Raptor2216
Registered User
At least until they replace them with the F-35. If you select prowlers then you may not have to worry about it since we will probably fly them until the wings fall off.
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Shaky 20/40
- Thread starter Cron
- Start date
At least until they replace them with the F-35. If you select prowlers then you may not have to worry about it since we will probably fly them until the wings fall off.
shotcalla10
what percent of RL officers get jets?
this is how the whole flight physical thing works...
if you are pilot/nfo, you DO get a flight physical at OCS in RI. the only difference is, you don't get an upchit. when you come down to NAMI in p-cola, you just go and speak with the flight doc to get an upchit (kengoneflying just did that today). this should have been true for me as well since i did get my flight physical at OCS in newport, but they ended up doing my eye exam and lab work again before getting an upchit (which i'm still working on but that's a different issue). if anything you get a very shorten version of a flight physical, if at all.
WOLFSON
Member
If you have the ability (and the time) I would very seriously look into taking the option of PRK.
I have a pretty similar story to yours. I have VERY shaky 20/40 vision that can go either way depending on my level of hydration, fatigue, and stress at the time of the exam. It was when I went to MEPS when I found out just how bad my vision had become over the last few years (I'm 25 - I knew my L eye was worse than my right, but I thought it was negligible) and I tested at 20/50. Out of limits. My depth perception had also gone down the drain due to the strain I had been putting on my right eye to compensate for my punk-a** left eye. At that point I had been PROREC'd Pilot and NFO. I had 2 options in front of me: 1). Pull my package and my PROREC, get PRK, recover, reapply and hopefully get re-accepted. 2). Go in as an NFO, get my commission, cross the vision/re-desig bridge when I got there.
Well, this was my 3rd time applying and I wasn't too sure about my odds, or, more importantly, the needs of the Navy at the time I reapplied. Maybe they wouldn't need so many Pilots or NFOs in a year, you never know. I had a shot at getting a commission, even as a FO, so I submitted my package sans Pilot option, went to OCS, and am now looking into crossing the bridge. Without a doubt I'll have to place top 10% in API and then make one helluva an argument to get the surgery approved.
For what it's worth, had I had the foresight (pun-intended) to have my eyes checked out well prior to that MEPS exam, I could have had the surgery, gotten a waiver and been a pilot designate.
Nevertheless, joining the Navy has been the best decision of my life. I thank my lucky stars every day that I'm here, and regardless of where I sit in the plane, I'm definitely in for the ride! This could be you too.
I have a pretty similar story to yours. I have VERY shaky 20/40 vision that can go either way depending on my level of hydration, fatigue, and stress at the time of the exam. It was when I went to MEPS when I found out just how bad my vision had become over the last few years (I'm 25 - I knew my L eye was worse than my right, but I thought it was negligible) and I tested at 20/50. Out of limits. My depth perception had also gone down the drain due to the strain I had been putting on my right eye to compensate for my punk-a** left eye. At that point I had been PROREC'd Pilot and NFO. I had 2 options in front of me: 1). Pull my package and my PROREC, get PRK, recover, reapply and hopefully get re-accepted. 2). Go in as an NFO, get my commission, cross the vision/re-desig bridge when I got there.
Well, this was my 3rd time applying and I wasn't too sure about my odds, or, more importantly, the needs of the Navy at the time I reapplied. Maybe they wouldn't need so many Pilots or NFOs in a year, you never know. I had a shot at getting a commission, even as a FO, so I submitted my package sans Pilot option, went to OCS, and am now looking into crossing the bridge. Without a doubt I'll have to place top 10% in API and then make one helluva an argument to get the surgery approved.
For what it's worth, had I had the foresight (pun-intended) to have my eyes checked out well prior to that MEPS exam, I could have had the surgery, gotten a waiver and been a pilot designate.
Nevertheless, joining the Navy has been the best decision of my life. I thank my lucky stars every day that I'm here, and regardless of where I sit in the plane, I'm definitely in for the ride! This could be you too.
Everything I've heard or seen has said that while reading and computer use can lead to short-term eyestrain, there aren't any negative long-term effects. Often our eyes get worse as we age, and this can coincide with stuff like school or work where we spend time typing and reading.
Was MEPS any different from your optometrist's tests? If they say you're 20/20, that sounds like good news.
If the MEPS tests are the same as the NAMI tests, you should be good to go, right?
I am in the same spot with the shaky 20/40 vision, its my damn left eye. I have been posting eye charts all around the house trying to figure out how often I can read 20/40 with my left eye and I can read 20/40 about half the time.
I am wondering, is the 20/40 vision requirement for each eye separate or can I pass if I read the 20/40 line with two eyes open. I assume its the former, but it would be great if the latter because I can always read the 20/40 line with two eyes.
I am wondering, is the 20/40 vision requirement for each eye separate or can I pass if I read the 20/40 line with two eyes open. I assume its the former, but it would be great if the latter because I can always read the 20/40 line with two eyes.
coxjc05
SNA 2009
PRK info
For what it's worth, I was re-selected for OCS (previous DOR due to family reasons). I was picked up for SNA, and I believe my left eye waivers inbetween 20/30 and 20/40. I was REAL nervous about going through with it, so I went to a local eye Dr. and had the PRK consultation. The woman said that PRK was designed for people that pretty much cannot see, not for "near-perfect 20/40". After speaking with my dad who recently retired as an O-6, he made it very clear that you need to be in the mind-set of Navy first, Aviation second. If for some reason it does not workout flying, you've still got an awesome job, and have the chance to re-apply to aviation if you choose PRK. It helped out a lot, and made me much more confident in my decision to be a Naval Officer.
For what it's worth, I was re-selected for OCS (previous DOR due to family reasons). I was picked up for SNA, and I believe my left eye waivers inbetween 20/30 and 20/40. I was REAL nervous about going through with it, so I went to a local eye Dr. and had the PRK consultation. The woman said that PRK was designed for people that pretty much cannot see, not for "near-perfect 20/40". After speaking with my dad who recently retired as an O-6, he made it very clear that you need to be in the mind-set of Navy first, Aviation second. If for some reason it does not workout flying, you've still got an awesome job, and have the chance to re-apply to aviation if you choose PRK. It helped out a lot, and made me much more confident in my decision to be a Naval Officer.
Cron
Yankee Uniform Tango
Totally forgot about this thread...
Soon after I made that last post, I had a real deal cycloplegic eye exam done and my eyes were measured closer to 20/50 R and and 20/60 L. I made the decision to get PRK soon after, although that didn't end up happening till late October.
I'm now exactly 3 months post-op and my vision for both eyes individually is 20/20 (20/25 when I'm tired, etc). My left eye's near vision got a little messed up in the process, but it's getting better.
Anyway, I'm not here to tell anyone what to do. The way I figured it was that even if I'd be right at the 20/40 cut-off I would still have to wear glasses and/or contacts in the cockpit, so what the hell? And the piece of mind that comes with knowing you're good to go is priceless. As always, however, YMMV.
Soon after I made that last post, I had a real deal cycloplegic eye exam done and my eyes were measured closer to 20/50 R and and 20/60 L. I made the decision to get PRK soon after, although that didn't end up happening till late October.
I'm now exactly 3 months post-op and my vision for both eyes individually is 20/20 (20/25 when I'm tired, etc). My left eye's near vision got a little messed up in the process, but it's getting better.
Anyway, I'm not here to tell anyone what to do. The way I figured it was that even if I'd be right at the 20/40 cut-off I would still have to wear glasses and/or contacts in the cockpit, so what the hell? And the piece of mind that comes with knowing you're good to go is priceless. As always, however, YMMV.
For the Marine Corps, you need 20/40 or better each eye to contract and commission as an SNA. Once you are designated an SNA, you need to be 20/100 or better each eye (i.e. at your pre-API flight physical). There's only one Aeromedical Reference and Waiver Guide, so I believe those standards apply to both the blue and green side.
http://www.med.navy.mil/sites/navme...ments/Waiver Guide - Ophthalmology 080624.pdf
http://www.med.navy.mil/sites/navme...ments/Waiver Guide - Ophthalmology 080624.pdf
Mui,
Useful info. Does anybody know how difficult it is to get a waiver for eyes slightly worse than 20/40. My app for the Navy will be complete for the February board. Can I submit the app with a waiver pending or do I have to get into the Navy as a different designation first and then apply for the waiver?
Useful info. Does anybody know how difficult it is to get a waiver for eyes slightly worse than 20/40. My app for the Navy will be complete for the February board. Can I submit the app with a waiver pending or do I have to get into the Navy as a different designation first and then apply for the waiver?
Same-o, same-o 45 years ago ... I lost a principal nomination to the Boat School as I could NOT do 20/20 (no waivers then). So on the recommendation of my optometrist, I did eye exercises for 6 months in the pre-PRK days and never failed another eye exam ... 20/20 all day long and sometimes 20/15 on a good day, even in the "bad" (left) eye ...
There are some who will poo-poo eye exercises ... but they worked in my situation or the Eye Fairy visited me and it was all just a bad dream ... but depending upon what is causing your condition (sounds a lot like mine, except no computers then ... ) a little effort on your part might pave the way for a career in (pilot) Aviation ...
No such waiver exists for SNA. Apply and accept what you want, don't try to swap once your in. Now's the easy time to get the designator you want.
By "designated individuals" the waiver guide refers to those who are categorized as SG1/SG2/SG3. It doesn't mean that once you are commissioned as something other than aviation you can apply for a waiver for visual acuity between 20/40 and 20/100 to be an SNA. You cannot be designated as an SNA without 20/40 vision or better. Once you get the blessing though, the standard is a little more lax (you can slip down to 20/100). You'll qualify for SNFO with below 20/40, but a waiver won't be granted for SNA. I hope that clears it up.