Career Advice
06-07-2012, 06:51 PM
#1
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Thread Starter
Joined APC: May 2010
Posts: 98
Career Advice
About 2.5 years ago when I was a junior in college I made the decision of attending Marine OCS for a flight slot.
It was a very long process which included me having had PRK eye surgery and waiting for a flight physical at P-Cola. I got my flight physical last
November but they found some sort of lesion/cyst/scar on the retina of one of my eyes. They sent me home and requested I see a retinal specialist and have
a dozen different tests done. I had all these test done by different doctors and received an excellent recommendation and prognosis from a specialist stating
everything was fine and this scar should be no problem for duties of a naval aviator.
To keep it short, today I got the unfortunate call that my flight physical was denied, my file closed, and I would have to reapply to be reconsidered.
They cited that there must be some underlying cause and basically made up some excuse from the faxed picture they received, unknown to my doctor
and I, that a new lesion was forming in my eye and that I need to see a different type of specialist. But really I believe it was there way of saying they
aren't going to risk me being a pilot. This all happened just a few weeks from me contracting at the end of this month.
There won't be another Marine OCC class for the next 2 or more years for college grads.
Regardless, I haven't given up on the military yet and I've decided my next step is to try for a UPT slot at a local
guard unit, but I'm afraid I might have the same problem later down the road.
I have a few questions:
If I get the UPT interview how should I go about disclosing this to the selection board--if I should at all?
Is it possible to get an AF flight physical before applying and getting a UPT slot?
Or should I just continue my current path earning my CFI-S, build hours, and hope for another OCC class in the next few years and apply again?
Do I have any other options?
I've had a really discouraging attempt at a career in the aviation/military field thus far, having also failed my IFR checkride, twice, leaving me
to believe my choices in the civilian world may be limited as well.
However, I’m not ready to throw in the towel of my dream of a pilot/military career just yet.
But I also haven’t ruled out going Marine Ground Active/Reserve as I am competitive from a PFT/Package standpoint
My apologies for the long post
Any advice is greatly appreciated.
Goblin
It was a very long process which included me having had PRK eye surgery and waiting for a flight physical at P-Cola. I got my flight physical last
November but they found some sort of lesion/cyst/scar on the retina of one of my eyes. They sent me home and requested I see a retinal specialist and have
a dozen different tests done. I had all these test done by different doctors and received an excellent recommendation and prognosis from a specialist stating
everything was fine and this scar should be no problem for duties of a naval aviator.
To keep it short, today I got the unfortunate call that my flight physical was denied, my file closed, and I would have to reapply to be reconsidered.
They cited that there must be some underlying cause and basically made up some excuse from the faxed picture they received, unknown to my doctor
and I, that a new lesion was forming in my eye and that I need to see a different type of specialist. But really I believe it was there way of saying they
aren't going to risk me being a pilot. This all happened just a few weeks from me contracting at the end of this month.
There won't be another Marine OCC class for the next 2 or more years for college grads.
Regardless, I haven't given up on the military yet and I've decided my next step is to try for a UPT slot at a local
guard unit, but I'm afraid I might have the same problem later down the road.
I have a few questions:
If I get the UPT interview how should I go about disclosing this to the selection board--if I should at all?
Is it possible to get an AF flight physical before applying and getting a UPT slot?
Or should I just continue my current path earning my CFI-S, build hours, and hope for another OCC class in the next few years and apply again?
Do I have any other options?
I've had a really discouraging attempt at a career in the aviation/military field thus far, having also failed my IFR checkride, twice, leaving me
to believe my choices in the civilian world may be limited as well.
However, I’m not ready to throw in the towel of my dream of a pilot/military career just yet.
But I also haven’t ruled out going Marine Ground Active/Reserve as I am competitive from a PFT/Package standpoint
My apologies for the long post
Any advice is greatly appreciated.
Goblin
06-09-2012, 01:06 PM
#4
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: May 2010
Position: Baja Vermont
Posts: 5,196
Yes, you can get a UPT entry physical before commuting to the ANG/Reserves. The physical has to be done at an active duty hospital. Historically, the AF has been less receptive to PRK surgery and only accepted it done by certain surgeons. Call a nearby base recruiter to get the latest guidance. I think NAS Pensacola can do AF physicals, if not Eglin or Hurlburt certainly can.
GF
GF
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