Expert: MARK A. HOWELL - 2/15/2011

Question
hi. i was planning on enlisting into the Marine corps but i tore my acl in my left knee on January 2010. an mri of my knee showed a torn acl. i did not have insurance and the surgery out of pocket cost was pushing past 15k. a family member who is a good orthopedic surgeon in Mexico offered to examine me and perform the surgery needed. he performed an examination and agreed with the mri results. his pre-op diagnosis was i had a torn acl. surgery was performed June 22nd 2010. surgery was a success and was released after 2 days. after a few weeks of physical therapy performed by the DR and post of evaluation i was ok to come back home to the states August 10th. i just recently started a physical therapy program with a doctor of physical therapy. what are my chances of being able to enlist in the Marine Corps after i complete a rigorous physical therapy program and get a release of care from my therapist with no limitations and clearance to go to boot camp? im planning on providing the recruiter with all the physical therapy documentation. also would it be a problem that i received surgery in Mexico? i can provide all the documentation from the doctor who performed the surgery, surgery statement, and release of care. what do you think my chances are.

Answer
Eric,
The USMC medical regulations say exactly, "Surgical correction of any knee ligaments if symptomatic or unstable is a cause for rejection."  Some folks read that as surgery will disqualify you.  Others say it means that if the knee is still unstable or symptomatic after surgery, then you will be rejected.  You'll have to check with your local recruiter to see how he interprets the rules.  In no case would I mention the surgery was performed in Mexico.  Unfortunately there's a stigma attached to physicians in foreign countries as being below U.S. standards.  I say, if it works, who cares.
If you don't like the answer your recruiter gives you, go see another recruiter in a different town.
I think you'll make it, given a break.
Colonel H