PRK before application wait period?

[nombrescreeno]

Hi all,

So I've been getting conflicting information from my recruiter and the experience of other's in this area.

As a bit of a background, I'm applying to be a pilot for OCS. Now initially, my background meant that they were pushing me hard to be a nuke - I mean really hard. In fact, they sent me to MEPS before I even bothered taking the ASTB or sending my application in.

Now my eyes have always been an issue - I was at -7.00 / -7.00 in my eyes and at MEPS (i'm sure we've all heard the horror stories), they said that I was DQ'd cause the autorefraction machine read -8.25 / -8.50 in each eye. Well, I went to my own civilian eye doctor a few weeks later and sure enough, my eyes hadn't changed at all (damn unlikely either, given that my eyes hadn't changed for 2-3 years before my last exam, and I wouldve noticed with my prescription if they had changed that much).

So after I took the ASTB and had great results, and also after reading up online about the PRK requirements, I saw that my eyes would fall under the PRK limits, although I would have to go through the 6 month wait period, rathe than the 3 month wait period. I've always been interested in flying, but always assumed my eyes would DQ me right off the bat and didn't realize that they had the PRK available.

However, this is where it got confusing - a lot of those going through the PRK process had already submitted their application and gotten pro-rec'd, whereas I still haven't submitted my application.

Also, my recruiter was saying that N3M requires one YEAR after PRK before I can apply to be an officer. I thought that NAMI was the one that had the final say on PRK especially since they do their own flight physical, and that it was 6 months?

I'm not sure if anyone else has been in my shoes on this situation. Also, since I went through MEPS already, would getting PRK mean I get to go through the physical again? It would be nice to get that DQ off and get some correct results for once...

 

[nugget61]

Yeah, they tried to push me into nuke as well - if that's not where your heart is then don't let them push you around. I had to literally walk out of my recruiter's office because he was pushing it so hard and I was nearly yelling no at him. Once he realized this then he was more accommodating for sna.
The MEPS autorefractors are are some of the worst made; I had the same problem. They won't DQ you based on what the autorefraction is anyway, but the manifest is the one that counts (hence why your civ doc prescription trumps it).
If you're not currently in, you have to wait 6 months regardless of pre-op. The wording in the waiver guide is wrong according to the doc at NAMI that I spoke to (they denied me at 3 months and I questioned it). The wait is 6 months to get approved for the waiver process (you don't actually get the waiver at 6 months being a civillian applicant, rather they OK you to be checked out by NAMI for a waiver. An initial screening if you will, fyi). I know more than a few folks that have done this and are current in/recently out of OCS.

Now regarding getting PRK after the Pro-Rec - they want you to get it done before. Apparently it's hard to 'keep' the pro-rec on hold for the 6-7 months it takes to get approved after the surgery, so if you're medically good to go at the application time then its a lot easier for you. I had mine done about 2 weeks after I got my pro-rec and have somehow managed to keep my status (no final select till med ok), however I do know of folks that have lost their pro-rec and will have to reapply once they're checked out. It seems like there's very little consistance with who gets to keep it and who doesn't, so its probably less of a hassle to apply in 6 months. Especially if you apply now, get pro-reced, get prk, lose the pro-rec and then have to reapply and explain to the board why you applied for a job knowingly that you weren't physically qualified for it. Not something that I'd want to do.
I don't know for sure is you'll have to go through MEPS again, but I was told by my (frequently wrong) OR that I would (our situations are the same in this regard). Apparetnly if you have any major surgeries then you have to get a new meps approval, but that should just be a few hours of your day - worth it if they give you the job.

 

[nombrescreeno]

Thanks for the info nugget61. Seems like my best choice is to get it done then wait the 6 months and apply.

Does anyone have any idea why my recruiter would say it would be a full *year* before I could apply? I've heard 3 months and 6 months from various sources online, but a full year for PRK? Something about N3M or the Navy docs not willing to see anything if laser surgery was done for a year, but that seems odd

 

[CashvillePlt]

That's the first I've heard of the year wait thing but I'm not too sure what N3M means?? I'm still pretty new to this whole waiver process but according to my OR (also occasionally wrong) I'm currently waiting on my 6 months post-op to roll around so I can go to MEPS with my waiver paperwork in hand. (not a waiver, just the application for one). My OR sent me a pdf link to the paperwork you need to bring to your doc on your 6 month checkup so he can give you the OK. From then on, he said the process is MEPS, waiver, PQ'ed, wait, wait, wait, wait, OCS.

 

[julietfoxtrot]

i would work on the application process while you're waiting your six months. i had prk one year ago - and was told i had to wait six months. was told i needed a 3 and 6 month checkup - however when i went to MEPS in May, the doc said I only needed one month in between checkups. ive gotten conflicting info many times over ... but make sure to get the proper documentation when you see your doctor for your checkups. so ... id start the application process, get everything together and hopefully you can submit your package right when your six months is up.

 

[CashvillePlt]

Hmmm, so I guess I could fax the paperwork to my doc to have him fill it out then? (my doc is in VA and I live in TN)

 

[nugget61]

Thanks for the info nugget61. Seems like my best choice is to get it done then wait the 6 months and apply.

Does anyone have any idea why my recruiter would say it would be a full *year* before I could apply? I've heard 3 months and 6 months from various sources online, but a full year for PRK? Something about N3M or the Navy docs not willing to see anything if laser surgery was done for a year, but that seems odd

I don't know your OR so I don't want to guess, however mine told me multiple flat out bold faced lies trying to get me to go NUPOC instead of SNA.

Hmmm, so I guess I could fax the paperwork to my doc to have him fill it out then? (my doc is in VA and I live in TN)

I only had to have a copy of all the paperwork that they generated, including manifest numbers, cyclo numbers, pressure etc. NAMI told me they don't want civilian docs doing any 'thinking' for them and only want the reports, they'll do the rest.

 

[nombrescreeno]

So unless things have changed, MEPCOM and COMNAVCRUITCOM have a 6 month period after PRK (assuming ur pre-PRK limits are within range) before you can be re-examined at MEPS... so it sounds like 6 months it is, and not a year

Not sure if that's both enlisted/officer standards or enlisted only, but I know MEPCOM is across all branches

 

[nugget61]

So unless things have changed, MEPCOM and COMNAVCRUITCOM have a 6 month period after PRK (assuming ur pre-PRK limits are within range) before you can be re-examined at MEPS... so it sounds like 6 months it is, and not a year

Not sure if that's both enlisted/officer standards or enlisted only, but I know MEPCOM is across all branches

I'll let you know in the next week or two, waiting on the recruiting command to push the paperwork through.

 

[nombrescreeno]

I'll let you know in the next week or two, waiting on the recruiting command to push the paperwork through.

That sounds great nugget61, let us know how it goes!