Meps

[Tom]

So, I had a wonderful time at MEPS today. I went in with a history of migraines and was pretty sure it would go straight to a waiver process. That didn't happen, but I screwed the pooch on the depth vision.

Understand this. I have a first class medical certificate issued by the FAA and took a fancy vision test that makes the MEPS one look like an antique. I have perfect vision and still get some bumbs on the road. I applied to the USAFA and was able to pass their vision test with a real doctor. My vision test wasn't even with a corpsman.

My recruiter told me not to worry about it because it has happened to many people. Right now, I have to head off to a civilian doctor to get rechecked. I'm not worrying about passing that test because right now I'm in a multiengine instrument commercial flight course and can land a plane. What I am worrying about is the future. I just turned my packet in for SNA and if I succeed, that means I get to enjoy a flight physical every six months. Does anyone know what the vision test is for flight physicals? I don't want to go to OCS and get ready to start flight training only to find out that they use the same crappy vision test and just end up pilotless.

Can anyone give me some wisdom or inspiration? I got to worry about getting a waiver, but now it has transcended to this.

On another note, I've decided that the Navy personel are better than the rest of the services. I don't know if they're just all awesome, or if all the enlistedmen want to be nice to a officer candidate.

 

[Physicx]

Can't you retake it? Everyone seems to fails it.

 

[makana]

Can't you retake it? Everyone seems to fails it.

What good is that going to do... So he can study for it?

 

[fc2spyguy]

I don't know if they're just all awesome, or if all the enlistedmen want to be nice to a officer candidate.

We're all just awesome

 

[Tom]

No, the MEPS here told me that there was no retake for it. The recruiter told me that it was somewhat known that their eye department was crap.

 

[Physicx]

Actually there are ways to prepare for it. Some people say those magic eye book work. The best method is moving your head and waiting for the circles to pop out. Check out baseops they have tons of post on it.

 

[puck_11]

Tom give me another call today, I think I can answer most of your questions a little better.

Mike

 

[openbah]

Does anyone know what the vision test is for flight physicals? I don't want to go to OCS and get ready to start flight training only to find out that they use the same crappy vision test and just end up pilotless.

All air candidates are now being sent to Pensacola for a flight physical before they go to OCS. This is what a corpsman told me while I was down a month ago.

As for the vision test portion of the flight physical, first test was the standard eye chart, except all 10 lines on the chart were for 20/20 vision. I was told to read the first line and I think the last line with one eye, then the other. The point of reading 2 out of 10 lines is to prevent people from memorizing lines on the chart. I read the chart and was led into a room filled with various eye exam instruments. The next test was a depth perception test. You look into a small machine, which displays rows of 5 black circles, and are told to name the circle that appears closer to you then the others in the row. After the depth perception portion, I was shown two lines; one that looked like a staircase with different letters on each stair, another that intersected the stairs, and was told to name the stair the other line was intersecting at. Next was the color test. I sat in a chair about 10 feet from a machine that displayed 2 tiny colored lights, one above the other. The lights were red, white, or green, and changed when you named the colors correctly. After all the basic tests I was introduced to an actual eye doctor who sat me down in front of some lenses, and while shining a flashlight in my face inspected my eyes.

That was it. I think they dialate your eyes and do a cycloplegic eye test also, someone else on this board can tell you how often they do it.

 

[Tom]

I just finished my eye exam with a civilian doctor and everything went went. The Doctor found I had perfect depth perception and 20/15 in each eye. It sure is a relief to be done with that part now. I am now waiting on a letter to written by him that I will send to my recruiter and I should be peachy.

 

[Brett327]

So, I had a wonderful time at MEPS today. I went in with a history of migraines and was pretty sure it would go straight to a waiver process. That didn't happen, but I screwed the pooch on the depth vision.

Understand this. I have a first class medical certificate issued by the FAA and took a fancy vision test that makes the MEPS one look like an antique. I have perfect vision and still get some bumbs on the road. I applied to the USAFA and was able to pass their vision test with a real doctor. My vision test wasn't even with a corpsman.

My recruiter told me not to worry about it because it has happened to many people. Right now, I have to head off to a civilian doctor to get rechecked. I'm not worrying about passing that test because right now I'm in a multiengine instrument commercial flight course and can land a plane. What I am worrying about is the future. I just turned my packet in for SNA and if I succeed, that means I get to enjoy a flight physical every six months. Does anyone know what the vision test is for flight physicals? I don't want to go to OCS and get ready to start flight training only to find out that they use the same crappy vision test and just end up pilotless.

Can anyone give me some wisdom or inspiration? I got to worry about getting a waiver, but now it has transcended to this.

On another note, I've decided that the Navy personel are better than the rest of the services. I don't know if they're just all awesome, or if all the enlistedmen want to be nice to a officer candidate.

All I can say is that FAA/GA does not equal NAOMI/Naval Aviation.

Brett

 

[Tom]

Depth perception is only a measure of the 20 feet in front of you. The FAA is not worried about it because rarely do planes come that close together. The only part of the military that requires it is pilot due to midair refueling and formation flight.