[PRK and LASIK Information]

20 minutes ago, stuckindayton said:

The post-op schedule applies to current military members getting LASIK/PRK.  If you are not on military orders, disregard this.  Basically, just send your pre-op, op report and any post-op reports to Wright-Patt on the forms your civilian doctor provides and you'll be fine.

Thanks so much!

[PRK and LASIK Information]

I am about a year out from starting the application process for the ANG/AFRC and am looking to have Lasik done in the near future. After doing some research, I still have a few questions about the paperwork and number of post-op evals required for waiver consideration. 

• From Wright-Patt's website in the FC1 instructions page: "All medical documents from the surgery center are required. That would include pre-exam, operative report, and 2 post-op visits (initial post-op refraction must be at least 90 days post-op and second refraction at least 1 month later)." That info is consistent with the info provided in this checklist, which I found in this thread. The info provided by those two sources is contradicted by the info in the Post-Op Appointment Schedule, which lists required post-op evals at the one, three, six, and one year marks, and that is what the waiver guide says as well. Which one of those is right?
• Which forms are required to be submitted for the waiver? I found this checklist in this thread, but I am unsure if it is out of date, and found this form on Wright-Patt's website. Would the latter form even apply to me, or is it just for personnel already in the AF? Regarding that checklist, which lists required reports of pre-op exam, the exam itself, and the post-op exams, are there AF forms for those, or is it just whatever the surgery center provides?

Thanks in advance! Just trying to get on top of everything!

[To enlist or not to enlist?]

4 hours ago, HDESP said:

I think it all comes down to how bad your eyes are and if you really only want guard/reserve or if you could live with AD. 

Under the assumption you only want guard/reserve I would do this.

1. If you want to fly heavies, apply for a loadmaster job 1A2XX at the unit you want to fly for. You get a FC2 physical which is less eye intensive but during one of my flight physicals later on, not my initial. I asked about doing the Pilot version when I was a load master and flight med let me. ( I attempted to transfer to be a Helicopter Pilot for the Army).  This could potentially show you if you could get medically DQ'd early on.  If you want fighters id follow the advice of those who posted before me and go AFE or crew chief. 

2. Clep a bunch of classes during your enlisted tech school, they are free the first time you attempt them. I clepped my English classes, math, science, computer basics, Social Science and History. You can even clep public speaking. My point being this will help make up for the time you spent in Basic and your other tech schools. 

3. Once you get to your main job I would grind through school and attempt to get flight hours at a 141 school. Assuming you did a 4 year enlistment you should be right on course with your peers. But now you have prior service, a degree, and flight hours. With experience as Aircrew with the Unit you hopefully still want to fly for.  

If you dont care if you go AD. If you know in your heart of hearts you want to serve then go to the Academy in my opinion. 

1. Apply for the Academy

2. Apply for ROTC

 

Disclaimer: I did not go any of those routes but the guard/reserve one is what my friend did and it worked for him. I was AD for 6 years because I wanted free college, I clepped a ton of classes during tech school and then did one or two classes at the education center at my base. I had 80 credits after 6 years because I was slow rolling it. I separated and went to school full time and choose a degree that allowed my Post 911 to pay for my ratings. I applied for the Reserve board as Unsponsored got accepted and I am currently waiting on my dates. If I could do it over again differently I would of at least tried for the Academy or ROTC when I was your age. I believe being prior enlisted makes me more competitive but I don't look down on people who haven't enlisted, infact they seem just as competitive. I don't think hiring only from within is a solid strategy and could potentially limit diversity but I am not currently an Air Force Pilot and know nothing about hiring. So my opinion doesnt mean shit haha. As most active duty pilots were never enlisted before and most of them are great people who all have different backgrounds and methods of becoming AF pilots. Overall if you are floating the idea of joining the Air Force you should probably just go to a school that you want and look at ROTC and then do your PPL in your free time to see if you even enjoy flying. No need to sign anything right now because the Air Force will always be there and you have plenty of time.  Good Luck!

 

Thank you. I definitely do not want to commit to the Academy or ROTC. I do believe my eyes are good enough to fly,  but there will always be that bit of doubt in my mind. I’ve spent a lot of time looking through the regs and even found someone on here who was in a similar situation and made it through. My eye alignment is fine, DP is fine, and I’ll have Lasik done in a few years. However, the bottom line is that I do not want to commit to AD, and then find out at Wright-Patt that I can’t fly and have to serve my commitment doing something else. At least if I go AFRC/ANG, I am not tied into serving in a different role if I am DQ’d. For sure, if I was dead-set on serving in the AF, with flying just as the icing on the cake, then I’d be looking at the Academy and ROTC.

[To enlist or not to enlist?]

8 minutes ago, RunningMan said:

I recommend enlisting. It worked for me and many others. There is nothing wrong with an enlisted career if you were medically DQ’d later down the road. Just my 2 cents. 

Thanks for the response. I have heard that it is a good route to go, so I will definitely consider it. Plus, the tuition benefits seem great.

[To enlist or not to enlist?]

19 minutes ago, STOIKY said:

I don't recommend enlisting with the primary intent of becoming a pilot. Enlisting *can* help give you an edge on the hiring boards; however, there are a lot of other pieces to the puzzle to consider. There are a lot of *what ifs* to mull over as well. Say, you enlist and later on down the road become medically DQ'd from ever flying--seen that happen a number of times--are you prepared to accept that potential reality? You also need to understand once you enlist and graduate technical training, the USAF will have influence over your life. Even in the Guard/Reserve. Your personal career goals and what the Air Force needs from you may not always align. I'd know. I've done it. And it poses unique challenges to securing a UPT slot or reaching other professional goals. Unless you're totally committed to doing an enlisted job with the understanding you may simply never get selected, become medically DQ'd, rect...don't enlist. Lots of guys and gals get hired off the street. The off-the-street applicants who get selected typically already have significant aviation experience (not always, but more often that not in my observation). Most also have pretty impressive resumes. The last fighter unit I interviewed with had over 100 applications for two slots. 19 were selected to interview. Two hired with two alternates put on standby. The 19 selected, save me and one other prior-E guy, all had impressive aviation creds: CFIs, regional FOs, air ambulance drivers, ect. And most had STEM degrees with excellent grades/scores to boot. We had a NASA guy, several engineers of various other flavors, a high-speed attorney, a CPA that had more money than God (gathered from small talk). If your goal is to fly, focus on flying and school. Take some PPL lessons to ensure you have both a passion and aptitude for flying. Then maybe consider looking into part 141/university flight programs. Really hit the books hard and keep your grades up. Yeah, I know, loans suck...but if want to fly in the ANG/ARC, make flying and school paramount. I'm not saying all this to discourage you. Just understand you're stepping into a really competitive arena.  You're young and have time, but I recommend going straight for the kill and bee-lining it to what you want from life: AF Pilot Wings.    

Thanks for taking the time to respond. From all of the hours I’ve spent reading up on forums, I can definitely see that it’s all highly competitive. Luckily, I’m really competitive academically in high school. I am looking to go engineering in college as well, and I plan on getting my civilian ratings so that I can still do the airlines if my eyes end up getting me disqualified.

[To enlist or not to enlist?]

Hello all,

I’m a junior in high school, and my dream job is to become an AF pilot. I’ve been hanging around this forum as well as getting in touch with some AF pilots on airlinepilotcentral. I heard from an F-16 guy in the ANG that a good route to go is to enlist in the guard/reserves before college to get it paid for and then apply to units after college. The other routes I could go would be either to not enlist before college and apply to units afterwards or to do ROTC and then hope for a guard/reserve spot. For me, I think ROTC would be a huge risk because the chance of getting selected for ANG/AFRC instead of AD is pretty low from what I understand, not to mention you could get stuck with a non-pilot job. There is also the problem with my eyes. I had two surgeries at 3-4 years old to correct strabismus, but I’ve seen that someone on here had a similar issue and was able to make it through. Has anyone here gone the route of enlisting before college and then applying to units after college? If I went this route, would I be able to get an FC1 at Wright-Patt while I was enlisted to see if I’d be able to pursue guard/reserve flying after college? Thanks to all for taking the time to read about my situation.

[Depth Perception DQ and Waiver info]

7 hours ago, BEEPBEEPIMINAJEEP said:

Before jumping into an eval with the doc, I suggest you "get smart" on everything they will be looking for knowing you have a history of the condition. E.g., phorias, stereopsis, microsuppression, double vision, etc. It would be wise of you to know the medical jargon associated with things directly or indirectly affected by your condition so you can ask the right questions. Those things can be found throughout that waiver guide I mentioned above. 

I’ll be sure to have a look at it. Thank you.

[Depth Perception DQ and Waiver info]

1 hour ago, BEEPBEEPIMINAJEEP said:

lph1235,

First of all, good on you for being as proactive as you are at such a young age. That will pay major dividends in your future. 

 

I believe having the surgery on your record does require a waiver, but is given so long as you meet certain eye alignment criteria. You can read up on these things in the Air Force Waiver Guide 2017. My advice to you is to get an updated evaluation done by an ophthalmologist who specializes in this surgery (mostly pediatric doctors) and make them give you every test they can, see what they say and compare that to the standards. 

 

I had posted this a while back in another thread, but it's fairly relevant to what you are looking for here. 

Lastly, keep a positive attitude! I know it may feel like a shitty hand dealt to you that was out of your control, but you can take some of that control back by being proactive (as you already are) in learning what needs to be done to obtain the best job in the world. 

 

Good luck!!

Thank you so much. I’m going to dive into the regs and set up an appointment with my ophthalmologist (who performed my surgery) to get his opinion. Luckily, I believe I’ve had no issues with the condition since the surgery awhile back, so that is one thing going for me. I also know a former Marine Flight Surgeon, so I’m going to get his opinion as well. Your post was very inspiring.... I hope I can make a similar post to that one on this forum one day. 

[Depth Perception DQ and Waiver info]

2 hours ago, stuckindayton said:

Waivers after strabismus surgery are possible, but your eye alignment has to be essentially perfect.  If there is any residual mis-alignment, then a waiver won't happen.  There is at least one person on this board who was in your shoes.  He may be interested in giving you some feedback.  Sorry, I cannot identify him (privacy rules).  

Thank you for the response. Would I only need a waiver if I wasn’t able to pass the test? Or would I need one regardless because of the surgery?

[Depth Perception DQ and Waiver info]

Hello all. I am a sophomore in high school hoping to fly in the ANG or Reserves after college. My eyes aren’t great but I think they are just good enough to make it through. Assuming my prescription doesnt fall below a -8.00 before I get Lasik or PRK done in a few years (at a -5.00 right now), the only potential issue I see is with my history of Strabismus surgery. I was diagnosed with strabismus very young, and I had two surgeries that were successful in correcting it. I have had no issues with depth perception ever since. Am I correct in my thinking that if I was able to pass the DP test, my history of having surgery would be a non-issue?  Or, in the event that I wasn’t able to pass the test for whatever reason, would it be an issue trying to get a waiver with that on my record? Thank you.

 

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