Five weeks and 3 days after arriving at OCS, this candidate is on his way home. I’m at Bethesda Naval Hospital and have some time to kill, let me tell you how much things suck right now.
Last Wednesday was the Combat Readiness Test. For those that don’t know, the CRT includes a rope climb with full gear (no pack), 3-mile run, casualty evac drills, push ups, and a coordination and speed drill.
Everything was going fine until the end of the 3-mile run, and I’m talking the last 20 meters. My right leg started to hurt real bad, and I started falling out of the squad. Five seconds later and SNAP, I collapsed to the dirt. My squad leader told me to get the hell up but I told him it wasn’t happening and to finish the run. Seconds later I was surrounded by Marines asking me what hurt and telling me everything was going to be okay. I told them I couldn’t move my right leg at all and they began screaming “CORPSMAN!” I was quickly lifted onto a stretcher and double-timed all the way to the medical building.
An hour later after receiving X-Rays, I was told the bad news. I had fractured my right femur, basically breaking my right hip. To say I was devastated would be a grave understatement. Two hours later I was in an ambulance on my way to my current residence in Maryland.
I was quickly prepped for surgery, which lasted a couple hours, during which surgeons inserted 3 screws in my femur head. I woke up to Adrienne standing above my guerney which made me feel about 10 times better. The surgery went well, there were no problems whatsoever. My parents arrived around 2200 and we visited until around 2300. Since then I’ve been stuck in my hospital bed. I finally got crutches today which allowed me to hobble into the TV/computer room.
Just when I thought things couldn’t get worse, I was told by my surgeons that even though the surgery went well, there is still a fair chance that my femur will not heal correctly and I might need more surgeries down the road. For now, I will be on crutches for at least 12 weeks.
As for returning to OCS someday? I’d like to go back and finish what I started and become a Marine Officer. If that’s medically impossible I guess I’ll just deal with that when the time comes.
Comments
10 responses to “NPQ”
OMG. I’ve been following your progress since Ive found your blog, a godsend to me for someone just applying to the 10 week OCC program.
What a horrible situation you are in, and your FEMUR of all bones? How on earth did you manage to break that bone?
Heal. Heal right. Good luck.
Man, I really hate to read this post! It always seems like bad things happen to good people. I wish you luck through your recovery and hopefully you will be able to finish what you started one day! Semper Fi
sorry that had to happen. Hope your recovery goes well.
Dude, I saw that happen and heard about it throughout the day. I, and the rest of the candidates I’ve spoken with, feel incredibly bad for you, but keep your head up.
We never understand that cards that are dealt to us, but after a few years of being the same ass-kicker that got us to the place where we met apparent defeat, it becomes clear. Your story doesn’t end here.
Sorry, man. I understand your disappointment. Take care and remember that there are many ways to serve your country.
[…] I took a visit over to Randy’s site only to find out that a fellow blogger and future fellow Marine (not at the moment I guess) got hurt and was discharged from Officer Candidate School. This is very sad and even though I don’t know him personally, I feel down right now. […]
Hey,
Keep that head up. Sounds like you have what it takes to make it through OCS, and if you can get through that, I’m sure you can get through your health issues.
I’m going to OCS 8 July 2006, PLC Juniors. Any tips, tricks to get a leg up?
-Dave
Northeastern University
wow… thats such an unfortunate story.. i’m sorry to hear that this has happened to you. What’s ur status now? Will you be able to continue?
Right now I’m on disability. My hope is to return to OCS and become a Marine, but only time will tell if that’s possible.
Hang in there, Candidate. I found myself NPQ during the 4th week of PLC Seniors. I suffered a compound fracture of my right ankle during the same evolution (I fell off of the rope). I was not sure if I would be found PQ to return to training, and, to make matters worse, I was concerned about losing my scholarship as a cross country runner at my university.
Well, I missed fall cross-country season, but, the next summer, I was back at OCS and I completed PLC Seniors and was commissioned a 2ndLt. I am now a Major (left active duty upon my promotion to Major and I am now in the Reserves). My point: if you want it bad enough, you can do it! Don’t give up.
So, keep your chin up, many Marine Officers have been in your position. Now is the time for you to prove your desire to be a leader of Marines. Good luck!
S/F
Maj Chris Brewster