Last year, during my sophomore year of college, I realized that I needed to put a little less focus on my class work and a little more focus on extra-curricular involvement. I decided to try my hand at the AFROTC, and I started the program this past fall semester.
Though it was a lot to get use to and a lot of new people to meet, it actually seemed to be working out pretty well. I was glad to have some meaningful involvement, and the detachment's cadre was glad to have an honors student with a 4.0 GPA in an engineering program. They told me I had a >99% shot at field training this summer. Plus, they actually liked me enough that they selected me for a very generous scholarship (almost full ride).
Then, after the beginning of this semester, just when everything seemed perfect, I found out that I was medically disqualified from the program. My refractive error is -9.50 in one eye and -10.25 in the other. For the past ten years, I have worn contact lenses and never had a problem. The doctors have told me that it is a case of simple myopia, that my eyes are completely healthy, and that I will be ready for corrective surgery possibly as soon as this summer. Nevertheless, the Air Force won't budge - they are refusing me a waiver because I am above the -10.00 mark.
I asked someone with the Navy if they had similar rules for their officers, and they seem to be even stricter than the Air Force. Neither branch will take me (the Army I did not really look into because they apparently don't have much use for a chemical engineering major).
These officer positions for engineers sound like amazing opportunities, and I hate to completely give up on the notion of ever getting one. Though I realize there are increased risks for those of us with high myopia (and also that the Air Force can afford to be picky), I feel like I have been wrongly pegged as an invalid.
That brings me to my main question.
When they washed me out of the ROTC, I lost a lot and was devastated, but I have accepted it and am trying to move on. Now, I just want to know if I will have any chances at an officer's career in the future. Some people have suggested that, if I have the surgery and prove that everything is sound, they will let me in via an officer training program. Is there any truth to that? Or am I ruled out for life?
Though it was a lot to get use to and a lot of new people to meet, it actually seemed to be working out pretty well. I was glad to have some meaningful involvement, and the detachment's cadre was glad to have an honors student with a 4.0 GPA in an engineering program. They told me I had a >99% shot at field training this summer. Plus, they actually liked me enough that they selected me for a very generous scholarship (almost full ride).
Then, after the beginning of this semester, just when everything seemed perfect, I found out that I was medically disqualified from the program. My refractive error is -9.50 in one eye and -10.25 in the other. For the past ten years, I have worn contact lenses and never had a problem. The doctors have told me that it is a case of simple myopia, that my eyes are completely healthy, and that I will be ready for corrective surgery possibly as soon as this summer. Nevertheless, the Air Force won't budge - they are refusing me a waiver because I am above the -10.00 mark.
I asked someone with the Navy if they had similar rules for their officers, and they seem to be even stricter than the Air Force. Neither branch will take me (the Army I did not really look into because they apparently don't have much use for a chemical engineering major).
These officer positions for engineers sound like amazing opportunities, and I hate to completely give up on the notion of ever getting one. Though I realize there are increased risks for those of us with high myopia (and also that the Air Force can afford to be picky), I feel like I have been wrongly pegged as an invalid.
That brings me to my main question.
When they washed me out of the ROTC, I lost a lot and was devastated, but I have accepted it and am trying to move on. Now, I just want to know if I will have any chances at an officer's career in the future. Some people have suggested that, if I have the surgery and prove that everything is sound, they will let me in via an officer training program. Is there any truth to that? Or am I ruled out for life?
