Need advice after MEPS

[GatorBoy44]

I have recently got a pro rec'd for pilot. I went to my eye doctor one week before I went to MEPS and did a one year follow up for my PRK and to make sure everything was OK before the MEPS exam. While I was at my eye doctor's office I got him to do a RANDOT test on me just to make sure that my depth perception was normal and the good news is that it was perfect. But, when I went to MEPS this week I failed their "DMV style" depth perception test. My question is, I am supposed to have my FINDOCS sent off next week and I have heard that you can get an outside eye doctor to clear you on depth perception if you fail the one at MEPS, does anyone know if this is 100% true? I need to know if I should include the outside Dr.'s depth perception results with my FINDOCS to help me not get disqualified on final select because of depth perception.

Thanks to anyone that can help.

 

[mkoch]

First off, don't worry about that depth perception test. Out of the 4 Navy people there when I went to MEPS, 1 of us passed it (not me). The one guy that did said he was guessing the whole time. MEPS said you were qualified for military service, but just noted you didnt have depth perception. I had a shoulder injury a few months ago, and had to provide docs on that to MEPS. MEPS docs looked though it, checked out my flexibility, and said good to go. A month later, I got a call saying CNRC wanted more docs on the shoulder, because they decided MEPS was wrong and I should have needed a waiver. Long story short, if your eye doctor can provide records of a recent depth perception test (preferably more recent than MEPS, and less than 30 days old, just because they had a habit of telling me docs were too old at 31 days) you should include it. It certainly can't hurt.

Side note, someone else on the forum, I forget who, relatively recently went through MEPS and had the same issue with the depth test. I believe he recently got final select after having a civilian doc check him out.

 

[GatorBoy44]

I guess I am just nervous and want this process to be as painless as possible, thanks for the help.

 

[gtg941f]

MEPS forgot to give me a depth perception test so I just submitted a civilian copy and the FINDOCS board gave me a select with that.

 

[pilot_man]

Gatorboy, I had the same problem with depth perception at MEPS. I went to a civilian doctor and had to resubmit my package, but they accepted it. Don't trust those test at MEPS, they suck.

 

[GatorBoy44]

Yeah, I agree that the equipment that MEPS is using is horrible. But I guess it will be OK because I passed the depth perception at the civillian doctor. I would hate to be disqualified because MEPCOM is too cheap to buy some new equipment.

 

[Tom]

I had the same problem with the depth perception test. I just went to a civilian doctor, got a full eye exam and had the doctor write a letter about the conditions of my eyes and send it to my recruiter. I got my final select no problem.

 

[GatorBoy44]

So I guess I'll definitely get the civillian Dr. to send my recruiter all the info from my eye exam 1 week ago. Tom or joboy666: so what time frame am I looking at assuming that everything goes smoothly for a final selection if my FINDOCS get sent off this week (Wed, FEB 15)? My recruiter told me that I should know something in 2-4 weeks, I am thinking that if I hear something that soon that would be awesome.

 

[Tom]

For me, I believe there is a standing rule that documents sent in have to site 14 days before they can be looked at. The selection board (for SNA is all I know) meets every other Friday a month. This can create a delayed time if you are late to turn documents less than 14 days from a selection board meeting.

For me, my documents did not follow this consideration. I had my documents sent in on a Monday afternoon and was told Thursday late afternoon that I got my final select. I do not know the exact reason for this, but it was towards the end of November. They might have wanted to squeeze me in for the end of the month or some other reason.

To sum this all up, I would say from the date your documents got sent in you should not have to wait longer than 4 weeks, but hopefully shorter. I would just recommend to always have a phone with you so you do not end up playing phone tag with your recruiter. Also, keep in touch with your recruiter because he might know a little more information.

 

[Wingnut]

Well, I just got done at MEPS today, and I got knocked on the depth perception thing too. Everything else was fine (they did have to retake my blood pressure, it tends on the high but not problem side; just something I'll have to keep tabs on), and other than that it was pretty much a walk in the park (even had my own room, thank you NRD Seattle).
Anyway, I'm wondering how far those of you who failed got on it. I made it through a couple of the squares and then couldn't make out squat. Could be partly sleep, I had trouble getting to sleep (not used to 5AM wakeup), but the only other person that I know of who had to do it failed as well, she said she got a little further than me and hit a wall. Do they do anything like this at NAMI? I'm hoping they use something more sophisticated than one of those DMV-style devices for depth; I did get 20/20, but those things always seem weird when I look through them. I do plan on going to an optholmologist (sp), but it'd suck to get to NAMI and get kicked in the teeth again by one of the same machines. For the record, I've never had anything but good reports on my eyes. Never a negative comment, from driver's license to avation physical, "your eyes are great;" my flight instructor has never questioned my vision in any way, he's even braggged on my landings. The short of it is that this test is the only thing that has ever suggested I have any vision problems whatsoever, and it annoys me that the MEPS vision screening is so lacking.

 

[Tom]

A civilian doctor can do the test for you, but keep in mind that you are the one who has the ultimate decision on whether or not the letter is sent. If you don't like the first letter, go to another doctor. As for me, I guess almost through the entire test, but failed at the end.

 

[GatorBoy44]

Wingnut,
I went to my civilian doctor and just got a letter stating that I passed the "RANDOT" depth perception test. If you do your research on the NAMI website, you will find that you only have to pass one of four different approved depth perception tests. I have been told that if you do not pass the DMV-style test at MEPS then you will recieve a "medical kickback" after you send in FINDOCS asking you to go to a civilian doctor to take one of the other tests. I about had a nervous breakdown when I failed the test at MEPS, but don't worry, go to a doctor before you send in FINDOCS and get a letter saying that you passed. Best of luck.

 

[Wingnut]

I'm glad to hear that NAMI doesn't require you to pass just the DMV type depth perception test. Somebody mentioned those things from several years back where it just looks like a random color pattern or something like that and then something pops out at you, that he made it through the DMV DP check by treating it the same way. I hated those things. Never saw anything, and obviously they're 2D, so it has nothing to do with DP. Another thing that bothered was that on the first easy one it seemed like on one of the lines there were two circles that stood out. It all seemed a little screwy to me, and I sort of froze up when it started getting harder to pick out the right one. Anyway, I'm making an appointment first thing next week, I want this monkey off my back.
Thanks for the info and encouragement.

 

[Godspeed]

and other than that it was pretty much a walk in the park (even had my own room, thank you NRD Seattle).

Your own room??!? D*mn you!! NRD Seattle made me drive 2 hrs and they never gave me a stinkin room. Lemme guess, they put you up at the Seattle Hilton? Embassy Suites Perhaps? Although I was impressed with their MEPS facility. The decor was quite nice, ALL 3 TIMES I WENT.

Yeah, time #:
1) Passed the flight physical... No problems whatsoever, oh yeah except for the fact that they 'lost' my file

2) Went back to 'redo' that day. Yup, the 2 hr drive at 0300, crabwalking in underwear, 9 viles of blood, drinking an assload of water and the urinalysis and the long drive back at 1700. Oh yeah, for some weird damn reason, I was seeing 20/30 in my left eye. Dr. recommended I hydrate more and come back for a 3rd try.

3) Back again.... Good times. This time I bypassed the other sh*t. One guy new me by name at this point. Saw 20/20.... And everything was copasetic(sp).

My personal reccommendation: GET A COPY OF ALL YOUR PAPERWORK WHEN YOU LEAVE. I've talked to others this happened to.

 

[GatorBoy44]

My LT called this morning and told me that I am now medically qualified. That was like the biggest relief I've had so far after my experience at MEPS and then wondering if I would get approved for a PRK waiver. Moral of the story: be persistent and be optimistic.