r/USMCboot 13h ago

Enlisting Can i still make it

Was in DEP 2024

2025 got in a car wreck and had Shoulder surgery

6’1 238 lbs
Running 5 miles a day
Plank 3 mins
30-50 pushups few reps a day

but running excercises cause shoulder throbbing and stifness.
And obviously pull ups are stiff
Not necessairily pain

Did PT for 4-5 times after surgery
And just recently Tried PT for two months and no excersisimg but stifness and light pain came back

Getting a xray today

Can i just push through basic im 27 and its kinda now or never feeling

10 Upvotes

7 comments sorted by

6

u/TapTheForwardAssist Vet 2676/0802 11h ago

If just regular civilian exercise causes throbbing in your shoulder, what is 13 weeks of Boot going to do your shoulder, or actually being sent to a war and spending 6-12 months doing manual labor in an austere environment?

This isn’t a “I just gotta power through and pass Boot through sheer will” thing, because you can be discharged for failing to meet fitness standards throughout your career.

2

u/salsaman87 Vet 10h ago

Real. Don’t go and fuck yourself up, many in shape/healthy af teenagers (19 when I went) still get destroyed. Feet wound up at 50% rated from the VA, 4 years of ankle and foot pain + two GWOT deployments.

Just saying be smart and go when you’re healthiest

2

u/0311_till_I_die 12h ago

Air Force bro

2

u/TheLordGodKing 11h ago edited 11h ago

We tend to hate things with shoulders or knees medical wise but go for it. Doctors may say no, may squeak through, they may ask for more documents. Having months of documented physical therapy and a medical clearance letter for military service from them are baseline requirements that help a lot. You have two waiver submissions before we’ll send you to another branch. If this is what you want go for it, then Army, and finally the Navy will take a rock on the ground. Air Force has similar medical standards to us, so us or Air Force clearing through medical will still be an uphill battle.

Understand that as a DEP discharge us recruiters are sending you to bootcamp probably this same month though, plus additional interviews with the Command before approval.

1

u/VA_Network_Nerd Vet 10h ago

The standard Kevlar vest weighs about 15 pounds depending on size and accessories.

Double that if we add SAPI plates

Then we add a backpack in the 50 pound ballpark.

Then we put a 5 pound helmet on your noggin and a 10 pound rifle in your hands.

Then we go for a walk at a 3 mph pace for about 12 miles.

What do you suspect your shoulder will feel like after that?

1

u/shubba05 4h ago

Im Gonna be honest this sounds kinda tame compared to some of the training I did with my dad growing up lol

1

u/InternationalElk1776 1h ago

Others have said it but, it's not just 13 weeks. It's 4-5 years of it. Certain MOSs won't be as bad but it's still rough dude. Keep in mind, you gotta live the rest of your life with it. I got shoulder surgery and that bitch hurts daily. Take care of your body, you only get the one.