ACL Reconstruction Surgery

peterk · Post by **peterk** » April 18th, 2007, 2:05 pm

Hi. As stated in my introduction, I had recieved ACL Reconstruction Surgery for a torn ACL about a year ago. I have looked up information about this for some time and found conflicting information. I want to be a Ranger, but as I have read, you can not pass a Ranger physical with metal (i.e.: screws, plates, pins, etc) in your body. I currently have some metal screws in my knee. My knee is at 100% and I believe I can do anything (jump, run, squat, duck walk, walk, etc).

So what I'm asking is whether or not I should let the army know of my knee surgery, because I have read some Ranger's responses that discourage this if it is not life threatening such as; asthima. Or should I tell them regardless, although I know I can not have metal in my body if I want to be a Ranger. And if i want to be a Ranger, it requires me to be morally straight as the Ranger Creed states. Have I read right when saying there are no waivers for this in Ranger physicals?

I am thankful for any information that will be given to me.

-peterk

bulldogg · Post by **bulldogg** » April 18th, 2007, 6:25 pm

Never shall I fail my comrades. I will always keep myself mentally alert, physically strong and morally straight and I will shoulder more than my share of the task whatever it may be. One-hundred-percent and then some.

Jason113 · Post by **Jason113** » April 18th, 2007, 6:28 pm

I do beleive that you've got your answer.

peterk · Post by **peterk** » April 18th, 2007, 6:35 pm

Thank you Jason113 and Bulldogg.

SkyShark · Post by **SkyShark** » April 18th, 2007, 6:40 pm

bulldogg wrote:
Never shall I fail my comrades. I will always keep myself mentally alert, physically strong and morally straight and I will shoulder more than my share of the task whatever it may be. One-hundred-percent and then some.

good post

ChipOnShoulder · Post by **ChipOnShoulder** » April 19th, 2007, 7:35 pm

Better to be turned down now and save some knee, than destroy them later based on a lie.

peterk · Post by **peterk** » April 20th, 2007, 2:57 am

Thank you for the adive SF Leatherneck. Ranger Doc Cook, is it really better to be turned down then to blow out a knee? If I blow out a knee I can always get it fixed, but how many chances do you get to be a Ranger? For me I would rather blow my knee out again having the chance to do what I wanted rather then get denied the chance.

But I'm looking to join after next semester or possibly in a year, hopefully then they will see I had my surgery 2 years back and my knee is as good as my other.

Jason113 · Post by **Jason113** » April 20th, 2007, 4:38 am

Bulldogg, pm inbound.

EvilCouch · Post by **EvilCouch** » April 20th, 2007, 5:06 am

peterk wrote:Thank you for the adive SF Leatherneck. Ranger Doc Cook, is it really better to be turned down then to blow out a knee? If I blow out a knee I can always get it fixed, but how many chances do you get to be a Ranger? For me I would rather blow my knee out again having the chance to do what I wanted rather then get denied the chance.

Say you manage to make it through RIP with your knee and deploy. Then you blow your knee out on a combat jump. Congratulations, you've just made yourself worthless and a medic has to treat and evac your sorry ass instead of a real fucking casualty.

Now your squad's a man short and at least one medic is tied up dealing with you instead of putting rounds on target or patching someone up.

Is that your big plan?

Good motivation. Poor judgement.

peterk · Post by **peterk** » April 20th, 2007, 8:33 am

Point taken Ranger EvilCouch. Of course I know as a Ranger I would be part of a team and it would not be fair to the team if that situation happened, buts thats an if. Either way I know this is an issue I can not go around as Ranger Fish has stated, they will see my scar. Just wondering, but what is a p2 profile? So if there is no exception to the 'retained hardware' rule set in AR 40 501, should I forget about becoming a Ranger?

-peterk

peterk · Post by **peterk** » April 20th, 2007, 9:11 am

Well seems I can not control what happens. Only if i had the ability to remove these screws, but these 'ifs' do not help me. Thank you Ranger Fish for the information, and I will strive for what I want. Except I need to figure out how to obtain something I want when something I can't control prevents that. Any insight from anyone?

-peterk