MD10PLT

The only advice I have is; never admit to anything, make them prove it.

They will check everything, so if it doesn't come up, it was never there.

Paok

Thats what I said! Your RECRUITER has to schedule you to go to brooks, u cant just call them up.

shadyops

does anyone know how the airforce feels about people who have had lyme disease? i had it for a month and i took antibiotics and hadn't had any problems since. do they test for it in the blood to see if you ever had it? any info would be appreciated!

rickair7777

As far as the military is concerned, they probably don't need to know about past issues which are not currently causing you problems. I'm 99.99% sure they don't test for it.

Best to be honest with the FAA (they are out to get you and can research your medical history without your consent), but the military docs just wants to check all the boxes and move on (wink, wink).

crewdawg

I think that has changed. We just hired a dude and the only physical they are doing at the base is his initial commisioning physical (not FC-1). I thought that medical was jerking him around so I went over and talked to them and they said that they are no longer allowed to do FC-1 at the guard base. Talked with our orders guy and an he confirmed this is well, he says we just put them on orders and the whole thing is done down there at Brooks. Oh well, I wouldn't complain about a few days down in San Antonio! Just go out drinking the night AFTER not before your physical...

lbzrider14

Really,

I assumed the military had access to your social and all your medical files. Does anyone know if the air force medical folder they create for you during the generic MEPS physical carries with you to the FC1 physical after pilot selected? I was not selected for OTS last year, but say If i'm selected as a pilot on the next board do my MEPS medical files get entered into a system? Do the FC1 doctors start with a fresh slate since the do everything more in depth?

USMCFLYR

I guess it is different in the AF, or maybe things have changed, but I never did go to MEPS. When my whole group went to MEPS for their physicals and in-processing, I was sent to Tinker AFB for my flight physical.

USMCFLYR

Albief15

MEPS is new...and now if you are an officer or officer candidate, or in my case an old retired fart going back in PART TIME as a guardsman...you still get to go through MEPS.

Its a pretty goofy process...just keep smiling and move on through it.

kalyx522

How about this -
if you've been picked up by a unit and got denied by MEPS for a childhood hospitalization - the diagnosis and treatment isn't a DQ item so who knows why MEPS denied. Paperwork goes to surgeon general so they can override MEPS, surgeon general wants current evaluation by specialist. UPT candidate goes to see specialist, and is told by specialist that they will do surgical procedure before providing an evaluation. fair enough, procedure scheduled. (at this point, expecting to shell out ~200 in addition to the 100 for the initial consultation which sucks but oh well.) candidate then finds out the procedure will cost $600+, even with insurance. candidate is flat out poor regional pilot and literally doesn't have money to pay for this. question is, are there any options for a sponsored candidate to get help from the govt to pay for this at least partially if not fully? the answer from recruiter was "yeah uh no, that's not gonna happen." Granted I'm not officially in yet but I would think there has to be way or avenue to get help paying for this somehow... maybe it's just me and I don't know enough about this process but it seems a little wrong too, to make an officer candidate pay 700 out of their own pocket to prove that they are fit to go to MEPS. Even newhires don't have to pay for their own drug testing at any company in America. I know I am doing this out of choice and it's a dream come true, really... honestly don't mind having to go through the extra hoops because I know this is military and lots of other guys have had to go through the same exact thing or worse... but the financial aspect of it is killing me. never thought I would face an issue like this. does anyone have any experience with this or should I just start saving now so I can afford to go to MEPS sometime in the next 5 years.

LivingInMEM

The role of Brooks as they see it is to ELIMINATE candidates - especially the ophthalmology dept. That's why they pay the money to get everyone through there. Back when the candidates got an FC-1, then went to Brooks - the ophthalmology dept was able to eliminate an additional 10%-20% of those who had PASSED the FC-1 at the outbase! No free trip to San Antonio is worth that.