Eyesight

FighterPilotHopeful

5-Year Member
Joined
Jun 23, 2014
Messages
54
So, throughout my childhood, I had regular vision screenings and consistently was reported to have 20/20 vision. Recently however, I feel like my eyesight has been sub-par. Any time that I mention this to my mom, she asks me, "Do you want to ruin your future!?" I know that Midshipmen who qualify for aviation slots can have their eyesight corrected their 2/C year.

SO, this brings me to my question... Is any eyesight other than 20/20 failing DODMERB? Should I get glasses before? After?

OR am I really out of the running for USNA admission?


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Well if you can't see 20/20 it doesn't matter if you are wearing glasses or not. The disqualification isn't "wears glasses" it is can the person see 20/20 within a small range for pilots and slightly larger for flight officers.

I'm not sure I'm tracking your mother's line of reasoning here. If you need spectacles to see go see someone to get checked out.
 
I agree with kp. The fact is part of the appointment process is having a physical, including eyesight. Iows they will find out anyway, there is no possible way of hiding it from them. By delaying getting glasses you are not accomplishing anything, but straining your eyes.
 
Most plebes don't have 20/20 vision. If you are within the general limits, admission won't be an issue for that reason. If your vision is correctable, you will be offered the opportunity for surgery. If your vision can be corrected, you will have the chance to compete for a pilot's slot.
 
DS has contacts/glasses. I was surprised to learn that plebes are not allowed to wear their own glasses to plebe summer, they are to give their script to USNA and a regulation set will be made for them. I guess it makes. Also, no contacts lenses at plebe summer from what I understand
 
Naval Academy plebe glasses are referred to as BCG's for birth control goggles/glasses. They are not attractive. My son that is Class of 2017 has very poor vision and hadn't worn glasses since he was 10, only contacts. He was unrecognizable in pictures. They almost all look alike and it is called looking for Waldo by parents on Facebook. Enjoy the hunting! I know I will enjoy looking for my daughter with thick glasses and shortened to chin height (from below her waist) hair! :) I look forward to meeting everyone this summer! Go Navy!


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BCGs are horribly unattractive, but for those who remember the old ones, the current ones are so much better. To be honest BCGs may be ugly, but for plebe summer they work. They are durable and if they break, won't cost you money. They sweat so much and are moving around doing stuff, properly taking care of contacts becomes an issue. Some plebes would not take them out at night and things along those lines and get eye infections. Once they get to parents weekend we let the plebes put their old glasses back on or contacts for parents weekend. Once the academic year hits they can wear what they want.
 
sorry guys, everything old is new again. son's BCGs honestly look like the expensive trendy ones they show now.

absolutely no contacts for plebe summer (son's detailers actually made ds throw his in the trash uuuuggghhhh!)

you have to get a an eye dr appointment to pass dodmerb. they will use the machinery to get an accurate prescription, whether you already have glasses or not. Having said that it will be very hard to pass the depth perception portion of the dodmerb eye exam if you do not have vision correction on (trust me...been there...failed that...) Therefore it is to your advantage to get correction prior to Dodmerb.

Regarding becoming a pilot, your eyes are retested for service selection and during flight school. It is not relevant what your vision is now (only if is greater than-8 which you would KNOW). If you are medically eligible for corrective eye surgery, you get corrective eye surgery and the vision AFTER the corrective eye surgery is the vision that counts.
 
I know I will enjoy looking for my daughter with thick glasses and shortened to chin height (from below her waist) hair! :) I look forward to meeting everyone this summer! Go Navy!


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Rumor has it, (from my 2016 Mid DD) that c/o 2019 incoming plebes will NOT have to cut their hair if they can show they can put it up in a brigade standard bun really quick. Not sure the time limit, maybe 30 sec?. This is similar to USAFA's policy on incoming basics.
 
Rumor has it, (from my 2016 Mid DD) that c/o 2019 incoming plebes will NOT have to cut their hair if they can show they can put it up in a brigade standard bun really quick. Not sure the time limit, maybe 30 sec?. This is similar to USAFA's policy on incoming basics.


We have heard that is a possibility as well. She has donated her hair to locks of love before and is thinking she will do so again before she leaves. I don't think she would be able to wash it, brush it, and put it in a bun along with everything else they have to do in the seven minutes after wake up anyway. We'll see if she changes her mind.


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My daughter is still deciding too. On one hand, she knows it will be so much easier and it will be so much more healthy when it grows back out, but there is the other side of her that wants to cling to at least some part of her past identity, lol.
 
Cadets and parents:

My DS wears prescription glasses that have a clear plastic frame. USAFA regs appear to require frames to be black, browish, or silver or gold wire. Will new frames be necessary after BCT?

Wondering if this is merely intended to prevent bright colored, faddish frames, or if it is by the letter, as written. Anyone know? Hate to buy an unnecessary new pair

He looked at a new pair today that were black plastic across brow and sides but clear along bottom. Also banned?
 
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