Missing a thumb...

[flyinguga]

So a good buddy of mine is/was going through Air Force ROTC at the University of Georgia. (first mistake)...anyway from what I understand he was a pretty good cadet, maxing PFT, high GPA all that good stuff. Anyway, he goes to their little 4 week camp out (after 2 full years in the program) and he gets written up for not being able to hold the guide on properly because he lost his thumb- to cut a long story short he was kicked out of the program and told he could not be in the AF period because he is missing his thumb.

Anyway, my question to anyone who might know: is this a disqualifier for all branches of service or is there a possibility that he could apply to the marines or navy? he would love to fly of course, but at this point he just wants to serve in the military and is pretty bummed that the AF won't even let him do that. Anyone have any info?

thanks for your help!
go dawgs!

 

[Gatordev]

You'd have to check the respective waiver guides. If I remember correctly, there's actually a section about missing digits. Missing a thumb on your right hand could cause some issues flying. There's lots of different aircraft that have trim that require that digit.

 

[A4sForever]

Kicked out for missing a thumb ??? Jesus, That probably didn't make it any easier to hitch a ride home .....

 

[macattack]

Is he sure he wants to join the Navy? If he lost his "good thumb," might not be as easy to do, you know, certain things on those long cruises.

 

[phrogdriver]

Thumb might be a DQ--the whole opposible digits thing. Right thumb loss would be worse, and he sure can't ever fly a V-22--it's a thumb-intensive aircraft. I do know a 46 pilot who's missing the last 2 fingers on his right hand, though. However, he lost them after he was already a pilot. Can't hurt to ask the question, though.

 

[Brett327]

Thumb might be a DQ--the whole opposible digits thing. Right thumb loss would be worse, and he sure can't ever fly a V-22--it's a thumb-intensive aircraft. I do know a 46 pilot who's missing the last 2 fingers on his right hand, though. However, he lost them after he was already a pilot. Can't hurt to ask the question, though.

I'm gonna go out on a limb and say that most if not all fleet aircraft are thumb intensive. Even P-3s have a thumb ICS/radio switch on the yolk and most of the TACAIR guys have some kind of HOTAS or switches on the throttle quadrant.

Brett

 

[Steve Wilkins]

I had a good friend I went to BOOST with and even college, who had no pinkie finger. While it's not the same as a thumb, it is a loss of a digit. He was an active duty Marine when I met him and went onto get his commission in the Marine Corp the same year I commissioned. He went logistics. We used to play raquetball when were in BOOST and he would kick my ass evey time....and I'm not a bad player. It was quite awhile before I even realized he didn't even have a pinkie finger on his right hand. It didn't affect his game one bit.

 

[phrogdriver]

I'm gonna go out on a limb and say that most if not all fleet aircraft are thumb intensive. Even P-3s have a thumb ICS/radio switch on the yolk and most of the TACAIR guys have some kind of HOTAS or switches on the throttle quadrant.

Brett

I was being semi-facetious, as just living and doing everyday tasks is pretty dependent on opposible thumbs. However, there aren't too many aircraft other than a V-22 where a major control surface, i.e. the nacelles, is controlled entirely by one's thumb.

 

[Brett327]

I was being semi-facetious, as just living and doing everyday tasks is pretty dependent on opposible thumbs. However, there aren't too many aircraft other than a V-22 where a major control surface, i.e. the nacelles, is controlled entirely by one's thumb.

Sure, I get it , but whether it's moving a control surface, radio PTT, expendables launch, or cursor for your weapons system, aircraft are designed for people with thumbs and, in all likelyhood, this guy is gonna be SOL.

Brett

 

[Gatordev]

I had a good friend I went to BOOST with and even college, who had no pinkie finger. While it's not the same as a thumb, it is a loss of a digit. He was an active duty Marine when I met him and went onto get his commission in the Marine Corp the same year I commissioned. He went logistics. We used to play raquetball when were in BOOST and he would kick my ass evey time....and I'm not a bad player. It was quite awhile before I even realized he didn't even have a pinkie finger on his right hand. It didn't affect his game one bit.

I was thinking of him when I first started reading this thread. Of course, like you said, it was a pinkie and he didn't go aviation.

 

[A4sForever]

I knew a 747 Captain (gee, who cares, right ???) without one thumb .... he still maintained he was ... "all thumbs". Flew for 35 years and retired. And, generally, he was "all thumbs" ....

 

[flyinguga]

thanks for the response everyone...he is going to look into both the marines and navy. He doesn't really care if he can't fly, just wants in the military.

we won't go into the real reasons the AF requires you to have a thumb, but i can imagine is involves inserting it somewhere?