Getting a waiver?
 

My eyes are fine except for refractive error which is slightly out of limit. I'd like to have the waiver in hand when I go to Brooks because I don't want to delay this process any longer if I can help it.

I have a friend also in a Reserve unit who did just that - someone in his wing processed a waiver for him in advance and he was able to bring it with him to Brooks.

BUT.. today I spoke with someone in my unit, and she told me that they can't do anything for me because it's all handled by Brooks. According to her, the waiver is processed down there in conjunction with the physical. She also said you can receive the waiver on the same day of the physical or sometime very close to it! This is just a little dubious to me, because I've heard too many people complaining about how long the waiver process drags on. The more I think about it, the more it doesn't even make sense. I mean how can you get a waiver in a matter of days when it has to go through so many people and get approved. Still, I'm obviously not the first candidate she's handled and according to her that's how it went with the other guys.

Which is contrary to what my friend told me... so I went through the "Vision waiver" thread at the baseops forums. From what I read there, some people did indeed get the waiver before Brooks (but how?) and some people seem to say something along the lines of what I was told today (that the Brooks people do it.)

So... I'm trying to find out - can I or can I not apply for and get a waiver before Brooks? I feel like there is a clear cut answer out there somewhere and if yes, which party can initiate the process, and what the steps are. But everyone seems to say different things. :confused:

Call Brooks (I have). They will tell you that you will get the waiver once you get there. If you find out otherwise, please post here, as I am in a similar situation.

What you have heard is true. Waivers can be issued on the spot or in very short time at Brooks, depending on the type of waiver you are trying to get. I believe Brooks is the medical headquarters where all medical waivers are approved, to include the waivers that are requested for pilots air force wide. Bottom line is, when you go to brooks you just gotta have faith that you will get through it. I know of three people personally that were DQ'd at brooks with eye issues.
Good Luck

What type of deal is it if the MAJCOM needs to approve a waiver? Another words how high up the totem pole?

Here's the regulation (Air Force Instruction 48-123): http://www.e-publishing.af.mil/share.../AFI48-123.pdf

I'm not a doctor, I'm not that familiar with medical waivers... but I've been in the USAF long enough to get plenty of waivers to plenty of other regulations. The process is all about the same.

Your best bet - research the AFI, find out exactly what paragraph needs a waiver, find out who is the approval authority. Chapter 6 has all the flying information, including waiver process.

MAJCOM is the standard for these sorts of waivers, not a huge deal, but it is quite a bit up the bureaucracy. Since you're on the outside trying to get in, you don't have a squadron/group/wing/NAF to go through. So your paperwork pretty much goes directly from wherever you took the physical up to the office that approves the waiver. Your Flight Surgeon's office probably has a MSgt or SMSgt medical technician - befriend them - they tend to know a lot of people and can probably answer a lot of your questions. Just don't annoy them.

Squadron
Group
Wing
NAF = Numbered Air Force
MAJCOM =Major Command.
Air Staff

kalyx, i tried to pm you but your account wont allow it. i can send you a waiver i got back in 99 that was a blanket AF waiver. it was signed by the SG and AF/CC. not sure you can find it in the regs. pm me with your .mil email and i'll scan it and send it to you.