How do I put this on a resume?
 

I've got something in my employment history that I'm not sure how to present on my resume and I'm hoping someone here can give me some advice.

I was accepted by a Search and Rescue squadron in the CA Air National Guard back in Sept '05 to go to UPT (undergraduate pilot training in the Air Force) and fly Helo's with them. I spent almost a year and half with the unit, mostly just waiting for all the paperwork to work its way through the system. My flight physical was approved last April, I went to officer school in October of last year, and I was commissioned as a 2nd LT last November. About 2 weeks later I went to Brooks City Base in Texas for Medical Flight Screening. MFS is a series of last minute tests they give you before you go to UPT to see if there are any medical issues that the Air Force might have a problem with that the Doc's didn't catch in your initial flight physical. At MFS they found I'm color deficient in red and disqualified me. No waivers or anything for a color deficiency, I was completely disqualified from being a pilot in the Air Force. I decided I wasn't doing myself or the Guard any favors by staying in to do something else when all I wanted was to be a pilot, so in February of this year I separated and decided to pursue a career as a civilian pilot.

I need to make a couple things clear before I go on. One, I can hold a First Class Medical certificate. Before anybody replies to tell me I shouldn't work for an airline because I'd be dangerous or something I want to make it clear that my color vision never gave me any trouble before the test at MFS. I'm color DEFICIENT not color BLIND, and I had no idea I had this problem until I went to Brooks. I can tell what color stoplights are and most importantly I can tell red from white on a VASI. To be honest I'm still not clear as to how my perception of red is different from everyone else’s. From the tests they gave me I guess is just isn't as bright. They told me I don't have as many red cones as a normal person.

The second thing is that I've never been in the military for any reason except to be a pilot. I was non prior service when the Guard picked me up. Even though I was employed with the Guard for more than a year, since I was untrained and waiting for my paperwork to be processed almost the whole time I was there, I didn't do much except come to the drills and help out with whatever I could. My official title was Pilot Trainee, but I was basically just the snacko for the pilots.

So I'm not sure how to put this on my resume. I was employed by the Guard, so I can't leave it off, and since the fact that I was accepted to go to UPT (which wasn't an easy thing to accomplish) and later commissioned as a 2nd LT reflects well on me I think it would be good to have it on there anyway. I'm not sure how to put this on my resume without raising any red flags with a potential employer though. I don't want them to get spooked by the fact that I was disqualified from flying in the Air Force and pass me over, but it’s kind of hard to explain the whole situation on a resume.

Any advice?

There are plenty of airline folks with color vision issues. It's no big deal. I dont think it would cause any issues to address the fact that you were medically unable to continue in the Guard as a pilot due to a minor color vision problem. Everyone knows the military medical standards are waaaaaay above those for an FAA First Class, which is all you need for a civilian career.

The resume is a "sales" document to get you noticed as opposed to the application. You want to be crystal clear on everything on the app, along with any necessary expalantions. The resume can be more concise and focus on selling yourself.

I'm no resume or HR expert, and in your situation it may not hurt to seek the services of a resume prep expert (Kathy on one of the "other boards" is supposed to be really good), but I dont think you'll have much of an uphill battle in the civi world.

Good Luck!

I am red green deficient. You absolutely can hold a first class medical, however, you will get to jump through some hoops to get it. There are basically 2 options:

1. You can simply to to any towered airport with a rep from the FAA and they will shine the light guns from the tower, if you can see them, you get a waiver.

2. This is the best way. You can go take a Farnsworth Lantern test. There are VERY few of these around, but you can find them. If you pass it (it is WAY more accurate than the dot book test) you get a letter from the FAA that you bring to all of your medicals stating you have already passed the color test, and that you NEVER have to take another one. This is NOT a waiver or a SODA, as it specifically states that on it. You never have to let any employer know about it, even if they ask if you have any waivers or SODAs.

If you have any questions let me know. I went through this a few years ago, so I am versed in the process with the FAA.

Face it head on. Good advice above. It might cause you a bit of extra work but nothing that cant be overcome. Good luck. Did you get a total release from the guard?

I've never put reasons why I left or was made to leave jobs on my resume. Simply put that you were employed by them from this date to that date, and put a few things you accomplished while there.

Why you left the job is an interview question and you can explain your situation there, and I'm sure they'll be understanding.

I am curious about something? Not a slam, just a question. Why would anyone join the military "just" to be a pilot? What about all those airmen they are taksed to lead? Doesnt that mean anything? I am in the military in a non aviation job. I do it because I like to lead soldiers and plan. I cant imagine why someone would join the military just to fly and not to lead and serve their nation. Those kind of people probably do not need to be in the military in the first place.

Generally, I would agree with this statement. However your case is somewhat unique...

You're military medical issue is in no way related to civilian flying (I understand you hold an unrestricted first class) and you don't want to be penalized for that.

If you put on the resume that you were an ANG pilot trainee for 18 months any aviation recruiter will see that and instantly reach the conclusion that you washed out of UPT. If you're applying to regionals that will probably not matter at most companies, but a few might DQ you sight unseen.

One solution would be to put it on the resume, but make no mention of being a pilot candidate...you didn't do any flying, so you don't have to say anything about flying. Just list the administrative duties you did perform. They will likely ask you about your military experience and why you left early...at which time you can explain what happened. As for your title, just put your rank, not "pilot candidate".

On the resume, try to avoid leaving the impression that you were medically DQ or that you washed out of UPT.

Thanks for all the help, although I'm still not sure what to say. I can put that I was in the Guard on my resume without putting anything about why, but that would look a little weird, since for all of my other jobs I've listed my duties and resposibilities. I can't really put anything that I did because I didn't do anything, besides go to officer school and attend a few training events on base and play along as best I could (and clean up the pilots section and help move stuff around occasionally, heh).

The interview I can handle, I can just be honest and tell what happened (and why they don't have any reason to be concerned about my color vision), but I really don't know what to put on my resume.

Bizzum, thanks for the advice, but I already have an unrestricted first class medical (no waivers). Even though I didn't need it at the time, I went and got one just to make sure I could before continuing with my aviation career.

N6724G, I didn't just join to be a pilot, and it wasn't an easy decision to seperate, thats part of the reason I didn't leave until Feb '07 even though I was DQ'ed in Nov '06. In the end I didn't feel like I could give it my all if I stayed in and did another job, partly because I'd always be bummed about losing my pilot slot, but more importantly because none of the other jobs would have helped me in my civilian career enough to be worth the commitment.

I failed a military color vision test, and later failed a civilian test with a new AME I had not been using before. I went to an eye doc and had him do "one of the alternate color vision tests", in this case a 14-plate edition of the Ishihara pseudoisochromatic. He understood exactly why I was there, was patient with me, and I passed. He gave me a letter to send to OKC, and I got back a letter from the Civil Aeromedical Institute that "will serve as acceptable evidence that you have satisfactorily demonstrated your ability to meet the color vision standards for any class of airmen medical...you do not require a statement of demonstrated ability (waiver)". "Please retain this letter and present it to the Aviation Medical Examiner...such examiner is authorized to issue you any class of medical certificate if you otherwise meet the medical requirements."

Best way to go, much easier than the tower test. Highly recomend going that route.

Thats cool. I thought you were meaning something else. I was in the same boat. My original military goal was to fly and be a fighter pilot but my vision knocked me out. I am now on my 19th year in the infantry