Hello, As I am nearing my graduation (Bachelor in Liberal Arts) I am looking at jobs right now. I am vaguely considering the military for serving as a pilot. My eyesight isn't the best however. I have -2.75 on the left and -1.50 right, but corrected to 20/20 through contacts. Am I disqualified? Second question, I am not a U.S. citizen but a permanent resident? Again, am I disqualified?
Thanks.
-pearl

 

To be an officer you have to be a citizen so that gets you. As for the eyesight, ni idea what those numbers equate to. It varies but usually can't be worse than 20/70. There is a flight doc section on baseops.net.

 

It is true that you need the citizenship to get a commission, but it would be possible to join the army as awarrant officer and fly helicopters (you could eventually transition into small, fixed wing cargo planes).

The vision requirements vary between services and from time to time (depending on need) but 1.50 would probably be near 20/100, and 2.5 would be worse than that. I think you would need laser vision surgery to even apply, but the diopter measure is a measure of the shape of the cornea...if the rest of your eye was really awesome you might be able to see 20/70, so you might want to get that checked (you eye doctor should have the info from your last prescription).

 

Correct me if I am wrong, but a Warrant Officer and flying chopper's needs "US Citizenship" also!!!!

 

If your only vaguely considering military flying and not dying to do it, you might not want to do military at all.

 

According to the Army you do (http://www.goarmy.com/about/warrant_officer.jsp):


Do you have what it takes to become a Warrant Officer? Applicants for the Warrant Officer Candidate School/Warrant Officer Flight Training program must:

- Have a high school diploma.
- Be at least 18 years of age at the time of Regular Army enlistment and not have passed your 33rd birthday when the board convenes. High school seniors may also apply. If you are 33 — 34 years of age, you may request a waiver.
- Be a citizen of the United States
- Score 90 or higher on the revised Flight Aptitude Selection Test (FAST). FAST test results are valid indefinitely as long as verifiable official records exist. No waivers are available for failure to meet the minimum FAST score.
- Earn a minimum of 110 General Technical (GT) score on the Armed Forces Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) (nonwaivable as well). The GT score is one component of the ASVAB results.
- Meet the Active Duty Army's screening height and weight standards.
- Take a complete physical exam at a Military Entrance Processing Station (MEPS) and meet entry medical fitness standards as determined by military medical authorities no more than eighteen months prior to the date of application. Must also undergo a Class 1A Flight Physical Examination in addition to the one conducted at the MEPS and have results approved by Flight Surgeons at Fort Rucker, Alabama, prior to the selection board. The Flight Physical must also be less than 18 months old.

Having said that, if this is really something you want to do, since the war(s) started it's become far easier to gain citizenship if you enlist. So...you could enlist, immediately apply for citizenship, and upon receiving it apply for OTS. Ballsy move but if it's what you really....

 

I vaguely remember some AFROTC guy at Riddle say it had to be 20/70 for cargo and bombers, and 20/20 for fighter aircraft.

 

That's bunk. I've got a buddy who's an F-16 driver and his eyesight is considerably less than 20/20; the main point is that it's corrected to 20/20.

 

Yup, I was wrong. I know a swedish guy who flies in army reserve or guard, I thought he didn't have citizenship based on a conversation we had once.

 

Any idea, guesses, estimation, ballpark, even a remotely close generalization on how long it would take to get the citizenship once you apply for it while enlisted?

Anyone heard of this or knows someone who went this route care to comment