u/Necessary_Patience87

Hello, I'm looking for some insight into my waiver odds for USMC. I posted something similar on r/Militaryfaq and r/army , but I want to explore all my options. I am an incoming freshman at Harvard/Princeton/Yale. Prior to the shoulder injury mentioned below, I won a 4-year Army ROTC scholarship but turned it down because I decided to instead enlist active duty after getting my degree (plan to do 4 years and then pivot). This plan worked out in my favor considering the shoulder recovery would keep me from a year's worth of ROTC and would likely hurt my OML branching prospects.

Medical History:

• 2 years ago: Dislocated my shoulder
• This past spring: subluxation of the same shoulder
• Had an MRI showing a significant labral tear and a Hill-Sachs lesion.
• I am getting corrective surgery this Christmas (Bankart repair). I will have all of college (3.5+ years post-op) to do rehab, and I plan to keep everything related to my shoulder well-documented

1. Given that I am going the enlistment route and will be 3+ years post-op by the time I graduate and hit MEPS, how are my odds for an enlistment medical waiver?
2. Does having a degree actually help move the needle with the Waiver Authority, or is the medical review completely blind to who the applicant is?

I know it’s an automatic DQ at MEPS initially. I just want to know if I'm fighting a losing battle or if a perfectly stable shoulder + non-medical context gives me a strong shot at getting approved. I will definitely take anything I can get, so with that in mind, will it be easier to secure a waiver for the officer or enlisted side? Thanks

Hello, I'm looking for some insight into my waiver odds for the Army. I posted something similar a while back, but I have new details since getting an MRI. I am an incoming freshman at Harvard/Princeton/Yale. Prior to the shoulder injury mentioned below, I won a 4-year Army ROTC scholarship but turned it down because I decided to instead enlist active duty after getting my degree.

Medical History:

• 2 years ago: Dislocated my shoulder
• This past spring: subluxation of the same shoulder
• Had an MRI showing a significant labral tear and a Hill-Sachs lesion.
• I am getting corrective surgery this Christmas (Bankart repair). I will have all of college (3.5+ years post-op) to do rehab, and I plan to keep everything related to my shoulder well-documented

1. Given that I am going the enlistment route and will be 3+ years post-op by the time I graduate and hit MEPS, how are my odds for an enlistment medical waiver?
2. Does having a degree actually help move the needle with the Waiver Authority, or is the medical review completely blind to who the applicant is?

I know it’s an automatic DQ at MEPS initially. I just want to know if I'm fighting a losing battle or if a perfectly stable shoulder + non-medical context gives me a strong shot at getting approved. Thanks.

Currently a senior in HS, heading to college in the fall. Long-term goal is 1811 after serving in the military for a few years (4-6). I have a history of shoulder instability.

— 2 years ago: Full dislocation. Saw an ortho, did PT, returned to full sport.
— 1 month ago: Minor subluxation. Ortho saw me, X-rays were clean, no pain/limitations currently.

Functionally, I’m 100%. I can max pull-ups and push-ups, but with two events on record, I know I’m looking at a potential DQ/Waiver situation at MEPS and eventually for 1811 medical.

I have an MRI scheduled in the next two weeks, and I am considering getting corrective surgery (Bankart/Labral repair) this summer before freshman year of college to permanently stabilize the joint.

Does the 1811 medical community view a successful, documented surgical repair more favorably than a history of "conservative treatment" that includes a recent subluxation?

I know the military will see the ortho visits. If I get the surgery, it’s a massive paper trail, but if I don't, I risk another subluxation during OCS or the Academy. Is it better to have the surgery now so it's 4+ years post-op by the time I apply for 1811 roles?

For those who have navigated 1811 medical, are repaired shoulders (with full ROM and strength) generally waiverable if there’s a solid 4-year track record of high-level athletic performance afterward?

Currently a senior in high school, heading to college next fall. I dislocated my shoulder two years ago in a sports match, popped it back in, and the doctor told me I wouldn't need an MRI until it happened again. 4 weeks ago, it did.

I made a post on a different forum asking about waivers for labrum surgery, but now I am wondering if surgery is even the play. I have complete range of motion, no pain, and can do calisthenics with no discomfort, and I am curious if surgery does more harm than help in terms of MEPS processing/waivers.

Of course I want to be in the best shape possible when it comes time to sign the contract, but I just want to make sure that I'm not taking anything off the table before I go ahead and discuss the prospect of surgery with an orthopedic specialist. I have the MRI coming up, but I wanted to get y'all's opinion on this before I make any decisions with a doctor, as I understand that the waiver system is a bear.

TL;DR : Is it better to present a shoulder that has "chronic instability" (dislocated twice) but no surgery, or a shoulder that has been surgically repaired and cleared by a specialist?

Thanks.