Raider12

Thanks for reading! I am a 10 year active duty Marine Special Operations Officer with Marine Special Operations Command. I recently hit the lottery and got hired by an Air National Guard unit to change career paths and go to flight school and fly jets for them. The day before my flight physical Wright Patterson called to let me know I can't do the physical because I have a back surgery on my record. In 2011 I was wounded twice in Afghanistan and had some minor surgeries to recover in the coming years, and one was a micro-discectomy L5-S1 and was back to full duty two months later. I have done over two years of operations since the minor back surgery and multiple training and combat deployments. I have a current Spec Ops physical and no waivers or hardware. If anyone reading this works at AETC or knows someone who does or is involved in an exception to policy, I would appreciate any help you could provide. I have read the air force order and know that back surgery is disqualifying/non-waiverable but also know where there is a will there is a way. My hiring unit is putting in an exception to policy for the back surgery, and I want to try and do everything I can to make it succeed. This blog is a long shot, but if anyone out there thinks they can help I'd love to talk to you. I have given 10 years of ground/spec ops service and hope to continue to serve as a pilot if I can get past this minor back surgery. Thank you for your time.

Thanks for reading! I am an active duty Marine Special Operations Officer with Marine Special Operations Command. I recently hit the lottery and got hired by an Air National Guard unit to go to flight school and fly jets for them. The day before my flight physical Wright Patterson called to let me know I can't do the physical because I have a back surgery on my record. In 2011 I was wounded twice in Afghanistan and had some minor surgeries to recover in the coming years, and one was a micro-discectomy L5-S1 and was back to full duty two months later. I have done over two years of operations since the minor back surgery and multiple training and combat deployments. I have a current Spec Ops physical and no waivers or hardware. If anyone reading this works at AETC or knows someone who does or is involved in an exception to policy, I would appreciate any help you could provide. I have read the air force order and know that back surgery is disqualifying/non-waiverable but also know where there is a will there is a way. My hiring unit is putting in an exception to policy for the back surgery, and I want to try and do everything I can to make it succeed. This blog is a long shot, but if anyone out there thinks they can help I'd love to talk to you. I have given 10 years of ground/spec ops service and hope to continue to serve as a pilot if I can get past this minor back surgery. Thank you for your time.

I just wanted to share my path to give others in similar positions hope: 31 years old Almost 10 years prior service AD as an officer / ground guy (Special Ops) and not in the air force I was able to get hired by an ANG fighter squadron by showing the unit it is worth their time to do the extra paperwork. There is a waiver for just about anything. My advice is to be humble and hungry to start over as a new guy and be the best team mate possible regardless of age/rank. If you are in a similar situation mine, just work hard to quickly build a strong package and no doubt you will have a shot.