21yr old disabled veteran. Joined on the split-op program when I was 17, 2 months before 9-11. Signed up for 6 years, only got to serve 2. Sucks.Originally Posted by b18hatch
Short Story
Got injured during a routine training exercise. Fell 40ft and permanently relocated my spine. Honorably discharged under medical and now get paid $500 a month for the rest of my life since the injury will get worse and greatly hinder me in the future. I still can't sleep flat on my back or stomach.
Long Story
Unit was doing a training exercise at Fort Benning on the repel tower. You know the one, where you latch up to the rope and scale down the wall. Anyway, I was getting hooked up and my instructor turned to say something to another soldier. He turned back around without looking and elbowed me, sending me falling, or rather flying, off the tower. I wasn't latched up yet. Had I fallen straight down, I would have landed on the safety mat. However, it seems like Asians are aerodynamic as I flew out instead of down. I overshot the safety mat and landed flat on my back on the ground. I woke up in the ambulance.
For 9 months I couldn't stand up straight needed help with everything. Walking, climbing in and out of bed, getting food, everything. I stood, sat, and slept at a 90 degree angle. After extensive physical therapy and multiple visits to the chiropractor, I could finally stand up straight. They had to re-adjust my muscles to contour to my spine's new resting position. Consequently, I was deemed unfit to serve due to the extent of my injury and the future impairments(sp?) that it will put upon my body.
Now, here I am.
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