vision requirement for SNA confirmed

[Tom]

Thanks. I just actually went back and checked the waiver guide, and it does make the distinction between SNA applicant and SNA. It doesn't indicate when the change from SNA Applicant to SNA occurs. I would think that this happens when you commissioned or otherwise obtain the SNA designator (which is before the NAMI physical). Do you have any reference that indicates that this change ocurrs after your initial NAMI physical? (I assume you mean the NAMI physical just before you start API)

None of this actually applies to me as I am long past this point. Just curious.

I concur with Gatordev because I've seen many people not meet the SNA/SNFO medical standards in OCS and decided to leave rather than redesignate. A Flight Doc also told me (first person) that I was not being held to the standards while just entering the Navy. Once OCS SNA/SNFO's commission and come down for API they merely go into NAMI for a quick medical record check and then they get an Upchit. No short/long form physical is required (unless you need one because your birth month is up).

 

[Jeff29]

I can't site a reference other than my own, long, painful experience (as well as others).

Was this an OCS experience, or post-commissioning/pre-API experience?

 

[Gatordev]

Was this an OCS experience, or post-commissioning/pre-API experience?

Post-commissioning/pre-API.

On a completely different note...I noticed that OCS guys (in the past, anyway) tended to get an easier pre-API Whammy because they were getting their pre-comm by the same people at NAMI. Personally, I think that's crap. Either you're a flight surgeon or you aren't. None of this "We trust OUR flight surgeons more than FS at other bases..." crap. But I digress. Everyone might get the same treatment now since OCS moved.

 

[Tom]

Post-commissioning/pre-API.

On a completely different note...I noticed that OCS guys (in the past, anyway) tended to get an easier pre-API Whammy because they were getting their pre-comm by the same people at NAMI. Personally, I think that's crap. Either you're a flight surgeon or you aren't. None of this "We trust OUR flight surgeons more than FS at other bases..." crap. But I digress. Everyone might get the same treatment now since OCS moved.

I guess it was considered easier before API because OCS guys already went through what everyone else goes though...in OCS. Why do the same work twice on the same body? I'd say OCS had it tougher because they had to go through all the medical test while under the stress and fatigue of being in OCS. From what I've noticed with the move to Newport the treatment is relatively the same.

Sure everyone else had a flight physical before coming to NAMI but the whole idea is that they are the last line. NAMI, I would hope, would have the best staff and facilities so that no one slipped through the cracks. I don't love NAMI any more than anyone else but it's better to be safe than sorry.

 

[Gatordev]

Sure everyone else had a flight physical before coming to NAMI but the whole idea is that they are the last line. NAMI, I would hope, would have the best staff and facilities so that no one slipped through the cracks. I don't love NAMI any more than anyone else but it's better to be safe than sorry.

Well, then give everyone the same physical. I had a full flight physical a month before I showed up. They put me through the ringer at NAMI, yet there were others that hadn't had a physical in at least a few months and just had a few things checked (like anthro). And the things they hit me on didn't have anything to do w/ my waiver, which surprised me. Of course, maybe it had something to do w/ not taking a bunch of attitude from a boot O-3 doctor.

 

[BACONATOR]

Just to clarify, you are designated, in the eyes of the medical standards, once you walk out with your upchit. This happened for me AT OCS (because I got my full flight physical on day 2 of OCS). After I commissioned and went to branch for my upchit, I simply met with a flight doc. He asked if anything had changed, discussed a medical waiver I had, and handed me a new upchit. I asked him at THAT point what my standards were. He told me that I was officially designated SNA AFTER he handed me the upchit and that it was now 20/100. I'm sure it's buried in some document somewhere, but this was straight from the horse's mouth (flight doc).

For OCS guys NOW? I have no idea. I'm sure they have a system for flight physicals up north and it's similar now with just a formality to meet with the doc to get an upchit.

I DID NOT require another "physical" after OCS. I just met with the doc and got an upchit.

This is also similar to getting assigned to a new squadron/wing/whatever. When I came to Corpus, we all just got our new vaccinations, fixed anything that needed fixing with our records or got anything we needed done and then got a new upchit handed to us. No formal physical, just formalities taken care of and a fresh upchit delivered, even though we had ones from our previous command. (This happens when you switch commands. Like OCS to API was OTCP to NASC and API to Primary in Corpus was NASC to CTW4) Hopefully this sheds some more light on the process.

 

[flyingjt2]

Vision Req After Tbs?

I am out of TBS in 4 weeks and i am wondering what my vision requirements are for my intro physical at P-cola. I am not going to IFS. My vision has been decreasing over time and it is hovering around 20/40 or above. I heard rumors that after your initial physical you just have to have 20/100. Anybody have gouge?
Thanks
Lt. Ulyatt

 

[BACONATOR]

I am out of TBS in 4 weeks and i am wondering what my vision requirements are for my intro physical at P-cola. I am not going to IFS. My vision has been decreasing over time and it is hovering around 20/40 or above. I heard rumors that after your initial physical you just have to have 20/100. Anybody have gouge?
Thanks
Lt. Ulyatt

If you read LITERALLY the posts right above yours, the answers are there. AFTER your physical with NAMI (or if you've had a flight phys before, then after you get your upchit in pcola), then you're good to go with 20/100. If you're getting your physical in pcola, then it's 20/40 for THAT physical and then for your annual thereafter 20/100.

 

[MIDNJAC]

I apologize if this has been stated clearly earlier in this thread, but I can't seem to figure out if this is a no or a yes to my question...

Now that I passed the NAMI WHAMMY eye exam, am I allowed to wear contact lenses in leiu of the nasty prescription goggles they give out in API? My vision was between 20/20 and 20/40. Also to further add confusion, the optometrist didn't check the box that says "requires use of corrective lenses" under the "PQ for SNA" box that he did fill in.

 

[Gatordev]

I apologize if this has been stated clearly earlier in this thread, but I can't seem to figure out if this is a no or a yes to my question...

Now that I passed the NAMI WHAMMY eye exam, am I allowed to wear contact lenses in leiu of the nasty prescription goggles they give out in API? My vision was between 20/20 and 20/40. Also to further add confusion, the optometrist didn't check the box that says "requires use of corrective lenses" under the "PQ for SNA" box that he did fill in.

I believe you'll (officially) have to wait until Primary, just because they don't want to bother w/ you while in the pool. However, I think there's some anecdotal evidence that guys have managed to get them anyway. As for the check in the box...wear them if you need them, but on paper, it says you're good w/out them. One caveat to that is if you got a "waiver" from BUPERS when you got your commissioning physical that says you're "out of limits, waiver approved" (or something to that effect). W/ the changing requirements, they may do it differently now, but when I had my physical, I had such a letter that went into my medical record (and is still in there today).

 

[MIDNJAC]

On my 1st physical (for 1/c middie cruise) it said "qualified SNA - corrective lenses required", but that was 2 years ago so I don't know whether that has been superseded somehow. Anyways, thanks for the info. That's good to hear about the contact lenses!

 

[Gatordev]

On my 1st physical (for 1/c middie cruise) it said "qualified SNA - corrective lenses required", but that was 2 years ago so I don't know whether that has been superseded somehow. Anyways, thanks for the info. That's good to hear about the contact lenses!

I'm not talking about your upchit, I'm referring to the actual letter that says you can still be a SNA w/ less then perfect eyes (or whatever other part of your body is weak). Again, the recs may have changed, but when I was an applicant/stud, it was 20/40, corrected to 20/20, so it required some piece of paper saying that correction was okay. I only bring this up to make you aware that there might be another piece of paper saying you have a requirement even if the doc missed a checkbox. I think on my last upchit, mine did the same, but I know that won't stand up at the long green table (if that was a contributing factor). Anywho, you get the idea.

 

[MIDNJAC]

Right right, that makes sense. I'll double check that next time I get a chance to look at my record.

 

[BACONATOR]

On my 1st physical (for 1/c middie cruise) it said "qualified SNA - corrective lenses required", but that was 2 years ago so I don't know whether that has been superseded somehow. Anyways, thanks for the info. That's good to hear about the contact lenses!

It doesn't matter if some flight doc goofed up and didn't check a box. If you're <20/20 uncorrected....wear the correction while flying. It's as simple as that.

 

[MIDNJAC]

It doesn't matter if some flight doc goofed up and didn't check a box. If you're <20/20 uncorrected....wear the correction while flying. It's as simple as that.

Oh yeah, I have no problem w/ that....in fact I would prefer to see as well as possible (imagine that ). I just would like to wear contacts