Expert: Cynthia Bedell - 5/26/2009

Question
Hello, thank-you in advance for your help.  I'm a former Army soldier, I was enlisted from July 2001 to July 2005.  I was a UAV operator and have flight hours on the Hunter and Shadow 200.  I spent one year in Iraq with the Army's first Stryker Brigade.  
I went to college immediately after my ETS and graduated from Washington State University last year.  I'm 29 years old.
I got my knee scoped out over two years ago and have been accident-free since.  Ridiculous NCO-driven PT (such as fireman-carry sprints) in the Army led to my injury.  I've been running recently, however, and consider myself very healthy.  I applied for and am receiving 10% disability pay from the VA.  Although I am making good money as a contractor in Arizona I really feel driven towards Navy OCS.  Will my past injury keep me from getting accepted?  I want to stop collecting disability because I believe this will preclude my acceptance.  Am I right to want this?  How can this be done?
Thanks so much, I'm sweating over the idea of me not being able to follow my dream of being a Navy officer.


Answer
Dear Matthew --

You will need a waiver to be allowed to attend Navy OCS.  But, if your knee is in good condition, you may well get it.  You should be re-evaluated and removed from VA disability payments, prior to applying for your Navy enlistment medical waiver.  

I believe you will have to pay back the disability payments you received, but this can be done via a monthly allotment from your military pay, if you do receive an enlistment and are allowed to attend OCS.

Understand that if you enlist with an option to attend OCS, and you do not pass OCS, you will have to complete your enlistment as a Sailor.  If this is okay with you, then there is no issue.  

Good luck to you.  Please write back, if you have other questions.  Thank you for your service.