Questions about becoming a Marine.

[DszeroX]

Hey,

Ive been researching and trying to find answers for the many questions i have researching for a few months. I know that may not see like a lot of time but i have learned a considerable amount of information. I still have a good deal of questions that are still unanswered however. I had to take a year off from college to get some money together etc. but i want to start again in the spring. Now, ive always wanted to fly, and this year i got sick and tired or everyone telling me that i cant do it.

I got some medical problems that may screw me anyway and that is the issue that i cant seem to find any answers. I have eyesight problems but ive read all about the waivers and iam sure that i could get through that, or hope anyway. But more then that its my spine, i have spondylolysis, on the left side of my L5 Vertebra. The only information that i can find on this subject is here.
http://www.brooks.af.mil/web/consult_service/waiver%20guide/Musculoskeletal-Ortho/Spondylolisthesis.htm

and

http://www.medind.nic.in/iab/t03/i1/iabt03i1p69.pdf

Does anyone have anyother information on this, ive searched the forum and couldnt find anything?? It says that people try to get this condition waived and i read somewhere that sometimes it is waived? I dont have any slippage, which is called spondylolisthesis.

I want to go plc but i dont really know what plc is all about. What i do know is limited, you can apply as a freshman sophomore or junior and you go during the summer for 2 or so months. But after that what do you do? do you have to go to boot or is plc equal to boot? Do you go to TBS right after you graduate? i have more questions but i need these answers first.

i appreciate any help you can give me, thanks alot

Mike

 

[MasterBates]

I have moderate scoliosis, and I was OK. I had fractured L3/L4/L5 in a motocross accident in 1994, and resulted in a condition similar (but not) to what the AF website describes.

As to eyesight, what is your vision, and have you had surgery? PRK ONLY. NFO is a little more forgiving on vision than pilot.

You may have to fight, like I did. Be a Pain, keep bugging them and try to find a way if it is what you want to do.

 

[scotty008]

PLC is more or less "boot" for officers. Not the same thing, but no entirely different either. Try a search with 'PLC' and you'll get a plethora of information that should clear up most of your more specific questions.

 

[DszeroX]

Oh i know that its going to be a fight haha one way or another thats for damn sure. I wouldnt mind either, nfo or pilot, but in the long run, NFOs will dissapear in the USMC when they start replacing f/a 18's with the F35b's correct? Eyesight, ah good ol eyesight, Left eye -2.25 right eye -1.75. My left eye has been degrading over the last few years, which makes me feel that i wouldnt be qualified for prk, let alone a flight slot. I havent gotten it check this year, thats my perscription as of last summer so ill find out for sure this summer.

 

[Scarface_F/L]

Hey,

DS,
First off, Great choice picking the Corps. Ive been in for eight years, Enlisted, and I love it. I have an ECP package in and I am awaiting my results. I am Aircrew on H-1's and I can tell you there are many people, pilots and aircrew alike that have similar issues. I can not really talk about the spine thing, I just do not know, hopefully there is a flight surgeon logged on. But, for the eyes, last OCT. I had PRK done and I am seeing 20/15. It sucked for a few days and everytime I drink a little more than I sould as Marines do from time to time, my eyes get a little dried out. Thats really the only side effect I have. I LIKE SEEING though and it was worth the two or three weeks of aggrivation.. Good luck, and I suggest you contact the school in Quantico if your recruiter can not answer your questions, just ask them for the medical screening department, or call NOMI. They are truely the ones who should know. Good Luck, SEMPER FI.

 

[perotti17]

Zero,
I recently completed my Flight Physical Examination and they said that I had a C-spine injury. They had me redo the chest X-ray and said that I was fine. I would suggest doing a physical examination at NOMI. If they say something's wrong with your back, then you'll have to go through the fun waiver process. I needed a PRK waiver. I've heard that this can take as long as 6 months, but it took a couple of days for me to get the waiver. If you get a cool Flight Surgeon, he'll assist you in every way possible to get you qualified.

 

[DszeroX]

What is NOMI? i know there is probably somewhere on the forum where i can learn all of these acronyms?!

my back is f-ing strong now, i am pretty sure that i wouldnt have any problems with it. I used to not beable to run at all like 4 years ago, i could barely stand for 30 mins. But now iam running 3 miles in 24 mins, that was 2 weeks ago, and it was the first time i had ran at all since 2002. It does get irritated during long sits, which sucks but its usually not too bad.

But i got some more questions, right now I got two paths that i want to take, one of which is military aviation. The other (start laughing) Animation but i love both, and iam not too shabby at animation either. Iam worried that if i go through with all the bs, and fail out then i have to start over.

Firstly, i know that i can apply for Marine PLC, being that ill be a junior this year. Go through all that while finishing college etc. but that would mean id have to take the ASTB before i applied, and lets face the facts, as an animator, i suck at math, i mean straight up, suck. Ive see the practice tests and all of the problems types ive seen before, its just a matter brushing up (seriously brushing up :\ ) But its not like i have to do Calc problems on a note pad while iam flying right? so i know with some studying, alot of sacrifice and possibly tutoring i could get that math section passed np.

Iam wondering if i should just go to college and finish for animation or something else and then apply for OCS, because id be studying for the ASTB and ASVAB all the while. It would give me more time to study and learn everything etc etc but iam just wondering what would benefit me more? Iam 21 so i got time and id apply for spring semester so i would have 6 or so months of studying for the ASTB. Iam just wondering what is the best thing to do or what would you suggest? THe great thing about the Marines is that they dont care what your major is at least thats what i was told. Art school is hard, dispite what you may think, My entire class did actually, but 50% of the class failed out with in the first semester.

 

[Brett327]

It does get irritated during long sits, which sucks but its usually not too bad.

You mean long sits like an 8-10 hour flight strapped in to an ejection seat?

Brett