Openbah / Journal of a Marine Officer Candidate

Author: Openbah

  • 10 month update

    Happy New Year! Things are going great. I haven’t forgotten about the site, there just hasn’t been much going on that has been worthy of posting.

    Every couple weeks I go through a rough couple days of pain and discomfort, but the leg has generally been feeling better. Other than during the holidays I’ve stuck to my gym routine: weight training 6 days per week, 20 minutes intense cardio 3 days per week. I’m still doing the elliptical, but I’m hoping to motivate myself to start swimming a couple days a week. I started paying much more attention to my diet as well, more fruits and vegetables, as well as more calcium-rich foods.

    I have an appointment with my orthopedic surgeon around the first of March at which we’ll discuss taking these screws out of my leg. They prevent me from sleeping comfortably on my right side and cause the majority of the pain in my hip.

  • And so it begins. Again.

    I decided it was time to get the ball rolling again with the Marines, so I met with Boston’s OSO Captain B. on Thursday. We had a talk about the possibility of me returning to OCS, and about all the hoops I would have to jump through to get there. He said we couldn’t do much before I’m off disability and we close the book on that. Once that’s done, and I’m 100% healthy, I will submit waiver requests to the Navy Bureau of Medicine and Surgery for the screws in my leg, my injury, and anything else that is potentially disqualifying. If those are all approved (a process that can take between 1 and 6 months) I can re-submit my package to return to OCS.

    I already had a vague idea of most of what I had to do to return, but the Captain told me a couple things that made me feel better about the situation. First, I don’t necessarily need to return to PLC Seniors during the summer. I can theoretically return to any class, and just complete the weeks I didn’t complete last time (4.5 weeks). So now I don’t have to worry about making it into this summer’s class. Captain B. also said that if the right people want me to return to OCS, I should be able to do it.

    Captain B. can’t imagine someone that went through as much as I did wanting to go back to the place that messed them up in the first place. He thinks I’m crazy, but they said they will support me 100% and see to it that I am one day commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Marines.

  • Let’s Say Thanks

    Let's Say Thanks Just got an email from a friend who writes: “Personally I’m not a supporter of the war in Iraq, but there are a lot of people putting their lives at risk every day and this is a neat way to acknowledge their bravery and the sacrifices they have made.”

    Letssaythanks.com gives visitors the opportunity to send a free printed postcard to those serving overseas.

  • Optimism

    I got a copy of Dr. C’s notes from my orthopedic appointment last week. He is recommending I get the screws in my leg removed prior to any return to active duty. He also doesn’t seem to think I will be able to return until July/August. Think I can prove him wrong?

    Dr. C’s notes:

    RADIOGRAPHS: The fracture is well healed with crossing trabeculae both superiorly and inferiorly. The screws are prominent from the lateral aspect of the femur for a distance of about 2 cm.

    RECOMMENDATION: I suspect that he will want these removed, as they are currently symptomatic and likely to be symptomatic long term. We would probably do this sometime in March of 2007, which will be 1 year from the time of his surgery.

    WORK STATUS: With respect to active duty in the Marines, I would suspect that this would not be possible until at least sometime in July or August of 2007, after he recovers sufficiently form the hardware removal.

  • 8.5 month update, and the last for a while

    Had my semi-monthly doctors appointment two days ago. Got some more x-rays, which looked excellent. The bone is almost completely healed, and the doctors said my strength is outstanding. So for now, I’m going to continue training on my own and not go back to the hospital until March (one year post-injury)!

    Training is going well. I do weight training about 5 days a week, and cardio about 3-4. For now, cardio still consists of the stationary bike, but I’m trying to take things slow (and safe) and also build up my endurance before I start any impact training. I’ve been doing 20 minutes on the bike, while keeping my heat rate between 170-180. It feels awesome. Whenever I get tired I remind myself one of my favorite Marine Corps lines, “pain is weakness leaving the body.”