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Originally Posted by kalyx522
(Post 818966)
My AME used to be a ophthalmologist in the Marines before he retired and he thinks my eyes are good to go as well. I just really need to convince the people in charge that I should be remeasured. What do you mean when you say go to the DoD and ask for test me again? Specifically, who, and how?
One thing though - don't repeat that about your AME being a Marine ophthalmologist though; more likely his was a Navy Ophthalmologist who was serving with, or had served with, the Marines. The USMC has no medical corps. Good luck with the fight ahead. USMCFLYR |
Originally Posted by kalyx522
(Post 818966)
Yup, and my ophthalmologist gave me the rundown on this whole eye pressure/glaucoma business as well... but the conclusion was that he's not worried about me because my eye pressure was normal when he tested it. Also, per the consultation from McGuire, he gave me a whole slew of eye exams to rule out symptoms associated with glaucoma like loss of peripheral vision. He said I did great. Lastly, he said I don't have any of the risk factors for glaucoma like family history, being older, being African American, etc. I trust him and the other doctors at the eye surgery center who also tested me on separate occasions and honestly I think my eyes are perfectly healthy and within AF standards. My AME used to be a ophthalmologist in the Marines before he retired and he thinks my eyes are good to go as well. I just really need to convince the people in charge that I should be remeasured. What do you mean when you say go to the DoD and ask for test me again? Specifically, who, and how?
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Originally Posted by USMCFLYR
(Post 819004)
I was rejected for numerous items, numerous times before making it through kalyx; just keep hounding them until YOU have had enough. When you show that you have had a battery of tests and numerous retests done with good results - it is a feather in the cap of your argument,
One thing though - don't repeat that about your AME being a Marine ophthalmologist though; more likely his was a Navy Ophthalmologist who was serving with, or had served with, the Marines. The USMC has no medical corps. Good luck with the fight ahead. USMCFLYR I didnt know that about the USMC. He does have USMC memorabilia all over his hangar/office.. will have to ask him about it on my next physical.
Originally Posted by dtfl
(Post 819017)
FYI - I'm an active flyer and my pressure is high with the "puff test" but LOW with the other - I don't know the term but it's the test where they place the glowing ring on the surface of your eye briefly...see if you can get retested at a DoD installation with the information from your AME ....try your recruiter first and get help from the unit that sponsored you for UPT (Assuming you have one)
My recruiter told me straight up that he doesn't think I have a chance so I don't think I should even bother with him. Unfortunately for AFRES candidates I don't think I have a choice of switching recruiters so I will just have to try to work with my unit on this problem unless my chief pilot can maybe put some pressure on the recruiter. |
Originally Posted by kalyx522
(Post 819033)
Thank you. When you were rejected, how did you finally make it through? Did you keep on hounding them (who?) for ETC/retests/waivers? What if they tell you no, it's not possible, do you just try to contact the next person in the chain? I ask because when I first found out I disqualified, the medical personnel were telling me you can't get a pilot slot, too bad, end of story. And I knew that wasn't true. My recruiter is also telling me that if it was something that could've been waiverable they would've processed it right there on the spot, and that there is only so much he can do. Basically he doesn't seem to be willing to help me out at all and maybe that's because he's the only officer accessions recruiter for several states and is swamped with other candidates. So I don't expect any help from him.
I didnt know that about the USMC. He does have USMC memorabilia all over his hangar/office.. will have to ask him about it on my next physical. It's called applanation tonometry. That's the test I did at the civ doc. At McGuire, they first did the puffer and I came out with some crazy high figure like 34 which means I have glaucoma and should be half blind by now so obviously the puffer test was not accurate. So then they gave me the applanation tonometry test a few minutes later and that's when I got 22. My recruiter told me straight up that he doesn't think I have a chance so I don't think I should even bother with him. Unfortunately for AFRES candidates I don't think I have a choice of switching recruiters so I will just have to try to work with my unit on this problem unless my chief pilot can maybe put some pressure on the recruiter. (The boards arent filling up with packages so now is a good time) |
[QUOTE]
Originally Posted by kalyx522
(Post 819033)
Thank you. When you were rejected, how did you finally make it through? Did you keep on hounding them (who?) for ETC/retests/waivers? What if they tell you no, it's not possible, do you just try to contact the next person in the chain? I ask because when I first found out I disqualified, the medical personnel were telling me you can't get a pilot slot, too bad, end of story. And I knew that wasn't true. My recruiter is also telling me that if it was something that could've been waiverable they would've processed it right there on the spot, and that there is only so much he can do. Basically he doesn't seem to be willing to help me out at all and maybe that's because he's the only officer accessions recruiter for several states and is swamped with other candidates. So I don't expect any help from him.
I didnt know that about the USMC. He does have USMC memorabilia all over his hangar/office.. will have to ask him about it on my next physical. I was in AFROTC and had had two knee surgeries. The AF disqualified me numerous times for commissioning much less a flight physical. I kept on getting consults and had different doctors continue to write letters on my behalf - to include the doctor who did both of my knee surgeries, who was a former AF flight surgeon. Eventually I wore them down and they agreed to give me the go for commissioning but with a Missilier slot. In the end, I decided that I wanted to fly in the civilian world, so I dropped out of AFROTC. Fate eventually led me to the USN/USMC where I was once again told that my knee surgeries would make it impossible for me to obtain a flight slot. My Marine recruiter was willing to work with me though if I could do well on the PFT. Even when I went through medical at OCS I was taken out of line and sent to the specialist to ascertain my ability to complete the program. A USN LT held my future aspirations in his hand and he said to me that if I try OCS and make it through that there is nothing wrong with my leg; if I tried and failed, then I wouldn't go through life wondering the 'what if'. What did it come down too? Persistence and somebody FINALLY willing to give me a chance. There is more to the story than even that - but that is the part that I hope you might take something out of - persistence and the drive to continue in the face of others telling you it isn't possible. Personally - I think with those other test results in your ballpark that you have excellent grounds to request, and be granted, a second test. USMCFLYR |
kalyx522,
I was hit by a jeep last year of AFROTC. Lost a USAF pilot slot because of a bad EKG. Short story. USAF says "NO", but through persistence ended up in Navy with a "go". The navy accepted the civilian cardiologist testing results to revaluate me at the Navy. Navy tested the heck outta me, but found me physically qualified. Short story, keep trying. The nice thing about the military is that recruiters change out often enough that you do a reapproach. New person, new opportunity. Be respectful, but having civilian doctor evaluations helps your case. Good luck |
Navy Waiver Guide
Aeromedical Reference and Waiver Guide From the link... "For the purposes of Naval Aviation, any IOP consistently (on at least 2 different exams on different days) and accurately measured above 22 mm Hg by a method other than non-contact tonometry is considered disqualifying whether or not the diagnosis is simply ocular hypertension or glaucoma." 22 is good to go....just don't get a 23:) Some Navy flight docs hang out in the "Doc's Corner" we have here http://www.airwarriors.com/. They can point you in the right direction concerning your eyes. Read this too....Fleet battles backlog at flight school - Navy News, news from Iraq - Navy Times . It will be tough. |
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