Timing is everything... Help!

[EA-6B1]

Here's the dealio. I'm a junior in college, and for me to graduate on time (May '05) I'll have to take 9 hours this summer. Well, if I'm taking classes during the summer I obviously can't be at OCS, but then that rules me out of the whole PLC program. I'll still be game for the OCC class the summer after I graduate. although if it's anything like it is now, OCC is tought to get into. If I were to go the OCC route, I would have first dibs on a TBS slot. That's a good thing.

Now for the bad stuff. I want to apply for SNA, and to do that I need PRK. I went to the eye doctor today, and he told me that I was in the FDA reg. limit or whatever. Pretty much, my eyes are in an ok state, but you can't get it til you turn 21. Me, I'm 20. I wont be turning 21 til the end of January. If you add three months worth of waiting for the PRK waiver stuff, that's right at the end of April before I could submit my package in for this summer. Assuming I was shooting for this summer's PLC-Combined class. I don't think that I'll get in though, not submitting til the end of April cause it takes a long time to get the results back (so I read on here anyways). So let's rule that option out.

Back to the OCC option. Now I have to assume that when I start to apply for the OCC class in the summer of '05 that PRK will still be waiverable. Or by then, NOMI might start waivering LASIK or LASEK. I know that this sounds like a bunch of crazy stuff you guys don't want to read. All I'm asking for is some advice. I apologize for being long winded, but I'm kinda stressing about this. I mean, we are talking about the my future. Thanks for the support. God Bless.

 

[E5B]

Here's an option.....apply now as a ground contract, do combined next summer which will push back your grad date, but you can always switch to an air contract before you commission (thats what I did). Have PRK done anytime between your 21 B-day and commission/graduation.

Pro's - you'll have all the application process out of the way (minus the flight stuff), be done with OCS so you can commission the same day you graduate college (if you want), and still have time to wait after your PRK (which you could do before or after OCS), more likely to get accepted into PLC vs OCC

Con's - you'll have to push your grad date back (no prob, just gives you more time for your PRK situation), yeah, you might have to wait a few months for TBS (I waited 4 months)

something else that might be a possibility - get an NFO contract until you get PRK, that way your test is already out of the way and your flight physical is current (minus your eyes).


Just something to chew on...


Beetle

 

[Rayman]

E5B, I'll be off topic here. I just wanna dig how easy/hard is it to switch from ground to air? thanks and my apologies EA-6B1.

 

[E5B]

Only reason I was ever a ground contract is because my flight physical was "pending", turns out my OSO "misplaced" it, so I had to go to OCS Jr's and Sr's as a ground contract. I ended up doing another flight physical and commissioning a few months later than planned. I called the OSO everyday, he definitely got tired of hearing from me, but he knew I meant business got all my paperwork finalized and swore me in. Yeah it was a pain, but I wasn't about to just stand by and watch my future flying career never happen.

It is possible to commission as a ground contract (air contract pending) and go to TBS. There are a few Lt's I know of that picked up their contract right before MOS selection. Then we had a hand full of Lt's pick up an air contract via the MOS selection. If you do it that way, there is a cut-off for having your test and physical complete, then if you are qualified then you can compete for an air slot. (if there are any air slots to begin with)

Beetle

 

[Rayman]

Thanks E5B.

 

[EA-6B1]

Thanks Beetle. How likely is it to apply as SNFO and switch to SNA after getting PRK? Is this possible?
Anyone else out there want to let me in on their two cents?