Applying for the Boards in December.

[WilB-2]

Hey I have a question. Two of my buddies are planning on applying for a pilot slot in December after we go to field training this summer. However they both wear glasses and need to get surgery on their eyes to be eligible for a pilot slot. They was told they need to wait a year until after their surgery to apply. So what are their options in being eligible to go up for a pilot slot? They were told to fill out a form 22 packet and even if they get accepted they would go up for the rated board our 400 year and would be put on an alternate list for slots. They want to know if it is worth extending another year just for a chance for pilot?

 

[Pima]

I think this is more of a DoDMERB question.

JMPO, but nobody should give a thumbs up or down without knowing their actual vision.

I am assuming you mean PRK/Lasik. Eyes change, thus the reason that even USAFA cadets don't get the surgery until the equivalent of an AS300 rising.
~ Typically if they do the surgery as soon as they come back from SFT, they will only need to go through a waiver process for the healing aspects, and by next summer when they go for the FAA FC1 at WPAFB, they should be cleared.

Our DS is a pilot and went through AFROTC and had vision issues, no surgery required and wore glasses. He was within the parameters, did not need a waiver.

 

[Sled]

I've been looking into this issue since last year and the wait time is 6 months. Cadets typically get it done right after field training so they have time to heal. If you are on a 5 yr program of course they don't have the problem of having to get it done right away. It's a small window for the 4 yr cadets but it can be done and has been done many times before.