Expert: Howard Lorenz - 5/24/2008

Question
Hi,  My husband and I just received a phone call from our son at Great Lakes.   he was scheduled to graduate 6/20/08. He has always worn orthodics in his shoes.  he has had them since he was 2 years old and we take him to a doctor that treats professional athletes and runners.  The orthodics were returned from with the rest of his clothing.  He was put on light limited duty the second week of boot camp because he developed tendonitis and ankle problems.  After a week or two he said he returned to regular duty and they have continued to hurt.  Today he was taking the PT testing and during the running he said he fell to his knees because the pain was so great and he was taken to medical.  The tendonitis is much worse and they don't feel he will be able to continue with boot camp at this time.  He said he will be coming home in about 15 days.  he was so upset he could barely talk to us.  I am concerned because he sounds so devastated.  The letters we have received from him have been truthful about how hard boot camp is but also about how much he wants to be in the Navy.  We talked to the recruiter tonight and he told us that our son passed the medical exam and his feet were alright.  My husband told him that clearly Chris has no arches and that orthodics are the easiest fix in the world.  Chris said he can return to boot camp and I believe pick up where he left off, but he said they would not let him bring the orthodics again.  This is insane.  What can we do.

Answer
Here is a classic where the recruiter needs to be slapped. In most cases, the applicant will not get passed the MEPS. Nothing against your sone, but that is where they should have terminated his application and DQ'd him. The Military does not allow for anything that is not "ISSUED" in BMT. this includes orthotics. This should have been explained to him by his recruiter before he went to BMT. I had one who was passed by the MEPS, but I made him run before he left with out them, he stated to me that the could not....I released him becasue I knew that him going to BMT that way would set him up for failure....such the case with your son.

Is this the end...certainly not. I would write your congressman and or senator and ask that he be able to return and use the otrthotics durning training.... Its a long shot, but worth a try.