Leaderboard

I'll throw my 2 cents in, . I'm going to give a little background on myself so that you know realistically what you're up against if you're trying for an Exception to Policy (ETP). I DO NOT say any of this to brag or toot my own horn, only so that you know the route I took to get an ETP for a Flying Class 1 (FC1) physical as an untrained asset so that I could become a pilot. The hearing in my right ear is considered unwaiverable by the Air Force medical community for FC1 standards. I knew this very early on but also knew that the hearing problem had never affected me while flying, so I decided to apply to USAFA as I thought that'd give me the best shot. I got in to USAFA (with a waiver for my hearing solely to commission- not to fly), maintained a relatively good GPA there, was a member of the Wings of Blue Parachute Team which got me decent face time with some of the higher ups, etc. When it came time to apply for the ETP, I first had to have my FC1 waiver denied by the medical community, at which point I could start the process. It was basically like applying to college again. It's a VERY involved application. I was told by USAFA that only 1 person in the last 7 years had gotten one, so I knew my chances were slim. That being said, I pressed on. They sent me to Wright Patt to have all kinds of crazy tests done on me so that the medical community could give their recommendation on the ETP (which will almost always be a recommendation for disapproval since they already told you they disapproved by denying a waiver), then the ETP will start up the chain. And it is a VERY long chain that it goes through- all the way to the Vice Chief of Staff of the Air Force. He/she will then approve/disapprove. I started that process my junior year at the Academy and didn't find out my ETP was approved until the summer after I graduated. So there's a timeline for you... That being said, you have to remember that by applying, you're trying to prove to the Air Force that you're worth the risk of allowing you to fly/commission/etc whilst having a medical condition they deem as "unfit to fight" basically. And not only that, at the basic level you start at (for me it was my USAFA squadron AOC) you have to prove to them you're worth a bunch of Generals' time that will ultimately have to review your package. And obviously, it doesn't hurt to have a few generals/congressman/etc that are willing to go to bat for you. Ultimately for me, the USAFA Superintendent, a 3-Star, decided to take up my case after receiving prodding from other people I "recruited" to help in my fight. And I owe him big time for that. Anyway, I don't say all of that to discourage anyone from applying, I just want you to know what you're up against. And I'd be happy to answer any questions if you want to PM me. Hope that helps.

If you want options...your best bet is the ACSC online masters program (OLMP). Very low time requirement and very easy to work into a demanding flying schedule, squadron job, and deploying multiple times a year. It will also cost you zero dollars, unless you decide to buy the course books, and then it will cost you about $80 total. It will also leave you available to get a good MBA or other MS/MA as desired for post-AF employment.

https://www.citizenwatch.com/en-us/watches/watch-detail/?model=JY0000-53E I have the watch in the link above and it's the perfect aviation watch, IMO. If you're looking for something to pass on to your kids, wear an aviation icon on your wrist or show off at a cocktail party, then this might not be it. If you want a reasonably priced, good-looking, functional and accurate aviation tool, I highly recommend this watch. It keeps perfect (and I do mean perfect time). Our aircraft clock displays GPS time and it always matches my watch within a second. It updates every night off a radio signal in the US, Japan or Germany, depending on location. Auto update for daylight savings time/standard time in the spring and fall. World-wide time zone selection allows easy call-up of local time wherever you happen to land. Quick two step process allows hands to display any time zone. Zulu is always displayed on dedicated hands or you can have it in the digital window. It has luminous hands and a button activated light that illuminates the digital window and time zone. Eco-drive means no battery replacement - ever. List price is over $600 but it is usually available on-line for somewhere in the mid-300's.

1.5 years to have grips made? I would have forgot I ordered them. I would have moved after forgetting that I ordered them...

1.5 years to have grips made? I would have forgot I ordered them.