WheelsOff

Thanks, GD. Got an email Friday from the MTF saying that my waiver should be getting it sent up the chain to AETC soon; hopefully this week. I'll let you know how it goes.

GD, I apologize for getting a little off topic here... I'm not saying that anyone is maliciously reviewing people's waivers/physicals looking to give them a DQ with the big red stamp (and I certainly hope nobody does) - but in your experience, on an iFC-1, who is the most likely to be the biggest "hard-liner" when it comes to approving/DQing a waiver/physical? The flight docs at your local MTF, AETC, or Brooks?

I second the UAV suggestion - as "un-fun" as they're perceived, they still will play a huge role in future military aviation. It would be interesting to learn more about their FTU. The picture you posted reminds me - I'd like to hear more about Tac Air's Su-27’s once they get them up and flying and participating in formal training exercises.

Well just got word back today that I'll need a waiver for my situation...praying that I get it!! P.S. I know I've asked about 169,000 times already; but any flight docs out there care to weigh in on my chances? I'd really appreciate any insight. Thanks!

Dos. I'm still driving my '95 Maxima from college with nearly 200k. Has had some issues over time but still beats a $300/month car payment...

Any flight docs out there that can help? Thanks.

I see your point, however I'm still keeping my ground on this one. The government has much bigger things to worry about. Neglecting to inform the general public that a plane would be doing a low pass by the SoL is trivial in the grand scheme of things.

Personally I take the opposite view that people need to calm down and stop freaking out and panicking over stuff like this. It's not the government's responsibility to inform everyone in the NYC area that a plane will be doing a photo op. Just my .02

How come the Navy gets the B model while the AF has the A? Is it b/c they waited longer to purchase the T-6? Sorry newb question I suppose...

Four - James Stewart was an AAF pilot in WWII and retired from the service as a one-star

Anyone? Bueller?

Just wondering if anyone (flight docs, etc) knows much about the "adjustment disorder" stuff and getting a waiver for an FC1. Are waivers considered on a case-by-case basis? Who determines if waivers are even needed? The flight surgeon who did my physical wasn't sure if I'd need one or not. http://www.flyingsquadron.com/forums/index...st=#entry156180

Short answer - No. I asked my recruiter before my app went to the board and he said that unfortunately the AF doesn't want to spend the $$ to send all their applicants to get physicals prior to their selection. Kind of stinks, I know, but at the same time it does make sense... I go to do mine in about a week (am a little nervous too) so wish me luck and I'll let you know how it goes!

I was selected on the OTS board last October and go to Sheppard next week for my iFC1 - my recruiter said he was unable to get ahold of anyone at Brooks to schedule me there. Is there any way to stay on top of the guys at the MTF there to "keep on them" about getting the physical routed through the proper channels to get it certified quickly? Just curious if you've had any experience dealing with random bases that do FC1's and their process(es) as compared to Brooks... Thanks!

I though that having dilated eyes made your presricption a little worse; not better? Or are you talking about my prescription from my optometrist being a touch stronger thus allowing me to see better than 20/20? (I think this is my prescription at 20/20 though...) That is what I'm also concerned about - the 20/70 standard. If I don't meet that can it be waived? And if so, up to what acuity mark? I'm also a little confused as to how my visual acuity can be measured on the OVT - I thought that was for depth perception? Please correct me if I'm wrong. Sweet. Thanks again in advance!

So I had another refraction exam in December at my civ optometrist (eyes were not dilated) and my prescription is something like: Right: -1.50 Left: -1.25 +.50 (astigmatism) I go to Sheppard on the 29th for my iFC1 and am curious how the waiver process works. I'm thinking that I may need one for my distant vision in my right eye (when it gets dilated I'm sure they'll be more like -1.75). But, will I need one for my +.50 astigmatism as well? Assuming that nothing else is wrong with my eyes (no color/OVT/red lense issues), how likely will it be that I can get a waiver? Sorry to keep posting in this thread but as my future career rides on it - it's a big deal to me :). Thanks in advance!

Random question on the IFC-1 (optometry) - when the doc(s) test your eyes and find your refraction; would it be possible for them to write you a prescription (for glasses/contacts) based on your results? Long story short, I just got some new glasses last night and one of the lense's Rx was slightly off - the place told me I'd have to get my optometrist to re-write another prescription for me in order for them to fix them. And since I'll be taking my IFC-1 before I have the chance to go back to my civilian optometrist - just wondered if I can kill two birds with one stone? Thanks!

Sorry, I meant that my eyes are also around the -1.75 / -1.50 range. Actually, I just called my opthamologist and they said my refractions are -1.50 and -1.25 in my right and left eyes, respectively, as of my latest exam in April. I asked if the refraction was a cycloplegic refraction and they said no - they do dilate your eyes before taking the refractions but do not use the cyclo gel. Could it be possible that my refractions would be worse had they used cyclo gel instead of the normal dilating eyedrops that optometrists/opthamologists use? EDIT: I will be going in for my initial FC1 - will my eligibility for a waiver matter with it being my initial physical or not?

My eyes are about the exact same - although my eye doc was an opthamologist and I believe he used the eye drops before he took my refraction measurements... so to confirm; would the results he gave me be on par with how it will be done during my FC1? Sorry if it's a dumb and repetitive question.... just am nervous about getting a waiver, that's all!

A recent UPT stud at Vance did this. http://www.vance.af.mil/jsuptjournal/index.asp He did T-1's as well and is now going on to -135's. A great read. Like someone else mentioned; I too think that you should blog it on Baseops, or even do what this guy did and do it on Laughlin's website. Good luck, have fun, and I'll look forward to reading it!

Thanks P27:17. Ya my rec called yesterday and said that he's supposed to be getting all my documentation from the counselor and other doc by end of today, hopefully. He's going to submit and then wait to see if I'll be given permission to come down to MEPS for the physical. By the time I (hopefully) go down there, it'll have been a year since I've been off the meds, give or take a week or two. I'm just hoping that if they decide I need a waiver at that point, that it'll get approved in time for me to submit my app by the deadline in early Sept.

Just wondering if there's any flight docs out there that can help me out with my post above. My recruiter sent in the letter last week that my doc who prescribed the meds gave me that said I'm OK and not going to suffer any relapses, etc. My recruiter called me back and apparently they need all of my documentation from them. Any flight docs think I have a shot at getting approved to take my physical, so that I can FINALLY finish this dang OTS application?

Does anyone know where a civilian applicant in TX can go to get their FC1? Is Brooks a possibility, or is that just where AD/ROTC guys go? Thanks!

Yes, I too have heard that ANG/AFR slots are harder to come by and are more competitive. flyaf05's comment still does not makes sense though--naturally you should be given a UPT slot once you complete OTS since you've already been selected by a board for a pilot slot, correct? Otherwise, what's the purpose of applying for a pilot slot to begin with???

"That being said it is extremely difficult to get a UPT slot out of OTS. You may consider looking into the ANG or AFR and applying with them, that's what worked for them...just my 2 cents" Correct me if I'm wrong here, but I thought that if you were selected as a pilot on an OTS board, and everything goes well in your FC1, then you get your UPT slot. Are you saying that you have to apply separately for a UPT slot? If so, doesn't that defeat the whole purpose of applying/getting selected for a pilot slot on an OTS board??