Air Force vision requirements
05-01-2016, 03:03 PM
#11
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Joined APC: May 2007
Position: A320 CA
Posts: 1,530
Originally Posted by Billy738
Ok thanks. I'll try and get in contact with a officer recruiter and do the best I can to get in. Would good grades, a lot of flight hours and go ethic help any with a waiver? If you look at AFROTC it says vision can be 20/200?
By the way, if you're trying to go Guard, Reserve, or Active Duty, you'll need to be working with a different recruiter for each. One will usually not help you go to the other unless you've been denied by Guard/Reserve then they might help you go Active Duty. If you have a specific Unit in mind I would call that Unit's recruiting office to start off, then they should direct you to an Officer Accessions Recruiter who may be working multiple units including that one.
05-01-2016, 03:32 PM
#12
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Joined APC: Feb 2016
Posts: 141
Originally Posted by blastoff
The medical establishment in USAF does what it wants, regardless of what recruiting or operations wants. You can't influence it other than having your paperwork in order when it goes up the chain.
By the way, if you're trying to go Guard, Reserve, or Active Duty, you'll need to be working with a different recruiter for each. One will usually not help you go to the other unless you've been denied by Guard/Reserve then they might help you go Active Duty. If you have a specific Unit in mind I would call that Unit's recruiting office to start off, then they should direct you to an Officer Accessions Recruiter who may be working multiple units including that one.
By the way, if you're trying to go Guard, Reserve, or Active Duty, you'll need to be working with a different recruiter for each. One will usually not help you go to the other unless you've been denied by Guard/Reserve then they might help you go Active Duty. If you have a specific Unit in mind I would call that Unit's recruiting office to start off, then they should direct you to an Officer Accessions Recruiter who may be working multiple units including that one.
Would I have a better chance going active duty then guard/reserve? Are there active duty units like there are reserves? Sorry for all the questions. Also what will I be asking the officer accession recruiter? If my eyes are ok the way they are or if I can get PRK
05-01-2016, 04:20 PM
#13
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Joined APC: May 2010
Position: Baja Vermont
Posts: 5,171
Don't make this too difficult, see an officer recruiter and tell him your goals. He'll set up the exams and the physical. Until you get turned , if you do, then start pursuing the docs, the waivers, etc. The biggest problem some of my candidates was color vision--it's a tough test. Even Australian pilot candidates have trouble passing the RAAF test.
Yes, AD is an option, but you will have no control over assignment afte UPT, perhaps even if you are number one in your class.
Yes, AD is an option, but you will have no control over assignment afte UPT, perhaps even if you are number one in your class.
05-01-2016, 04:49 PM
#14
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Joined APC: Feb 2016
Posts: 141
Originally Posted by galaxy flyer
Don't make this too difficult, see an officer recruiter and tell him your goals. He'll set up the exams and the physical. Until you get turned , if you do, then start pursuing the docs, the waivers, etc. The biggest problem some of my candidates was color vision--it's a tough test. Even Australian pilot candidates have trouble passing the RAAF test.
Yes, AD is an option, but you will have no control over assignment afte UPT, perhaps even if you are number one in your class.
Yes, AD is an option, but you will have no control over assignment afte UPT, perhaps even if you are number one in your class.
05-01-2016, 05:26 PM
#15
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Thread Starter
Joined APC: Feb 2016
Posts: 141
Originally Posted by galaxy flyer
Don't make this too difficult, see an officer recruiter and tell him your goals. He'll set up the exams and the physical. Until you get turned , if you do, then start pursuing the docs, the waivers, etc. The biggest problem some of my candidates was color vision--it's a tough test. Even Australian pilot candidates have trouble passing the RAAF test.
Yes, AD is an option, but you will have no control over assignment afte UPT, perhaps even if you are number one in your class.
Yes, AD is an option, but you will have no control over assignment afte UPT, perhaps even if you are number one in your class.
05-01-2016, 05:36 PM
#16
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Joined APC: May 2010
Position: Baja Vermont
Posts: 5,171
Wait and see what the physical shows. It perfectly, even advisable, to see an eye doctor and get a thorough exam, but don't use it to decide your fitness for UPT. If the Flying Class I shows vision as disqualifying, then argue the point with a private eye doctor, consider one of the laser eye surgeries, etc. My nephew was DQ'd from the Naval Academy, but got the eye surgery, like his father, and his now a naval pilot.
GF
GF
05-01-2016, 07:11 PM
#17
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Joined APC: Feb 2007
Posts: 2,270
Disclaimer: I am not a military pilot, but I had many similar questions as the OP.
About 5 years ago I had applied to an air guard unit, went to visit, met the right people in the squadron (a pilot in that unit was recommending me and he brought me around and introduced me to everyone). The visit went well and a week later my contact in the unit called me and said they would be comfortable just having me do a phone interview (I lived out of state at the time, but with intentions to be local to the unit). I took that as a good sign.
I then said to my contact that my eyesight was pretty bad, as in outside the 20/70 uncorrected, and would thus require a waiver. My intent was to get a foot in the door and then deal with the eyesight issue. My contact takes this info back and then returns to me with the news that they liked me, but they also liked others who wouldn't need any extra effort with eye-sight waivers, etc, and that I could voluntarily elect to obtain WFG PRK and apply again next year. Disappointing of course, but I graciously said 'ok, thank you' and began speaking with the units flight surgeon about the ins and outs of what is allowed for corrective eye surgery for UPT applicants. WFG PRK was the ticket he said, and I said 'ok, thank you' and knew that I wouldn't have a shot if I didn't try, so I had the procedure done and applied again next year.
Unfortunately by then, my contact had transferred units and the unit experienced a reduction in manning requirements, so no air guard for me as I would be too old to apply elsewhere next year.
I don't know if any other procedure besides WFG PRK is acceptable, but if nothing has changed, then you're good with that. It was highly successful, as I had 20/10 and 20/15 in my left and right eye, respectively. The healing and recovery process was also slow and quite painful (extreme dryness that for the first few weeks is very painful, like sandpaper being rubbed on your eyes). But the final results were worth it. Never made it into the guard/military, but I have perfect vision anyways, so it wasn't a total loss.
Anyways thats all food for thought. Hopefully you've got a few years longer than I had when I started thinking about the whole process. Good luck to you! Talking to the units flight surgeon and receiving the relevant regs for my own reading helped clarify things...but definitely listen to the guys on this forum, lots of good info from them.
About 5 years ago I had applied to an air guard unit, went to visit, met the right people in the squadron (a pilot in that unit was recommending me and he brought me around and introduced me to everyone). The visit went well and a week later my contact in the unit called me and said they would be comfortable just having me do a phone interview (I lived out of state at the time, but with intentions to be local to the unit). I took that as a good sign.
I then said to my contact that my eyesight was pretty bad, as in outside the 20/70 uncorrected, and would thus require a waiver. My intent was to get a foot in the door and then deal with the eyesight issue. My contact takes this info back and then returns to me with the news that they liked me, but they also liked others who wouldn't need any extra effort with eye-sight waivers, etc, and that I could voluntarily elect to obtain WFG PRK and apply again next year. Disappointing of course, but I graciously said 'ok, thank you' and began speaking with the units flight surgeon about the ins and outs of what is allowed for corrective eye surgery for UPT applicants. WFG PRK was the ticket he said, and I said 'ok, thank you' and knew that I wouldn't have a shot if I didn't try, so I had the procedure done and applied again next year.
Unfortunately by then, my contact had transferred units and the unit experienced a reduction in manning requirements, so no air guard for me as I would be too old to apply elsewhere next year.
I don't know if any other procedure besides WFG PRK is acceptable, but if nothing has changed, then you're good with that. It was highly successful, as I had 20/10 and 20/15 in my left and right eye, respectively. The healing and recovery process was also slow and quite painful (extreme dryness that for the first few weeks is very painful, like sandpaper being rubbed on your eyes). But the final results were worth it. Never made it into the guard/military, but I have perfect vision anyways, so it wasn't a total loss.
Anyways thats all food for thought. Hopefully you've got a few years longer than I had when I started thinking about the whole process. Good luck to you! Talking to the units flight surgeon and receiving the relevant regs for my own reading helped clarify things...but definitely listen to the guys on this forum, lots of good info from them.
05-02-2016, 03:02 AM
#18
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Thread Starter
Joined APC: Feb 2016
Posts: 141
Originally Posted by AZFlyer
Disclaimer: I am not a military pilot, but I had many similar questions as the OP.
About 5 years ago I had applied to an air guard unit, went to visit, met the right people in the squadron (a pilot in that unit was recommending me and he brought me around and introduced me to everyone). The visit went well and a week later my contact in the unit called me and said they would be comfortable just having me do a phone interview (I lived out of state at the time, but with intentions to be local to the unit). I took that as a good sign.
I then said to my contact that my eyesight was pretty bad, as in outside the 20/70 uncorrected, and would thus require a waiver. My intent was to get a foot in the door and then deal with the eyesight issue. My contact takes this info back and then returns to me with the news that they liked me, but they also liked others who wouldn't need any extra effort with eye-sight waivers, etc, and that I could voluntarily elect to obtain WFG PRK and apply again next year. Disappointing of course, but I graciously said 'ok, thank you' and began speaking with the units flight surgeon about the ins and outs of what is allowed for corrective eye surgery for UPT applicants. WFG PRK was the ticket he said, and I said 'ok, thank you' and knew that I wouldn't have a shot if I didn't try, so I had the procedure done and applied again next year.
Unfortunately by then, my contact had transferred units and the unit experienced a reduction in manning requirements, so no air guard for me as I would be too old to apply elsewhere next year.
I don't know if any other procedure besides WFG PRK is acceptable, but if nothing has changed, then you're good with that. It was highly successful, as I had 20/10 and 20/15 in my left and right eye, respectively. The healing and recovery process was also slow and quite painful (extreme dryness that for the first few weeks is very painful, like sandpaper being rubbed on your eyes). But the final results were worth it. Never made it into the guard/military, but I have perfect vision anyways, so it wasn't a total loss.
Anyways thats all food for thought. Hopefully you've got a few years longer than I had when I started thinking about the whole process. Good luck to you! Talking to the units flight surgeon and receiving the relevant regs for my own reading helped clarify things...but definitely listen to the guys on this forum, lots of good info from them.
About 5 years ago I had applied to an air guard unit, went to visit, met the right people in the squadron (a pilot in that unit was recommending me and he brought me around and introduced me to everyone). The visit went well and a week later my contact in the unit called me and said they would be comfortable just having me do a phone interview (I lived out of state at the time, but with intentions to be local to the unit). I took that as a good sign.
I then said to my contact that my eyesight was pretty bad, as in outside the 20/70 uncorrected, and would thus require a waiver. My intent was to get a foot in the door and then deal with the eyesight issue. My contact takes this info back and then returns to me with the news that they liked me, but they also liked others who wouldn't need any extra effort with eye-sight waivers, etc, and that I could voluntarily elect to obtain WFG PRK and apply again next year. Disappointing of course, but I graciously said 'ok, thank you' and began speaking with the units flight surgeon about the ins and outs of what is allowed for corrective eye surgery for UPT applicants. WFG PRK was the ticket he said, and I said 'ok, thank you' and knew that I wouldn't have a shot if I didn't try, so I had the procedure done and applied again next year.
Unfortunately by then, my contact had transferred units and the unit experienced a reduction in manning requirements, so no air guard for me as I would be too old to apply elsewhere next year.
I don't know if any other procedure besides WFG PRK is acceptable, but if nothing has changed, then you're good with that. It was highly successful, as I had 20/10 and 20/15 in my left and right eye, respectively. The healing and recovery process was also slow and quite painful (extreme dryness that for the first few weeks is very painful, like sandpaper being rubbed on your eyes). But the final results were worth it. Never made it into the guard/military, but I have perfect vision anyways, so it wasn't a total loss.
Anyways thats all food for thought. Hopefully you've got a few years longer than I had when I started thinking about the whole process. Good luck to you! Talking to the units flight surgeon and receiving the relevant regs for my own reading helped clarify things...but definitely listen to the guys on this forum, lots of good info from them.
05-02-2016, 06:16 AM
#19
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Joined APC: Feb 2007
Posts: 2,270
Originally Posted by Billy738
Very good information thank you! Yes I'm just about to turn 21 now and about to get my CFI and instruct. I need 500 more hours and I'm off. I'm planning to get on with a regional then a guard or reserve. So hopefully I have a little more time to work with. Would you recommend doing what you did and wait until you knew some people or just get it and apply a year after?
Again, I'm not a guard pilot, nor in the military, and there are plenty of people on this forum who fly both for an airline and the guard/reserves, and they would be able to give you the most accurate and reliable gouge on the different ways you could tackle your goals.
With that said, if it's what you want, there are some freely available resources online where guard units post there upcoming UPT selection boards and they include contact info and details about what needs to be in your application package. I had even cold-called a couple units via the contact info they provided. Results were mixed; some units always picked up the phone and were very happy to answer my questions. Other units I never heard a peep from via their posted contact info.
Airline jobs will always be there till you're 65+ years old. The time frame however to go from hired to in training at a guard unit takes quite a bit of time; maybe consider applying sooner than later to guard units you're interested in.
Finally, it is never too soon to start networking, be it for a civilian pilot job or military. Try to find out among friends/family/co-workers if anyone knows a guard pilot with whom you can get to know; it could possibly lead to an internal recommendation if you're clever. I was fortunate that my dad had a client who was a guard pilot at the unit I was most interested in and was able to capitalize on that relationship.
edit to add, as for general guard info, there are tons of threads on this forum discussing that stuff. I'm sure a search will turn up a lot of results on that.
05-02-2016, 07:05 AM
#20
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Thread Starter
Joined APC: Feb 2016
Posts: 141
Originally Posted by AZFlyer
You have much more time than I did, then. I was nearly 28 when I started the process.
Again, I'm not a guard pilot, nor in the military, and there are plenty of people on this forum who fly both for an airline and the guard/reserves, and they would be able to give you the most accurate and reliable gouge on the different ways you could tackle your goals.
With that said, if it's what you want, there are some freely available resources online where guard units post there upcoming UPT selection boards and they include contact info and details about what needs to be in your application package. I had even cold-called a couple units via the contact info they provided. Results were mixed; some units always picked up the phone and were very happy to answer my questions. Other units I never heard a peep from via their posted contact info.
Airline jobs will always be there till you're 65+ years old. The time frame however to go from hired to in training at a guard unit takes quite a bit of time; maybe consider applying sooner than later to guard units you're interested in.
Finally, it is never too soon to start networking, be it for a civilian pilot job or military. Try to find out among friends/family/co-workers if anyone knows a guard pilot with whom you can get to know; it could possibly lead to an internal recommendation if you're clever. I was fortunate that my dad had a client who was a guard pilot at the unit I was most interested in and was able to capitalize on that relationship.
edit to add, as for general guard info, there are tons of threads on this forum discussing that stuff. I'm sure a search will turn up a lot of results on that.
Again, I'm not a guard pilot, nor in the military, and there are plenty of people on this forum who fly both for an airline and the guard/reserves, and they would be able to give you the most accurate and reliable gouge on the different ways you could tackle your goals.
With that said, if it's what you want, there are some freely available resources online where guard units post there upcoming UPT selection boards and they include contact info and details about what needs to be in your application package. I had even cold-called a couple units via the contact info they provided. Results were mixed; some units always picked up the phone and were very happy to answer my questions. Other units I never heard a peep from via their posted contact info.
Airline jobs will always be there till you're 65+ years old. The time frame however to go from hired to in training at a guard unit takes quite a bit of time; maybe consider applying sooner than later to guard units you're interested in.
Finally, it is never too soon to start networking, be it for a civilian pilot job or military. Try to find out among friends/family/co-workers if anyone knows a guard pilot with whom you can get to know; it could possibly lead to an internal recommendation if you're clever. I was fortunate that my dad had a client who was a guard pilot at the unit I was most interested in and was able to capitalize on that relationship.
edit to add, as for general guard info, there are tons of threads on this forum discussing that stuff. I'm sure a search will turn up a lot of results on that.
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