With regards to the question about cadets getting into aviation there is something that has gone unsaid. In order to take an aviation slot you must be pilot qualified. That means that if there is a physical reason, like a problem with your eyes, you can not take an aviaition slot even if you were first in your class. The best advice given above is don't go to West Point if all you want to do is fly. Many things happen between Plebe summer and Graduation that might affect your ability to get an aviation slot. Go to West Point because you want to be an Army officer and be a leader.
Army Aviation Slots
- Thread starter Packer
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This is what I tell my son. He is not currently pilot qualified and only a few months back did he learn that it was possible to have PRK and maybe become pilot qualified and have a chance at flying. He wanted to be an AF or Army officer long before he thought there was a chance for him to fly. Now he is definitely interested but if he doesn't fly he will still be honored to serve.
Pima
10-Year Member
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TX we X posted, because I too feel that vision is a huge issue.
Many candidates believe their vision is fine, only to come to realize in the process that they are not PPQ (potentially pilot qualified). It is all over these boards, especially on AFA, USNA, DodMERB and ROTC how candidates never knew they had a color blind issue, or that an astigmatism will play into the equation.
Work on getting the appointment. Getting through BCT. Getting through the 1st 2 yrs academically.
Clear the hurdles in front of you now.
If fate is for you to fly and you put your nose to the grindstone, you will fly someday. If that isn't your fate, than it won't be. You can follow every stat out there yr to yr, but none of it will matter until it is your yr.
Nobody, absolutely nobody will lay a bet that if your DS gets a 4.0 at WP he will be flying helos in 5 yrs. It truly is a gamble. For anyone knows he could go to WP, play ultimate frisbee and get medically dq for helos, but not for AD. Believe it or not it happens yr after yr. Again, on this site alone I know of at least 5 medical turnbacks, one fell off the bus and blew his knee out. Got back in, but no jump school for him! Knew another AD that injured their back playing flag FB, DQ for flying, but OBTW, Q for serving out the commitment.
Life gets in the way.
Xposted Packer.
PRK is a big issue. The military doesn't like to mess with eyes regarding aviators. They will do it, have done it, but if they have their druthers they will take the perfect vision candidate over the non-perfect vision candidate.
OBTW, what anyone in your non-military circle says, DON'T get PRK done on your dime. Eyes change and that is why they wait until they @20 to send cadets for the surgery. Doing it on your own will just open a whole new file with DodMERB.
DodMERB will find out about this, and USMA will place this into the equation regarding waiver and admittance.
Many candidates believe their vision is fine, only to come to realize in the process that they are not PPQ (potentially pilot qualified). It is all over these boards, especially on AFA, USNA, DodMERB and ROTC how candidates never knew they had a color blind issue, or that an astigmatism will play into the equation.
Work on getting the appointment. Getting through BCT. Getting through the 1st 2 yrs academically.
Clear the hurdles in front of you now.
If fate is for you to fly and you put your nose to the grindstone, you will fly someday. If that isn't your fate, than it won't be. You can follow every stat out there yr to yr, but none of it will matter until it is your yr.
Nobody, absolutely nobody will lay a bet that if your DS gets a 4.0 at WP he will be flying helos in 5 yrs. It truly is a gamble. For anyone knows he could go to WP, play ultimate frisbee and get medically dq for helos, but not for AD. Believe it or not it happens yr after yr. Again, on this site alone I know of at least 5 medical turnbacks, one fell off the bus and blew his knee out. Got back in, but no jump school for him! Knew another AD that injured their back playing flag FB, DQ for flying, but OBTW, Q for serving out the commitment.
Life gets in the way.
Xposted Packer.
PRK is a big issue. The military doesn't like to mess with eyes regarding aviators. They will do it, have done it, but if they have their druthers they will take the perfect vision candidate over the non-perfect vision candidate.
OBTW, what anyone in your non-military circle says, DON'T get PRK done on your dime. Eyes change and that is why they wait until they @20 to send cadets for the surgery. Doing it on your own will just open a whole new file with DodMERB.
DodMERB will find out about this, and USMA will place this into the equation regarding waiver and admittance.
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