military question
02-23-2006, 03:53 PM
#1
Stethoscope
Thread Starter
Joined APC: Feb 2006
Posts: 308
military question
What if someone does not become a U.S.A citizen until he is 29 or 30 years old or more, will the military make any exceptions for him or her to enter flight school? I know that to be able to enter the military flight school, you can't be over a certain age, I think the age is 26 or 27. Any thoughts? Also, if one has had a lasik procedure done, can they still qualify or are they automatically disqualified?? Are there different requirements for the Air Force, Marines, and Navy?
02-23-2006, 04:06 PM
#2
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Jan 2006
Position: C-130
Posts: 149
lasik
In the Air Force lasik will disqualify you for a pilot slot and I have never heard of someone getting a waiver for having it. You can't trick them either. They do an extensive eye exam and can detect if you have had it done. I have heard of guys getting disqualified from UPT after already getting a school slot for trying to sneak it by hoping the AF won't catch it!!! The Air Force does PRK but you have to be in the AF already and justify a need for it. As for the age requirement, I know 34 is the age cutoff for Officer Training School but not sure about UPT. Hope that info helps
02-23-2006, 06:56 PM
#3
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Sep 2005
Position: A320
Posts: 406
there are currently no eye doctors in the world that can tell if a lasik procedure was done on you or not unless you told them. my eye doctor has performed several procedures on air force candidates and they all pass the medical ( they never told they had it done) . 
the whole story about "detection" is an urban legend,unless they corrected you from more than -12. of course you must make sure your eye doctor won't disclosed what he did with anyone and make sure your medical record won't show you used to have corrective lenses and then they magically dissapeared, and not try to do any kind of insurance claim. furthermore, you should get it done in europe if you can. lasik was approved there 10 years before any US surgeon got the FDA approval to start doing the procedure here,so not only do they have way more experience, is virtually untraceble
the whole story about "detection" is an urban legend,unless they corrected you from more than -12. of course you must make sure your eye doctor won't disclosed what he did with anyone and make sure your medical record won't show you used to have corrective lenses and then they magically dissapeared, and not try to do any kind of insurance claim. furthermore, you should get it done in europe if you can. lasik was approved there 10 years before any US surgeon got the FDA approval to start doing the procedure here,so not only do they have way more experience, is virtually untraceble
Last edited by greedyairlineexec; 02-23-2006 at 07:03 PM.
02-23-2006, 06:58 PM
#4
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Oct 2005
Position: Brown
Posts: 1,126
Why would we make an exception for someone who does not become a citizen until they are in their 30s? There are too many qualified folks out there. The age cutoff for UPT has been relaxed in recent years. You may get an age waiver based upon finishing school but probably not for acquiring citizenship. Be careful the justification you use for the waiver request.
02-24-2006, 06:29 PM
#5
Line Holder
Joined APC: Feb 2006
Posts: 33
Be careful of the advice you use
I saw where some were telling you to falsify documents to get into the military flight program. That could lead to some serious repricussions:
1. Elimination from the flight program, explain that later on to an interviewer.
2. Removal from service, again tough to explain.
3. If the command wanted to bring you up on charges for falsifying a document, remember you have to give a med history every year, they could and if found guilty it would mean a federal record, again tough to get a job that way.
If you have had PRK dont lie about it. Go another route, not the military. Trust is everything in the military and especially in leadership positions. I totally disagree with those that tell you to lie on this thread. The military has reasons for what it does, sometimes they might not be understood but the fact is there is a restriction wiht PRK. I guess some feel they can pick and choose the regulations they agree with and abide by. Not good for a professional pilot.
1. Elimination from the flight program, explain that later on to an interviewer.
2. Removal from service, again tough to explain.
3. If the command wanted to bring you up on charges for falsifying a document, remember you have to give a med history every year, they could and if found guilty it would mean a federal record, again tough to get a job that way.
If you have had PRK dont lie about it. Go another route, not the military. Trust is everything in the military and especially in leadership positions. I totally disagree with those that tell you to lie on this thread. The military has reasons for what it does, sometimes they might not be understood but the fact is there is a restriction wiht PRK. I guess some feel they can pick and choose the regulations they agree with and abide by. Not good for a professional pilot.
02-25-2006, 01:28 AM
#6
Line Holder
Joined APC: Feb 2006
Posts: 33
Do a little research on PRK
From a lasik/prk website
Corneal Haze
"This occurs as a part of the normal healing process after PRK treatment and gradually settles by 3-6 months. The haze is usually not detectable by the patient but will be detected when examined with a microscope at your postoperative visits."
Your initial flight physical is probably the most intense you will receive. In other words, they do the full eye workup.
Visit a doc, dont trust others who "think" they know. I dont know if the information above is accurate but I would tend to trust it over an anonymous source on this thread. Good luck.
Corneal Haze
"This occurs as a part of the normal healing process after PRK treatment and gradually settles by 3-6 months. The haze is usually not detectable by the patient but will be detected when examined with a microscope at your postoperative visits."
Your initial flight physical is probably the most intense you will receive. In other words, they do the full eye workup.
Visit a doc, dont trust others who "think" they know. I dont know if the information above is accurate but I would tend to trust it over an anonymous source on this thread. Good luck.
02-25-2006, 01:42 AM
#7
Line Holder
Joined APC: Feb 2006
Posts: 33
Gave the PRK now for the Lasik portion
Scarring
In Lasik a faint scar at the edge of the flap away from the line of vision is can be seen after surgery when the eye is examined under the microscope. Central scarring is very rare after Lasik.
Scarring
In Lasik a faint scar at the edge of the flap away from the line of vision is can be seen after surgery when the eye is examined under the microscope. Central scarring is very rare after Lasik.
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