menloe

So I left active duty after serving 4 years of my 6 year contract with the intent to rejoin AD as a CSO. I recently found out the I have literally no depth perception according to all the AF tests. The Navy has a career very similar to the CSO that does not require depth perception. I am REALLY wanting to go Navy after I complete my degree in Summer 2017. At that time I will have slightly over 2 years left on my Palace Chase contract. I noticed in the Palace Chase AFI (36-3205) in section 1.12.10.2 that the "Gaining ARC Personnel Employment Element and/or Selecting Officials" may "not release PALACE CHASE members for transfer to non-Air Force components." This seems to be a huge roadblock in my plan as there is no additional verbiage on the possibility of a waiver. Does anyone have any insight on this topic? Thanks a lot!! -Mike

So I was in the Bioenvironmental Engineering (4B) career field for a while and a big part of our job deals with radiation. I find it interesting that personnel exposed to RADAR have increased cancer rates. RADAR uses non-ionizing radiation; meaning that the radiation expelled by radar is essentially the same as the radiation given off by your microwave at home or the radio in your car. As a BEE, I am aware that there are sources of ionizing radiation in many (maybe most) of Air Force aircraft. Is it possible that the increased rates of cancer came from ionizing radiation sources as opposed to those that are non-ionizing?

So I have read and searched everything I can about depth perception and Pilot/CSO selection. I recently got off AD under the Palace Chase (PC) program and joined a Guard unit. I will resume my college career in January and have my B.S. in Biology in 2 years. During the PC process, I went in for a IFCIII physical due to the option of cross-training to Loadmaster. It was there that I learned that my depth perception is essentially non-existent. The doc tried multiple tests with and without corrective lenses. I tried the test 3 times before I left AD and once since I've been in the Guard and am baffled at the fact that I can't tell which circle is closer, even in block 'A' (I have tried all the techniques on this site and others to pass). To my knowledge, I was not officially diagnosed with a condition, but the doc stated that my lack of DP may be due to Microtropia or Monofixation Syndrome. I am wondering if there is any way to become a CSO without depth perception. I have read the Waiver Guide from USAFSAM and (as anticipated) it does not state definitively if a waiver can/will be given for a IFCI for CSO. Any insight on this would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!