HerkJDriver

Anyone have any recent info on timeline from Approval to Appoint to receiving OTS dates? TIA!

Definitely untraditional from what I can tell after talking with all the other Guard and Reserve fellas at FC1. As you can see by my timeline my recruiter also isn't the most punctual or squared away recruiter in the world since my packet went through NGB twice (kicked back the first time since they didn't know I had to be gained and sworn in first)

Off the street Guard C-130 Hire Timeline: -Interview: January 2022 -Job Offer: Early February 2022 -MEPS: Early August 2022 -MEPS Waiver Sent and Approved: Early October -Packet sent to State / NGB without swearing in (recruiter fault): Early March 2023 -Packet kicked back from NGB with notice to appoint (swear in): Mid April 2023 -Swear in: Late April 2023 -Packet sent to back to State / NGB: Late April 2023 -Packet approved by State / NGB: Early July 2023 -FC1: Mid July 2023 (One waiver recommended) -FC1 Approved: ? -Orders: ? -OTS: ? -UPT: ? While I'm here anyone have an FC1 waiver pass recently and have a timeline on that? Thanks in advance!

Off the street Guard C-130 Hire Timeline: -Interview: January 2022 -Job Offer: Early February 2022 -MEPS: Early August 2022 -MEPS Waiver Sent and Approved: Early October -Packet sent to State: Late January 2023 -Packet approved by State: Early March 2023 -Sent to NGB: Early March 2023 -Approved by NGB: -Swear in: -FC1: -Orders: -OTS: -UPT:

Throwing this in here for visibility and to hopefully help whoever else is going through a similar situation. I was fortunate enough to have my MEPS medical waiver approved in less than 24 hours. Some of the things I did that paid dividends were: -Learning about the issue and advocating for myself -Learning as much as I could from people who were extremely knowledgeable and willing to offer help like @stuckindayton -Using some medical consulting from Rocky "Apollo" Jedick over at https://goflightmedicine.com/ he wrote me an incredible letter to attach to my waiver that bridged the gap between my civilian optometrist's letters and the verbiage that the USAF and DOD likes to see. Best of luck to whoever finds themselves in a similar situation. My DM's are always open and I'd be happy to help!

Hey @stuckindayton Thought I would give a quick update. I decided to go the route of seeking a waiver rather than LASIK or PRK because I'm honestly not sure if my unit would wait 6 months before my re-evaluation. That being said, I started seeking outside Optometry consultations and building my waiver packet for the Surgeon General. Good news, during all of my Optometry exams including one where I was dilated in both eyes, I'm showing a 2.75 D Astigmatism in my right eye and 3.00 D Astigmatism in my left eye. I also showed no sign of depth perception issues. I'm hopeful these letters from the Docs will provide enough context to warrant an approved waiver from the SG and I can finally make it through MEPS. From what I've read, the FC1 sounds like a place where the Docs and staff advocate potential pilots more than MEPS. Thank you again for all of your advice and all the information you were willing to provide it means more than I can put into words!

@stuckindayton Just got my MEPS results back in my possession from my recruiter. I will attach an image of my vision results below. After talking to my recruiter it does sound like I only have 2-3 options: 1. Outside MEPS Consult: I will put together a packet of local optometrist / ophthalmologist results showing I am a 3.00 or 3.25 or below and have them state that this will not affect my time in service (but quick question, would I have to go through that exact waiver again in FC1?) 2. LASIK / PRK but still would need a waiver for that since I am documented as a 3.25 from MEPS and fall outside of the 3.00 pre-op limit correct? and hope my unit will wait 6-8 months for me to get a waiver and go back to MEPS post-op (That table 4 still confuses me slightly sorry for beating the dead horse) 3. Exception to Policy: Really do not want to go down this road, but afraid it might come to this. Any advice on this outside of writing state reps, congress, governor and senators? Thanks again

Yes, this does make sense, sounds like I won't need a waiver for pre-op LASIK or PRK, only a successful surgery, and a good re-eval 6 months post-op since I'm a -3.25 astigmatism. I seriously cannot thank you enough, my recruiter is MIA and I'm trying my hardest to navigate these waiver guides. Now I just have to find a good doc and hope my unit is cool with waiting 6 months for me to get re-tested post-op. Thank you again @stuckindayton I owe you a beer.

Sorry for the confusion, I am an off-the-street civilian hire, not in aircrew so the 6.00 D applies, but I'm still having a hard time finding the document that states that. The first photo attached is from the FC I/MFS CORNEAL REFRACTIVE SURGERY (CRS) CHECKLIST clearly stating 3.0 max astigmatism pre-op, and the second image is directly from the most recent waiver guide. Under the circumstance of the second table "Aviation and Aviation-related Special Duty" (AASD) states I can extend the 3.0 D limit to 6.00 D, if I met all other vision requirements which I did, besides depth perception. Would the Depth perception failure throw off this exception / be an issue? I'm reading in note 4 that this is required "before all initial flying examinations" which wouldn't be MEPS correct?

I only wear contacts and have not worn glasses for 10 years. My very first prescription was a glasses prescription and I keep those rolling around in my flight bag for a just-in-case scenario, but haven't had a glasses prescription since 2013. They did a brief refraction, like 2-3 slides, but no dilation. Also, I feared the same thing the idea that "they messed something up" and knew over a 3.00 was a DQ so I actually somehow convinced MEPS to re-do that portion of my vision exam with a different optometrist technician facilitating the exam on another machine to eliminate redundancy and still came out with a 3.25. I sincerely appreciate the reply and checked out the Medical Standards Directory under note 3, but would that apply to me even if I'm corrected to 20/20 with no issues? Pretty re-assuring that LASIK / PKR is still an option.

Hey guys looking for some info on this peculiar situation. I was fortunate enough to be picked up for a UPT position by an ANG C-130J unit back in February of 2022. Today at MEPS I was deemed disqualified due to my Refraction Error in my left eye being a 3.25 (3.0 Refraction Error limit). This came as a surprise to me because in April of 2022 at my civilian Optometrist, my vision prescription was a 2.75 Refraction Error astigmatism in each eye (please see attached photo). My astigmatism has also never been above a 3.0 Refraction Error for 10 years have worn contacts. I was told by the Optometrist Technician at MEPS that this drastic deviation is because the machines at MEPS are so outdated and do not have the ability to get that precise of a reading. I also failed the depth perception exam. Regardless, it appears I have a waiver process ahead of me for depth perception and Refraction Error. I have referenced the waiver guide and it appears depth perception can be taken care of with a waiver, however, above a 3.0 Refraction Error astigmatism is not waiverable. I then looked at the Refraction Error numbers needed for pre-op LASIK or PKR and it is showing the same, not eligible above a 3.0 refraction error. At this point, I'm having a hard time finding my next steps. My eyes have never caused me issues and I'm worried I will be permanently DQ'ed and have to forfeit my position. I would love it if someone could provide any form of assistance on this matter or let me know if I am even reading the waiver guide correctly. Additionally, I would love to hear if anyone has gone through this process and what worked for them, or if there is a specific Optometrist in the Texas area well versed in putting together a waiver examination and letter for UPT applicants Thank you very much and looking forward to sharing my experience and paying it forward when this is all said and done.

Back in January 2022 I reached out to the B-1 POC for 345th Bomb Squadron out of Dyess specifically for UPT spot and was hit with a "It'll be quite some time before we have a UPT board, good luck finding a home" No info on WSO though, goodluck my man!

Interviewed at F-16 / C-130 units. 17 applications, and 4 interviews later I got the call that I was elected to fly C-130 J’s with an ANG unit. Thankful for forums like this that helped me prepare for my interviews! If y'all have and Q's or I can help in anyway feel free to reach out! Cheers! Interview Questions: Why this unit? Why this airframe? Your biggest success in life? You know we deploy right? How do you feel about this? Tell us about a time when you failed but it worked in your favor? If we’re on TDY to Alaska, could you teach us how to fly fish? Is your family on board for moving to (location) What are your 10/20-year goals? Is there anything that would medically DQ you? The guy in charge of all the Nav’s asked me if I would consider a nav position (Hard question to answer, I put it in a way that I would not be opposed to considering the opportunity however it is something I would need to talk over with my support group) Best flying story? Things are popping off with Russia right now, we just got Top Secret clearances, is there anything that would stop you from getting that on your record? You’re going to be working with some salty Loadmasters, how do you deal with working with someone grouchy and older than you? How many flying hours do you have? What are your plans post-seasoning? Air Force Core Values? *Showed video through targeting pod of their previous deployment and dropping bombs on adversaries* then asked How do you feel about this? Visual Recognition of: F-16, F-15, F-4, F-35, B-1, B-2, B-52, P-51, SU-27 The scariest time you’ve had while flying? What are your hobbies outside of flying? Tell me about a time with your previous employer where you didn’t get along with or agree with a supervisor or co-worker? Is cereal a soup? If so, why? If not, why? Squadrons watching a movie at the bar, you’re in charge, which movie are we watching? Tell me about a time you had to overcome adversity? What is a quality that you think a fighter pilot needs to exemplify? There are a lot of really sharp guys here today. Sell yourself / any final remarks?