The Doctor is in! Ask a Flight Surgeon!

[Kirk G]

Happy Sunday All!

So, here's the situation, I'm currently an AWO capable of passing all of my Class III flight physicals as required, I will be submitting my package for OCS this year hopefully for SNA. My eyesight will need to be corrected (LASIK) before I can qualify, which I will be doing as soon as I get home from deployment. My question is this, with my eyes the way they are now, can I still put in my package for SNA on deployment knowing they will more than likely be corrected before reporting to OCS?

 

[FormerRecruitingGuru]

Happy Sunday All!

So, here's the situation, I'm currently an AWO capable of passing all of my Class III flight physicals as required, I will be submitting my package for OCS this year hopefully for SNA. My eyesight will need to be corrected (LASIK) before I can qualify, which I will be doing as soon as I get home from deployment. My question is this, with my eyes the way they are now, can I still put in my package for SNA on deployment knowing they will more than likely be corrected before reporting to OCS?

No.

 

[(NAC)Arizona]

Happy Sunday All!

So, here's the situation, I'm currently an AWO capable of passing all of my Class III flight physicals as required, I will be submitting my package for OCS this year hopefully for SNA. My eyesight will need to be corrected (LASIK) before I can qualify, which I will be doing as soon as I get home from deployment. My question is this, with my eyes the way they are now, can I still put in my package for SNA on deployment knowing they will more than likely be corrected before reporting to OCS?

& a LASIK waiver from NAMI can take as long as a deployment..

 

[FormerRecruitingGuru]

I should clarify. You need a PQ N3M letter qualifying you for Pilot in order to submit an application. Either get the LASIK, wait 4-6 months after or submit for NFO assuming you're PQ for that.

 

[Brendan Bailey]

Does anyone know if stage 1A melanoma is DQ for pilot?

 

[TimeBomb]

A history of melanoma is disqualifying for commissioning. I doubt N3M will recommend a waiver. Even if you clear that hurdle, I'm pretty sure NAMI won't recommend a waiver for a candidate.
R/

 

[Vortexas]

I was NPQ'd by N3M for GERD which I have never had nor have. This came after checking on the MEPS form if I had EVER had knee issues. These were never documented and occured from playing linebacker for 7 years (obviously shouldn't have said anything). Anyways, that doctor had prescribed medication for stomach issues that were from consuming too many meal replacement protein shakes and was listed on the evaluation I was required to get for saying my knees hurt after knocking them in to so many helmets/the ground for 7 years way back then (no surgery or anything). N3M disqualified me as they saw that listed under previous medications in a small box on the corner of the knee forms - which were medications I took for a week and stopped, as I found the issue. My recruiter said to get documentation from the doctor for what the medication was specifically for, as well as a complete medical history showing I've never had it, but that the rate of overturning a NPQ (even for something I don't have) is fairly unlikely.

My question is: how I should go about disproving I have GERD, and what are the rates of overturning a NPQ from N3m for this sort of situation.

I've also seen online about a biopsy of your intestine that confirms if you have GERD or not, but that seems a little extreme.

 

[FormerRecruitingGuru]

My question is: how I should go about disproving I have GERD, and what are the rates of overturning a NPQ from N3m for this sort of situation.

You essentially answered your own question at the end of the previous paragraph. Follow the ORs orders and once everything is submitted go from there. If you are NPQ again have your OR (not you, your OR) contact N3M for guidance. Don’t order tests and such until given the OK.

 

[PMPT]

Question.

Currently a Marine 2nd Lt. Unfortunately, while doing a bit of dis&ass with very lubricated fingers, the operating drive rod spring slipped out and hit me in the mouth, shattering one of my teeth in half and fracturing it above the gum line. Docs on MCB Quantico pulled it and gave me a periodontal implant (drilled an alloy screw into my jaw and gave me a bone graft) with the hopes of eventually having a prosthodontic permanent tooth attached on the end of it.

Question is this: will this have any impact on my eligibility to fly? Previously passed through NAMI but know that I have to go back again and redo it all over again before I am able to class up for IFS etc.

Thank you.

 

[Gatordev]

while doing a bit of dis&ass with very lubricated fingers, the operating drive rod spring slipped out and hit me in the mouth

Uh...is this safe for work?

 

[picklesuit]

Pretty sure anyone willing to take a shot to the face from an over lubed rod and ask for a promotion is going to make Major with ease...

 

[PMPT]

Sorry, I should clarify for the good doctor. I was reassembling a machine gun when a spring (with a little metal cube on the end) slipped out and hit me in the mouth, shattering my front left tooth and chipping another.

 

[Pakol]

WTF was this at TBS? What did your SPC say after he stopped laughing? I'm no doc, but I think you should be fine. I had four wisdom teeth pulled before I went down to PCola and the NAMI docs didn't bat an eye.

The SAW is a cruel mistress bro; I thought hiking with one sucked.

 

[PMPT]

Yep. TBS. It wasn't actually my weapon ... I think the bolt was half-cocked or something. My worst dental nightmare come true.

 

[waltercia]

Hi, first time post from a longtime lurker. I have a question about bringing new medical information to OCS.

Here's my situation: I went through MEPS in December, was deemed PQ, then prorec-y'd for SWO in March. In February however I noticed a bump on my heel and had it checked out by a podiatrist. He diagnosed it as an asymptomatic haglund's deformity, which is basically a build up of bone on the ankle (runners and hockey players tend to get them). I'm nervous I am going to show up in Newport only to be immediately NPQ'd for a problem that came up post-MEPS. I sent the relevant medical information to my recruiter, who seemed to think it wouldn't be a problem, though I don't think he passed the information on to anyone else. I will have to note the change in my records before commissioning, and that will definitely get some attention at OCS. Does anyone have experience with this type of issue?