1001 questions (and answers) concerning BDCP

[mmandziak]

Around when do you all think there will be an announcement on if the March board is being held?

 

[FormerRecruitingGuru]

Around when do you all think there will be an announcement on if the March board is being held?

For the aviation board? Someone posted that it would be used for BDCP.

 

[mmandziak]

For the aviation board? Someone posted that it would be used for BDCP.

yes, aviation board. If it is not too much hassle, could you please direct me to which thread you saw that in? Thank you.

edit: nevermind, found it. Thanks for pointing that out.

 

[molkshake]

For anyone accepted to or already in the BDCP program, how long did it take from receiving news of your acceptance to getting a FINSEL letter?

My recruiter says I’ll only start getting paid after I get the letter so I’m curious about timelines and want to hear from others in the program.

 

[mmandziak]

For anyone accepted to or already in the BDCP program, how long did it take from receiving news of your acceptance to getting a FINSEL letter?

My recruiter says I’ll only start getting paid after I get the letter so I’m curious about timelines and want to hear from others in the program.

Currently an applicant but 4-6 weeks from what I have seen on here.

 

[flyORdie]

For anyone accepted to or already in the BDCP program, how long did it take from receiving news of your acceptance to getting a FINSEL letter?

My recruiter says I’ll only start getting paid after I get the letter so I’m curious about timelines and want to hear from others in the program.

It was about 2 weeks for me

 

[mutanttrout100]

Hey y'all,

I'm a SNA hopeful, however dealing with some eye issues in regards to farsightedness even though I'm technically medically qualified to apply for a pilot slot. Even though I'm uncorrected 20/20, my farsighted prescription is right on the border of +3.00 and most likely past that with a cycloplegic refraction. I talked to my recruiter and got in contact with our recruiting detachment commander, who said basically that I'm all good, and that if I wanted to it is possible to get LASIK through BDCP during my waiting period between school and OCS, either on my own dime or potentially the Navy's. This seems to conflict with a lot that I've read, but wondering if it might be a different circumstance where you're not allowed to get LASIK to meet the standard to apply, but if you meet the standards to apply already and get accepted you're eligible to get LASIK? Furthermore, if say I can't get LASIK and don't pass my flight physical, with BDCP do you still get the choice of re-designate or medically discharge? And if so, would I have to pay back the BDCP pay?

Thanks a bunch, hard to get reliable info on this

 

[FormerRecruitingGuru]

Hey y'all,

I'm a SNA hopeful, however dealing with some eye issues in regards to farsightedness even though I'm technically medically qualified to apply for a pilot slot. Even though I'm uncorrected 20/20, my farsighted prescription is right on the border of +3.00 and most likely past that with a cycloplegic refraction. I talked to my recruiter and got in contact with our recruiting detachment commander, who said basically that I'm all good, and that if I wanted to it is possible to get LASIK through BDCP during my waiting period between school and OCS, either on my own dime or potentially the Navy's. This seems to conflict with a lot that I've read, but wondering if it might be a different circumstance where you're not allowed to get LASIK to meet the standard to apply, but if you meet the standards to apply already and get accepted you're eligible to get LASIK? Furthermore, if say I can't get LASIK and don't pass my flight physical, with BDCP do you still get the choice of re-designate or medically discharge? And if so, would I have to pay back the BDCP pay?

Thanks a bunch, hard to get reliable info on this

For BDCP, you need to already be medically qualified and selected for the program you applied for. If you end up being medically DQ’d during BDCP, you may be offered other options. It’s not intended to be the other way around where you get lasik while in BDCP and then “try” for SNA.

It’s not intended to be a place where you can shop around designators.

 

[mutanttrout100]

For BDCP, you need to already be medically qualified and selected for the program you applied for. If you end up being medically DQ’d during BDCP, you may be offered other options. It’s not intended to be the other way around where you get lasik while in BDCP and then “try” for SNA.

It’s not intended to be a place where you can shop around designators.

I understand that, and right now in the eyes of N3M I am medically qualified. I am not wanting to switch designators, I am set on going for SNA, and that is the only thing I would be applying for. I have no intention or desire to shop around designators. It seems like the only people who could actually give me a straight answer as to if I'm capable of passing a flight physical now as is, or if my eyes even meet the pre-surgery waiver requirements due to unspecific phrasing in the waiver guide, is either NAMI or a Navy optometrist. According to what I heard from my recruiting office's Commander, as I would enlist if accepted to BDCP, I would have access to a military optometrist and if found to be NPQ, would be able to get LASIK as long as I would meet the 6 month recovery period before I ship off to OCS. Now I am skeptical of this, as I've heard that this not the case on this forum, however do not know if the process has changed to allow this to happen. To me, it seems I am in a damned if I do/ damned if I don't situation, and what my recruiters told me about BDCP is my only real option to let me know if I need or am eligible to get LASIK in order to meet SNA standards.

As it is my dream to be a pilot, I am wary of any option that risks my ability to fly (such as getting LASIK if I'm unsure I meet the Navy pre-surgery requirements), and understand that flying for the Navy might not work out. If I were to be NPQ from SNA, would I be forced to re-designate as I was payed through BDCP, or would I be able to be medically discharged and pursue other routes, such as the Air Force?

 

[FormerRecruitingGuru]

I understand that, and right now in the eyes of N3M I am medically qualified. I am not wanting to switch designators, I am set on going for SNA, and that is the only thing I would be applying for. I have no intention or desire to shop around designators. It seems like the only people who could actually give me a straight answer as to if I'm capable of passing a flight physical now as is, or if my eyes even meet the pre-surgery waiver requirements due to unspecific phrasing in the waiver guide, is either NAMI or a Navy optometrist. According to what I heard from my recruiting office's Commander, as I would enlist if accepted to BDCP, I would have access to a military optometrist and if found to be NPQ, would be able to get LASIK as long as I would meet the 6 month recovery period before I ship off to OCS. Now I am skeptical of this, as I've heard that this not the case on this forum, however do not know if the process has changed to allow this to happen. To me, it seems I am in a damned if I do/ damned if I don't situation, and what my recruiters told me about BDCP is my only real option to let me know if I need or am eligible to get LASIK in order to meet SNA standards.

As it is my dream to be a pilot, I am wary of any option that risks my ability to fly (such as getting LASIK if I'm unsure I meet the Navy pre-surgery requirements), and understand that flying for the Navy might not work out. If I were to be NPQ from SNA, would I be forced to re-designate as I was payed through BDCP, or would I be able to be medically discharged and pursue other routes, such as the Air Force?

I guess my follow on question is if you’re medically qualified for aviation right now, why risk getting LASIK?

 

[mutanttrout100]

I guess my follow on question is if you’re medically qualified for aviation right now, why risk getting LASIK?

This is hard to answer without getting super in depth about the eye standards for farsighted people, but I'll try my best.

My manifest refraction is under the +3.00 manifest refraction standard, sitting at +2.75 . The cycloplegic refraction is the same +3.00 standard, which often results in additional + power during measurement due to latent eye straining, which leaves a high chance of me being found NPQ, if I interpret the medical standards correctly. I have been measured through this cycloplegic refraction with cyclopentolate at +3.75 in a civilian LASIK consultation in my worse eye, but from what I've heard, this +3.75 number is the highest prescription that allows me to still be able to read the 20/20 line. If the test is preformed differently, such as to best visual acuity/ minimum prescription required to see 20/20, it would likely go down, but again still puts me right at the border.

I have pleaded with my recruiter if there is a way to verify this information through N3M, and get more detailed information on if I meet the standards, however have been repeatedly told that my vision qualifies me for SNA (even though MEPS never checked my prescription, only that I meet the 20/20 standard), and that in their eyes and the eyes of N3M, would be able to pass this portion of the flight physical. I don't know what information to trust. LASIK is a whole different ordeal, and again, am not sure I meet the pre-surgery requirements in the eyes of the Navy.

The way I see it, it is likely I go NAMI and don't meet the eye standards, of which I could have gotten LASIK, but because I didn't before I am disqualified. Just as likely, if I get LASIK without knowing if I meet the pre-surgery requirements, I could get disqualified. It is also possible I meet the standard as is, or don't meet the standard entirely. If what I was told was true about BDCP, where I could see a Navy optometrist to see where I stand, I believe it would solve this dilemma entirely.

All in all, I would hate to go through this process and end up being disqualified, knowing that the right information would save months of time.

 

[FormerRecruitingGuru]

This is hard to answer without getting super in depth about the eye standards for farsighted people, but I'll try my best.

My manifest refraction is under the +3.00 manifest refraction standard, sitting at +2.75 . The cycloplegic refraction is the same +3.00 standard, which often results in additional + power during measurement due to latent eye straining, which leaves a high chance of me being found NPQ, if I interpret the medical standards correctly. I have been measured through this cycloplegic refraction with cyclopentolate at +3.75 in a civilian LASIK consultation in my worse eye, but from what I've heard, this +3.75 number is the highest prescription that allows me to still be able to read the 20/20 line. If the test is preformed differently, such as to best visual acuity/ minimum prescription required to see 20/20, it would likely go down, but again still puts me right at the border.

I have pleaded with my recruiter if there is a way to verify this information through N3M, and get more detailed information on if I meet the standards, however have been repeatedly told that my vision qualifies me for SNA (even though MEPS never checked my prescription, only that I meet the 20/20 standard), and that in their eyes and the eyes of N3M, would be able to pass this portion of the flight physical. I don't know what information to trust. LASIK is a whole different ordeal, and again, am not sure I meet the pre-surgery requirements in the eyes of the Navy.

The way I see it, it is likely I go NAMI and don't meet the eye standards, of which I could have gotten LASIK, but because I didn't before I am disqualified. Just as likely, if I get LASIK without knowing if I meet the pre-surgery requirements, I could get disqualified. It is also possible I meet the standard as is, or don't meet the standard entirely. If what I was told was true about BDCP, where I could see a Navy optometrist to see where I stand, I believe it would solve this dilemma entirely.

All in all, I would hate to go through this process and end up being disqualified, knowing that the right information would save months of time.

Probably not the answer you want to hear, but you passed the vision portion through MEPS, otherwise N3M/N33 (CNRC) wouldn't have qualified for Navy.

It's not the most assuring, I get it, but this is how Navy does things. If you want a full on aviation contract which includes a NAMI physical on the front end, perhaps you ought to consider the Marine Corps. Their PLC/OCS applicants go to NAMI first.

 

[mutanttrout100]

Probably not the answer you want to hear, but you passed the vision portion through MEPS, otherwise N3M/N33 (CNRC) wouldn't have qualified for Navy.

It's not the most assuring, I get it, but this is how Navy does things. If you want a full on aviation contract which includes a NAMI physical on the front end, perhaps you ought to consider the Marine Corps. Their PLC/OCS applicants go to NAMI first.

Got that, thanks for giving it to me straight. How about if I was found NPQ at OCS for this, would I be forced to redesignate to NFO or another URL position due to being in BDCP, or would I have the ability to be out processed (not DOR)? I understand you incur a service obligation if you DOR through BDCP, but can't find a straight answer about how it is if you are found NPQ for your designator. Asking this because I've heard past instances of OCS applicants getting NPQ'd and processed out, later reapplying after getting corrective surgery, which is the path I would want to take if possible.

 

[FormerRecruitingGuru]

Got that, thanks for giving it to me straight. How about if I was found NPQ at OCS for this, would I be forced to redesignate to NFO or another URL position due to being in BDCP, or would I have the ability to be out processed (not DOR)? I understand you incur a service obligation if you DOR through BDCP, but can't find a straight answer about how it is if you are found NPQ for your designator. Asking this because I've heard past instances of OCS applicants getting NPQ'd and processed out, later reapplying after getting corrective surgery, which is the path I would want to take if possible.

Because the Navy hasn’t invested money in regular OCS applicants unlike BDCP, NUPOC, etc. there is probably more options for them to DOR without repercussions.

 

[exNavyOffRec]

Got that, thanks for giving it to me straight. How about if I was found NPQ at OCS for this, would I be forced to redesignate to NFO or another URL position due to being in BDCP, or would I have the ability to be out processed (not DOR)? I understand you incur a service obligation if you DOR through BDCP, but can't find a straight answer about how it is if you are found NPQ for your designator. Asking this because I've heard past instances of OCS applicants getting NPQ'd and processed out, later reapplying after getting corrective surgery, which is the path I would want to take if possible.

During the last time we had BDCP I had a BDCP person that DOR'd at OCS and that person was sent to boot camp as enlisted, the NRD next to me had a BDCP person that was also sent to boot camp.

I saw BDCP who failed flight school who were allowed to just go home.