Aviation Medicine

I have learned that you must be off all ADD medication for at least 12 months to get into AFROTC much less Flight training. Is this true for Anxiety medications as well? I keep on emailing these different flight doc's but quite frankly they arent very helpful. They keep saying I need to first be evaluated. All im asking for is the policy relating to anxiety med's. Thanks

I have a hypothetical question here :) So say I was having foot pain a couple months ago so I started taking my sister's old Oxycodone prescription for about a week. The recommended dose was 1 tablet and I began taking 2 tablets by the last few days and then stopped after that week. Would this disqualify me from ROTC and if I would be able to get into ROTC would it disqualify me from a pilot position? And if for some reason I didn't do ROTC and did OTS, would it disqualify for an OTS pilot slot?

I had a benign osteochondroma (bone tumor) removed from my lower femur. By definition, an osteochondroma is a benign tumor. It's more or less a small branch that shoots off during bone growth and development, and is capped by cartilage. Tumor was removed, they double checked in the lab, no cancer. No kind of therapy needed and never a problem since. I have a 3-inch scar on my leg from where they took it out, and I've stayed very active and healthy since then; no broken bones, etc. Today I got a call from Brooks saying they needed further documentation about treatment, doctor's visits, etc. Nothing major, but the gentlemen started mentioning "waiver" and "disqualificat…

Dear Flight Doc, I just came from the chiropractor with a diagnosis of slight Scoliosis. The curvature is not really visible but you need to be a professional to see it. The doctor saw it from the front view X-Ray, and also added side view X-Ray is good, the spine looks in good shape... I haven't been flying for 3 years (in civilian of course) and I know that your back is a big deal when flying fighters. The doctor said he will be able to straighten it with exercises and some therapy. But I am wondering, if one day I go thru UPT medicals, should I mention about this at all? I am sure they are checking this... I would appreciate your comments on the situation. …

Hi. A few months back I was originally diagnosed with Crohn's disease (so I figured there was no way I would be flying), but after some tests they decided it was only Ulcerative Colitis. My question is, is this a waiverable condition? My hope is someone on here knows someone with the problem or has had the problem and knows how the AF typically handles it. The waiver guide is kind of vague. Any info would be great. Thanks.

Is there any way in the world Intacs can be waivered? Thanks

My son is 17 and talks daily about signing up for the service (he's leaning Air Force...yeah!). The reality hit me the other day that he was diagnosed with Protein S Deficiency as a child. We had him tested ten years ago after I had multiple blood clots and was found to have the disorder. He has never had a clot and is NOT on anticoagulants. In fact, the hematologist always told us to not alter his lifestyle or restrict his activities because the probability of him getting a clot is less than 3%. The course of action is to do nothing different until he actually gets a clot, which will likely be never. Will this 11 year old diagnosis make him medically disqualified? If so,…

I would like to become a fighter pilot but I have lattice degeneration. I wander whether I can get a waiver for that problem? Can you direct me to an appropriate reference? Thank You

From AFI 48-123v2: A3.28.18. Current symptomatic plantar wart(s) (078.19) is disqualifying. Two questions: 1. What constitues symptomatic? 2. Is this issue waiverable? Thanks.

Hey everyone, I'm getting ready for my FC1 and I had a quick question. A little over six years ago, I knelt on a nail and a small, hard piece of material about the size of a grain of rice formed in the bursa of my left knee. The only issue it created was whenever I knelt on it, it would hurt quite a bit, but I learned to live with it since the only way to get rid of it was to get it surgically removed. A little over a year and a half ago, the piece caused the bursa to get inflamed and I could barely bend my knee or put a lot of weight on it so I decided it was time to take the surgical route since it was causing a huge amount of trouble. For the procedure, they remove…

Hey there yall, I used to be a 300lb lard. Decided to clean myself up and join the military. I just got back from field training and I'm thinking about going for a pilot slot. But I'm also going to be having a abdominoplasty (tummy tuck) surgery here soon to remove all the lose skin around my waist. Anyways, I've talked to some NCOs at our det and they tell me it should be fine, but I would like to double check with what you guys think. Will that have any impact on me going up for a pilot slot? Will I be automatically DQd? Thanks alot

This is my first post, so hopefully I'm in the right place. I've had non-progressive IgA Nephropathy for the past eight years that I know of. The IgA Nephropathy has caused asymptomatic proteinuria and hematuria in my urine and my protein/creatnine ratio was initially at 0.9 and it has fallen since, partly due to the ACE inhibitor I take once daily. From what I've read, the symptoms produced by my condition deem me disqualified for military service, however, a waiver can be obtainable. I've been weighing the decision of going into the Air Force for the past ten years or so. I'm 26, college grad, and I've earned my Private Pilot's License and Instrument rating sinc…

Hello all, Im new to this forum, and yesterday found out that I would need surgery on my jaw to correct my bite. My back teeth come together though my front teeth have a gap between the top and bottom. The orthodontist told me this is in no way urgent, or serious, though it could cause problems later in my 40's or 50's (I'm 22 now) This does not affect my speech or anything at all, just mainly a slight comfort issue right now. My main goal is to fly in the military, and I was wondering if anyone knows if this is something that I should wait to do well into my career, or if this needs immediate attention. Any help is appreciated. Thanks!

Both of my siblings were diagnosed with hypothyroidism. I'm getting tested for it next week. I was wondering in the case if I show positive for having it is it waiverable and what is the DNIF period for the synthetic thyroid medication I'll have to take? I'm a Career Enlisted Aviator i.e. Class-III. Thanks!

I don't fully understand tuberculosis but I know that when I was 8 I tested positive and it was visible in my left lung. I had to take medication for a year and my lung went from abnormal to normal. A year after ending medication I was re-examinde and was found normal. All of this documentation has been submitted at MEPS and DODMERB. I am PPQ but fear that this will hinder me at Brooks. What do I need to know about Tb and it's effects on my Class 1 physical. Am I going to lose my pilot slot?

I tried searching and I couldn't find anything on it but I was just curious if Type 1 or 2 diabetes is disqualifying for flying status in the AF. Thanks

So, I am currently in high school, but am planning for a future in the AF. I have a 4.0GPA, tons of leadership, community service, mission trips, 28 ATC score, etc. So, I am not currently worried about getting an ROTC Scholarship, but, my eyesight is bad. I wear glasses/contacts with a prescription of -2.00 in one eye and -1.75 in the other (probably around -2.5 now!). So my distance vision is bad. Do I have a chance at a pilot spot? IF so, will it be a good chance and how could I go about that way? Thanks!

I was reading a post about "The Myopia Myth" and was interested in using the reading glasses method to try and calm "ciliary spasm". When i talked to my eye doctor about it she said I dont have myopia, I have astigmatism which cant be fixed or mitigated. she wrote on the perscription -.75,175 and -.75,015 so im wondering since the myopia.org website says people with myopia less than 1 diopter, can possibly get back to 20/20 by using myopter or reading glasses. I wanted to do this but im not sure if since i have astigmatism that method wont help.

In the FAA, a SODA stands for statement of demonstrated ability. It is granted when ones medical condition is technically disqualifying, but does not affect ones abilities to perform airman duties. Heres a link to more information about it if you are interested. https://www.faa.gov/about/office_org/headquarters_offices/avs/offices/aam/ame/guide/app_process/general/appeals/soda/ In civilian aviation, I would be eligible for one of these. I was born with a smaller left hand (this is a very rare condition) where the fingers are all shorter than the ones on my right hand, and the middle knuckles are all missing (except for the thumb's). This, luckily, does not affec…

I was flying today and as I did my 45 deg turn I plugged up my ears. I didn't realize until I landed and took off my headset that I could barely hear anything. I do have some type of head cold, not a bad one.. It's prob allergies. Anyway I managed to pop my ears back to normal, one tends to plug back up. Is there anything to do to prevent this.. any tricks? besides not flying. Also what are some tricks to popping your ears back to normal? Thanks guys.

My recent vision diagnosis was 20/40+1 and 20/30 in each eye. I am farsighted (Hyperopia). My near vision is perfect. With correction in the eye exam, I was only able to get 20/20-1 in one eye and 20/25 in another. My correction was +2.00 in one eye and +1.50 in another. I have never worn contacts or glasses since I was a kid. If I were to wear contacts, do you think my vision would improve to 20/20 in 6 months? (thats when the next board is due). I am considering just shooting for lasik this month ASAP. But I worry that I might be biting off more than I need.

There is a new procedure for flat-feet where a small titanium bolt is placed in between the ankles. Would this DQ someone through MEPS or FC1 ? https://hyprocure.com/the-hyprocure-solution/

I commission on August 10th and in April I was upgraded to a CSO slot. Naturally I had to go get a FCIA physical at the local base. Did that and there were some minor dental issues I needed to get fixed and I did that and handed in the paperwork. I get a phone call yesterday and I'm told (less than two weeks before commissioning) that I need to get glasses to 'prove' my 20/30 vision in my right eye is correctable to 20/20. This is a bit confusing because in May, the Optometrist on base told me I don't need to get glasses until training starts and my physical should be fine because he 'proved' my eye was correctable in the eye exam with the mechanism they use that has …

Hello, I am a first year medical student in the Air Force HPSP program. I'm interested in both Aerospace and Emergency med. I've always had problems focusing but it has never been a problem until now. I spoke with my advisor(an M.D.), and he seemed to be concerned that I may have ADD and recommended I get checked. I was wondering how this would affect my career in the Air Force if I decided to go in to Aerospace or Emergency Med and if this could affect promotions, etc? Could I even go into Aerospace Med if I were diagnosed? If it would cause any problems I do not plan on following up on this. (I'm passing but not doing as well as I could) However, I know that if I…

Greetings, I was passed my FC1 physical last April. I will commission this May and will be doing the Gold Bar program for a year then off to UPT. I was cleared for my eyes in the FC1, with the exception I have to wear glasses. However, its either in my head that I now realize I can't see perfect, or my eyesight is getting worst. Will I be able to request PRK/LASIK once AD? Or, am I in the clear if I passed the FC1 and they just waive something? -Thanks