster with the graph, you still need to take a good 6 mons going pretty easy. You don't want to have to go through that again. Light workouts, don't overrun, definitely don't play any contact sports; not even in the back yard. When you do start to lift, make sure you start small, very small and built up slowly. Most guys are good to go in about 8 to 10 months, but that's dependent on the individual.

When you're good to go, make sure you get a release from your surgeon, GP and any other medical professional you've been seeing.

Something to keep in mind about needing waivers, the difficulty in obtaining them varies from branch to branch. Waivers are available, but you'll probably have to deal with a few different recruiters to find one that's willing to put the work in to try and get you one.

 
bulldogg said:
Best to be conservative. Be sure you follow his advice. Is he a sports medicine doc? If not, you might want to find one ;). Orthopods are good but ones who have specialised with sports medicine are the best for this kind of injury.
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No he is not a sports medicine doctor, but his resume is enough for me. Played college football, OS in the Army. He also has tore his ACL and plays Rugby so he knows were i am coming from. He has been an awesome doctor. I had two friends that tore their acl at the same time. I have rehabbed twice as fast as them and was in a lot less pain.
 
PJ24 said:
With the hamstring graph you're looking at about 6 months before you're back to moderate shape. Your doc is good to make you wait on weights, while you heal faster with the graph, you still need to take a good 6 mons going pretty easy. You don't want to have to go through that again. Light workouts, don't overrun, definitely don't play any contact sports; not even in the back yard. When you do start to lift, make sure you start small, very small and built up slowly. Most guys are good to go in about 8 to 10 months, but that's dependent on the individual.

When you're good to go, make sure you get a release from your surgeon, GP and any other medical professional you've been seeing.

Something to keep in mind about needing waivers, the difficulty in obtaining them varies from branch to branch. Waivers are available, but you'll probably have to deal with a few different recruiters to find one that's willing to put the work in to try and get you one.
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Thanks for the info. Yeah im not sure if im going back to Rugby or not. I like playing but its not worth it if it might hurt my career choices. He told 6-8 months i should be back to normal. The reason i want to go USMC is i want to fly, probelly would go in even if i couldn't fly though.
 
Here's a brick wall I ran into, Ryan, minimum one year wait between date of surgery and earliest possible time you can enlist.
 
Damien435 said:
Here's a brick wall I ran into, Ryan, minimum one year wait between date of surgery and earliest possible time you can enlist.
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I have a 1 1/2 years before i graduate. so thats not a problem, that and i have 40 pounds to lose before i can go. Not being able to do anything for months sucks!!! If im not working out and running i gain weight.
 
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