Is my understanding correct?

16maybt

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Feb 15, 2016
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I have received and accepted my appointment to USAFA class of 2020 and am currently making my way through the appointee handbook and have a question regarding my eyes.

When I was little (5ish) I had a condition called Strabismus or, a lazy eye. In order to correct it I had to have eye surgery. The surgery improved my vision exponentially, however it is still not perfect. There was a time in 4th - 6th ish grades where I wore corrective lenses. Although I could technically still wear them, I can see just fine without them so I don't have glasses now. Even though I haven't worn glasses regularly in 8 years or so, the Appointee Handbook says that if I have worn corrective lenses at ANY POINT I need to bring a pair of glasses to I-Day, and they will also give me a standard issue pair, that I will be required to wear through, at least, BCT.

I don't really care to wear glasses but I do not enjoy wearing them during physical exercise and similar things. Can anyone verify what I am saying or have any experience in a similar situation?

Thanks!
 
If you don't need glasses or have glasses currently, I wouldn't recommend buying a pair for I Day. If you wear contacts and need them to function. You will need your personal glasses until you are issued your TEDs/BC at some point during I Day

I would presume that if you have a prescription, USAFA wants it as well as the frame sizing. They will have a pair ready for you.

You will only be authorized to wear the glasses issued during BCT. Your cadre will not know if you need them or not - so you can choose to wear them or not
 
During his DoDMerb apt was this brought up? Was DS DQ'd and then needing a waiver? Questions you might want to sit down and talk about run passed his ALO. If it becomes an issue it may be a cause for a DQ/Waiver and then it brings up the question of an omission in his Medical process.
It states that even if it shows slightly this is considered a DQable condition. I for one know that even if corrected it still has a tendency to show up. I had a lazy eye, completely corrected (31 years ago) but pops up when I am super tired or have been on a computer monitor for way to long.
 
If OP declared on original DoDMERB paperwork correctly and accurately per the question asked and DoDMERB marked OP as qualified why in God's Green Earth would OP want to raise any potential flags less than 80 days from I Day?

OP's question was about prescription glasses not about re-visiting DoDMERB
 
During his DoDMerb apt was this brought up? Was DS DQ'd and then needing a waiver? Questions you might want to sit down and talk about run passed his ALO. If it becomes an issue it may be a cause for a DQ/Waiver and then it brings up the question of an omission in his Medical process.
It states that even if it shows slightly this is considered a DQable condition. I for one know that even if corrected it still has a tendency to show up. I had a lazy eye, completely corrected (31 years ago) but pops up when I am super tired or have been on a computer monitor for way to long.


Like I stated in my original post, I have already filled out DoDMERB paperwork and have received and accepted my appointment to USAFA. I'm not sure why you're telling me to walk on eggshells...DoDMERB is OVER. I completed all forms honestly and correctly. With all the crazy questions and scenarios presented on the app I probably referenced this condition and surgery around ten times. The only side effects I'm aware of are poor depth perception and eyesight less than 20/20. This being the case, I find it hard to believe that USAFA doesn't already know about my vision.

My question was whether or not I'll have to wear glasses during BCT just because I've had glasses before (but don't currently wear any). But it doesn't seem like anyone can provide an answer.
 
What they don't want is to have you wear contact lenses. It's much too dusty in Jacks. Also, if you wear glasses, you have to be "uniform" during BCT and they will supply you with glasses that are safe to wear.
Like I stated in my original post, I have already filled out DoDMERB paperwork and have received and accepted my appointment to USAFA. I'm not sure why you're telling me to walk on eggshells...DoDMERB is OVER. I completed all forms honestly and correctly. With all the crazy questions and scenarios presented on the app I probably referenced this condition and surgery around ten times. The only side effects I'm aware of are poor depth perception and eyesight less than 20/20. This being the case, I find it hard to believe that USAFA doesn't already know about my vision.

My question was whether or not I'll have to wear glasses during BCT just because I've had glasses before (but don't currently wear any). But it doesn't seem like anyone can provide an answer.
It's simple:
If you don't need glasses, you don't have to wear glasses. The appointee handbooks speaks in generalities. IF you need glasses, bring them along; send them your prescription, etc. If you don't, then skip that section and move on to the next.
 
If you don't need glasses or have glasses currently, I wouldn't recommend buying a pair for I Day. If you wear contacts and need them to function. You will need your personal glasses until you are issued your TEDs/BC at some point during I Day

I would presume that if you have a prescription, USAFA wants it as well as the frame sizing. They will have a pair ready for you.

You will only be authorized to wear the glasses issued during BCT. Your cadre will not know if you need them or not - so you can choose to wear them or not
So the cadre will not know if the glasses have been issued to you? And you can make the choice to wear or not wear? The instructions say if you are issued glasses then you must wear them 100% of the time. What about someone who doesn't need to wear glasses all the time?
 
I've read some horror stories of cadets and mids whose issued glasses were either wrong or not made and going blind through weeks of the summer. Can issued frames be purchased and brought just in case said error occurs?
 
...Can issued frames be purchased and brought just in case said error occurs?

I'm not sure if the exact same frames as those which will be dispensed by USAFA can be ordered or not. Last year there was a phone number on the optical form. If you want to try to have the glasses made privately in advance your DS could contact them and see if they will tell him the manufacturer and style number.

Alternatively, our DS bought a pair of black plastic frames which he liked better than the USAFA provided frames. Normally, they wouldn't be allowed to wear privately bought within reg frames until after A day. I suspect that if your "horror story" scenario were true they might let him wear an alternative pair as long as they were very similar to the issued frames. Hopefully, the "horror story" scenarios are urban legends.
 
During his DoDMerb apt was this brought up? Was DS DQ'd and then needing a waiver? Questions you might want to sit down and talk about run passed his ALO. If it becomes an issue it may be a cause for a DQ/Waiver and then it brings up the question of an omission in his Medical process.
It states that even if it shows slightly this is considered a DQable condition. I for one know that even if corrected it still has a tendency to show up. I had a lazy eye, completely corrected (31 years ago) but pops up when I am super tired or have been on a computer monitor for way to long.


Like I stated in my original post, I have already filled out DoDMERB paperwork and have received and accepted my appointment to USAFA. I'm not sure why you're telling me to walk on eggshells...DoDMERB is OVER. I completed all forms honestly and correctly. With all the crazy questions and scenarios presented on the app I probably referenced this condition and surgery around ten times. The only side effects I'm aware of are poor depth perception and eyesight less than 20/20. This being the case, I find it hard to believe that USAFA doesn't already know about my vision.

My question was whether or not I'll have to wear glasses during BCT just because I've had glasses before (but don't currently wear any). But it doesn't seem like anyone can provide an answer.

There are usually a few "ask a current cadet" posts that pop up from time to time. Maybe either search the forum for one of those threads or you can pm on of them and they can ask others in their squadron.
 
...My question was whether or not I'll have to wear glasses during BCT just because I've had glasses before (but don't currently wear any). But it doesn't seem like anyone can provide an answer.

I don't really care to wear glasses but I do not enjoy wearing them during physical exercise and similar things. Can anyone verify what I am saying or have any experience in a similar situation?

It might vary by BCT Squadron. My DS wears glasses more or less all the time and was issued glasses on I-Day last year. However, he can get by without them and similarly doesn't like to wear them during certain activities. Last year he didn't wear his issued glasses during portions of BCT including most activities other than shooting in Jack's Valley. As far as I know, no one objected. But your experience may vary depending on you cadre.
 
The cadre really couldn't care less whether you're wearing glasses. I wear contacts and was issued glasses last year for basic. I wore them to briefings and a few other things, but in general I didn't like wearing them. The worst that happened was that one of my cadre asked me where my glasses were and gave me a "you're stupid" look when I told him I didn't want to wear them. Do what's comfortable. Bottom line, stuff isn't as strict as the handbook makes it sound on administrative things like that
 
I've read some horror stories of cadets and mids whose issued glasses were either wrong or not made and going blind through weeks of the summer. Can issued frames be purchased and brought just in case said error occurs?

I would suggest that is an urban legend. Basics will not wear non-issue glasses with the rarest of exceptions.

And I would suggest not calling the SA optical shop to get the style and such so you can show up with your own 'custom made' BCT glasses. It's like the haircut - they aren't supposed to look good.

I have never heard of anyone complain that their issue glasses were inadequate. My DD's glasses never set well on her face and all the Plebe Summer she was told '(last name) your glasses are crooked'

She survived and did not go blind.

I did have a classmate that had very sun sensitive eyes and he was authorized glasses that the tint changed based on the amount of sunlight. They were different, therefore he was different and he was reminded about 100 times/day about how special he must be to be allowed to be different.
 
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