Aviation Medicine

Situation: I am an HC-130J CSO who has been flying for 8 years. Recently I went to get corneal topography done as part of the workup for LASIK/PRK. During this they found abnormal corneal topography in my left eye. The optometrist said it shouldn’t affect my vision but it is DQ for surgery, no big deal, but the flight doc called me the next day saying I am now DNIF pending a waiver. Vision details: my current RX is Left (S -1.50, C -1.00, A 170) right (S -1.25, C -1.25, A 013) I see 20/15 corrected in both eyes, perfect depth perception and color vision. I show no symptoms of any other eye issues. Question: how good are my odds at a waiver here? The flight doc sent th…

Hey all, Let me start off by saying that I did use the search function looking for an answer to my question, but did not find anything. Most people seem to ask if they can get a waiver for the their FC1 now that they are off their SSRI (anti-anxiety medication). What I want to know is - is it possible to get my FC1 (through a waiver I’m sure) if I am currently on an SSRI and plan on staying on it? Last year I started dealing with some anxiety that was affecting me enough that I decided to see a medical professional. They put me on an SSRI. A year later, I am doing much better. I would like to stay on this medication if possible. I read up on some regs, and…

All, I am pursuing an interservice transfer into the Air Force to fly the KC-135. I was required to complete a FC1 exam and just received my DD-2808 stamped approved from AETC. On the form it states "FC1 pending successful completion of MFS-N". What exactly is the MFS-N? I can find info on the MFS but nothing on the "-N" part. What is it, and where do I do this exam at? Lastly, is the MFS-N basically done enroute to the FTU? As I'm a rated pilot in the Navy, I will bypass UPT and proceed directly to flying the -135. Anyone have any idea if I need to finish it prior to switching to the Air Force or can I finish it after I switch? Thanks.

Currently AD and diagnosed with Sleep Apnea and considering going guard/reserve. Going through an MEB which I was told wouldn’t be an issue for me to “pass”. Would a Sleep Apnea diagnosis or a disability rating associated with it (if there is one) prevent me from going guard/reserve? Considering not taking continuation to 20 but don’t want to find myself not in AD and not be able to go guard/reserve.

Hello, In 2017 I got a pilot slot as an ROTC cadet, went to medical screening and was medically qualified. Later that year, I had a bad sinus infection. My doctor said I might have mild chronic sinitus and recommended sinus surgery. I advised SG of the situation and was DQ'd from all rated duties with mention that I could be evaluated in one year after the surgery and attempt to overturn the DQ. I was reassigned to a different AFSC. I recently commissioned and will EAD in two weeks (although I still don't have my orders haha). I had a CT scan last week that shows I would be good to go as per the AFCENT waiver guide (showing ostea of sinuses to be patent, reliev…

Hello all, As the title states, do you need any kind of medical certification with the FAA on the civilian side to fly military? I am trying to become either a pilot or navigator and want to know what's required. Also what level/ certifications of medicals are required for pilots/navs? Thanks in advance!

Hey guys, Looking for some guidance for a buddy of mine. We are currently in UPT and he has managed to dislocate his shoulder and was medically DQ'd. Unfortunately, he had dislocated it previously years ago and gotten surgery. The surgery seemed to have taken and he was granted a waiver. Now that he has dislocated it again he was DQ'd because of "shoulder instability" and was told by the flight docs that he is done. I can provide more details as required but the big picture question I'm getting at is; will the ANG be able to work some drug deal and approve him to continue training? Maybe through an ETP or somthing? (I have no clue what I'm talking a…

I got a feeling this is a huge shot in the dark ,but I''m currently looking into applying for the ANG and hoping for a position flying, but I know USAF medical standards can be pretty strict compared to the other branches. I've looked into all the other branches and AD or Reserve, but long story short, ANG is the direction I want to go in right now. I have an issue of corneal degeneration in my right eye at the moment that has never been a problem to my vision and last I saw the optometrist my vision was still good but I fear that this may not completely put me in the clear as far as flying for ANG is concerned. It's never been a problem as far as I can tell and …

I was recently seen for a duodenal ulcer and the GI doc placed a few clips over a visible vessel that was a potential bleed. Do any flight docs on here know if that's an issue at your MFS/FC1? Clip is potentially visible on Chest X Ray. Thanks

I have been lurking on the forums for a while now and I finally got the ball rolling on applying for the lifelong dream, and it has come to the point where I need to determine if this is an issue. To make a long story short at some point when I was young my spine grew slightly faster than my neck and damaged some nerves in my hand. I therefore have slightly reduced grip strength in one arm. This condition is rare and I am one of the lucky ones, as apparently it can be a lot worse to the point of really impacting overall hand strength/motion. I can still play all the sports I played before this started appearing and still go to the gym keeping everything as strong as possi…

Hello everybody. I'm trying to become a pilot either in the Reserve or ANG. I'm planning on spamming out lots of apps to different units, but have also been working with an enlisted recruiter for the ANG as a backup plan (their unit does nearly all their UPT recruiting internally from people already enlisted with them). My recruiter sent me to MEPS to get my physical last week and I didn't really understand the results until a Reserve officer recruiter pulled my physical and told me I'd failed both depth perception (weird since I've never had an issue with that in my life) and hearing (but just barely, I'm 5 db over the limit at 2000HZ in my left ear and everything else i…

Long story short, I was in college a while ago and was in a Navy program. It was cut during sequestration and since I was struggling in school, I was one of the folks that got cut out. All of that back story to get to by question. When I went to MEPS the first time, I said that id been prescribed medicine for acid reflux in past and that caused a stir. I went to a gastroenterologist and had test done and he wrote a letter saying that my general practitioner had misdiagnosed me years prior. Now that I am going through the process of trying to get a guard or reserve slot, I’ll have to go to MEPS again (I last went in 2010) and wanted to know how to handl…

Hey everybody, 17OT04 AD Pilot Select, had a flight physical at JBLM in February. The civilian contractor I had to deal with kept putting off scheduling me because of my medical history, thinking I would fail and would consistently ask me during the process "how I made it through MEPS." Fast forward three months, still no word on my physical. I knew I would need a waiver for LASIK and childhood asthma. The thing is, I'm slated to go to OTS late June. Really unsure who I can speak with regarding this, or if I'm really at the mercy of this "backlog" situation. I've never heard of anyone else online going through JBLM for a flight physical, so I'm a little concerne…

For an FCII, are there any issues with bone spurs, provided there’s no functional impairment? In other words, with no impairment to mobility/function/range of motion, any need to do anything? In med-speak, I think this would be for a "tarsal boss".

All, I’m an USMC F/A-18 IP on terminal leave with the desire to TX to the AFRES/ANG. I was offered a position with a fighter unit but need a medical waiver. Does anyone have some guidance on who I should speak to about the process ahead? Much thanks for any assistance.

Hey everybody! I'm a pilot select who's hopefully looking at June 26th for his OTS class. Finally, 10 months after selection , I've got my flight physical back from Wright-Patt. When I went in January, it was a single day: getting my eyes check out, teeth, hearing, all the fun stuff. Later, I was told there would be second part that I would return for. My recruiter wasn't very detailed but he told me it would be some cognitive tests at the building across the parking lot from the Flight Med Clinic. Fast forward to last week, I get that initial physical returned and am immediately told that I'm good to go for my June 26th class. When I voiced concerns about…

Hey folks, Big news today. The AF has officially adopted a new (more lenient) color vision policy that is more in line with the Army and Navy. Waivers are now available for ALL flying classes, including pilot applicants, as long as your CCT score is at least 55 with each eye on all cone types (i.e. red, green and blue letters). If you have recently been disqualified for color vision and you think you meet the waiver criteria, PM me and we'll see if we can get a waiver put in on your behalf. This will certainly be no problem for anyone recently DQ'd at Wright-Patt. If it was at a different location, there may be a little more legwork, but it should be do-able. I…

I went searching through this site and the best I could find was a few posts from medical students in 2011. Does anyone know if there is any kind a process or waiver to go from the AF nurse corps to aviation? I'm in a program currently where they pay for my graduate school in trade for my service (which is a great deal and extremely competitive). At the suggestion of an AF pilot friend, I was told if I'm going to change I should do it sooner rather than later because I'll need an age waiver by the time I am done with my nursing commitment. I know physician pilots exist and there are flight docs, etc but all of that is closed to nurse practitioners.

Hello all, I have spoken with some of you on the board regarding the Exception to Policy Request Package process. I am a Civilian OTS Pilot Select Overview: I was dq’d following my IFC-1 due to only being outside the cycloplegic refractive error limit. I was able to pass every other vision test. I have taken the following months to research the process, seek multiple medical opinions and have compiled what myself and other qualified people feel to be a very convincing package. I have submitted my package to my recruiting office. Before it is sent up the chain, the commander would like to see an example of a previously submitted and approved package to use as a comp…

Does anyone have recommendations on companies that help Veterans increase their VA disability percentage. I know there are a few out there but I’d like to go to one that someone can recommend. So far I’ve looked into: Ree Medical DBQreview and before someone mentions that I can just do it on my own. Yes I know but it took two years and hours of phone calls just to get the VA to schedule a hearing test for me so if I can avoid that hassle and even get an additional 10% it will be worth the fee of what these places are charging. I just want to be sure they aren’t a scam.

All, So I am having hip replacement surgery in March and because of the surgery, I am going to meet a MEB. My question is; which do you think is financially smarter? - 30% medically retire as an O-5 with 15.5 years of service and starting at the age of 41 - Retire at 20 years as an O-5 and not start collecting the retirement until the age of 58 I already have my airline job and it would be nice to only have one job but I want to do what's financially smarter.

Hey all, In an accident 15 years ago I severed my left Achilles’ tendon, had the surgery to repair it and then took physical therapy to heal it. Range of motion in the severed leg/foot is 100% normal. So in short, does Achilles’ tendon surgery DQ someone from recieving a FC1 or FC2? I have been trying to go the guard route for awhile but am now applying for Active/Reserve service. Thanks!

Little background on me: I am an AD Capt / Flight/CC with 90 PCSM, 93 Pilot AFOQT, 100 PFA, and #2/5 Strat from WG/CC for UFT application. I feel like all this would give me a good shot if I could just get an ETP. I've been working through the ETP process and wondered if anyone could give me some insight into how it works. I was prepping my package all last year and encountered some medical issues (diagnosed with Eosinophilic Esophagitis, 2017). I found out through research that about 95% of AD pilots in the AF that were diagnosed with the same issue were waived. Requested a waiver, but was denied. Typical considering I'm an untrained asset. I began the E…

I am enlisted ANG & hired for UPT by a reserve unit in another state. My travel date is this Sunday to go to Wright Patt. Obviously, my current unit is not going to sponsor me to go get my FC1, but I was informed today by my gaining reserve unit that I don't have to be on orders to obtain my flight physical. Does this seem accurate? This goes against what I've learned from the Air Force since I've been in. I'm just going to assume the unit knows what's correct, seeing as they have pilots working there now, and I am not one, but I want to avoid getting to Ohio and then being refused to be examined.

Question for medical folks. I have been told and I have read (in newsletters from ARPC and the medical community) an unattributed saying which is repeated quite regularly such that no one questions it. That saying is "You must be in a military status to use the MTF." I do not believe this is correct nowadays. The reason is because I have Tricare Reserve Select regardless of my military status, something that was not possible before around 2005 or so. TRS is basically Tricare Standard and people on Tricare *can* use the MTF on a space-available basis. How is it determined if space is available? No one can tell me that either. Their go-to is that space is unavailable. …