Potential Pilot Qualified

[falconfamily]

Nor should you worry about rude commentary by a Class of 2016 Hopeful. Trust me. Vocabulary beyond middle school is a sign of maturity.

Vamom, bjschik! I miss you guys!

OK Morgan. I think your question has been basically answered, it means that on first pass with DODMERB you could be considered for a pilot program. But as others have already told you this means nothing until you are accepted and perform at a level that would justify the investment of developing you as a pilot. Typically there are more pilot qualified cadidates that are accepted for appointments than other categories of candidates.

Funny thing is that you can be appointed to the academy as simply commissioning qualified, because you do not meet some criteria for being a pilot. Very often this is eye sight - and as a cadet - if the Air Force deems it appropriate because of your performance at the academy, you might get your eyesight corrected and then become "pilot qualified". So while it is great to meet the requirements at the beginning to be considered for a flight program, you can still get there later if you prove your worth to the AF. FYI - under NO CIRCUMSTANCES do any corrective procedure on your eyes by yourself prior to admission to the academies. It might DQ you.

Best of luck to you!

 

[hunterjumper67]

2 things to remember:

1. DODMRB is for ALL MILITARY ACADEMIES. Not just the air force academy.
2. Like I mentioned previously, the air force academy looks to see if you are medically qualified to be in the Air Force. They will determine Pilot qualified later.

POTENTIALLY PILOT QUALIFIED. Is exactly that. "Potentially". And that is DODMRB. Whether or not the academy uses that information now really isn't important, as long as you are medically qualified to SERVE in the military. And there are NO JOBS/CAREER FIELDS open or closed to you in the air force academy based on any pre-academy physicals. What jobs/careers available to you after academy graduation will be determined once you're at the academy. Whether you can have corrective eye surgery will be determined AFTER you become a cadet. FWIW: Just because PRK is available doesn't mean a) That you'll be offered it.... and b) That it will successfully make you pilot qualified. But that's a whole other discussion.

If you have no medical conditions whatsoever; have nothing questionable on your DODMRB physical; and know that you have 20/20 vision; then there's a good chance you are pilot qualified. But like I said, the air force and the academy don't even look at that any longer until you're actually at the academy. Prior to that, they simply want you medically qualified to serve in the air force. And again; the DODMRB is not just for the air force. That is the same physical and medical eval that provides information to army, navy, coast guard, and merchant marine academies.

Yeah I know the reason we were asking was because of the Falcon Scholarship at this point in time. DD does want to be a pilot if the Academy deems her qualified, however the first priority now is to get in

 

[jetset15]

Does whatever DoDMERB label me as stick? I'm nav qualified, citing the fact that I'm not 20/20 (but no need for glasses/contacts) and I guess I'm sitting height under 34 inches? If I wanted to be considered for UPT, would USAFA re-do all this information?? Or am I destined for nav? (I'm not complaining, just curious)

 

[Christcorp]

Does whatever DoDMERB label me as stick? I'm nav qualified, citing the fact that I'm not 20/20 (but no need for glasses/contacts) and I guess I'm sitting height under 34 inches? If I wanted to be considered for UPT, would USAFA re-do all this information?? Or am I destined for nav? (I'm not complaining, just curious)

My understanding; at least for the air force and from what the academy has told me is; whether you ARE or AREN'T pilot qualified when becoming a cadet is not really relevant to actually becoming a pilot. You will be given another "PQ" physical once a cadet. That will determine if you're pilot qualified or not. And as always, there are waivers that can be submitted and possibly approved. I've seen individuals who are 20/20 with contacts who were deemed "Not Candidates" for PRK surgery on their eyes. They were given a waiver for UPT. So again; there's nothing to worry about, and definitely nothing you have control over, until you're actually a cadet. One thing at a time. I'm sure there isn't anyone that insists that they'll only go to the academy if they can be a pilot. So; make it to the academy first; do well academically and physically; then worry about the medical and physical qualifications for the careers that you'll choose. Best of luck. Mike....

 

[jetset15]

CC- I sent in my acceptance of appt yesterday!!! So no worries, being PPQ'd was not a determining factor in my choice to attend the Academy. Thank you for clarifying as much as you knew.

 

[Blackbird]

Christcorp, I may be missing something (most likely!) but DS's Dodmerb status states "Potential Pilot Qualified". Other folks posting on various sites have indicated Dodmerb status of "Potential Navigator Qualified" or "Qualified". So you are correct, it does not say Pilot or Navigator qualified but "Potential" pilot or navigator qualified. I hope I'm not confusing the issues as I sit here in Orlanda at hour 3 of an 8 hour layover!

I emailed Larry Mullen at DoDMERB to get to the bottom of this issue. Here is his response:

1. DODMERB, does not make a "potential pilot" determination.
2. USAFA Admissions does.
3. Qualified, means he is qualified for admission to USAFA

I responded by asking why some candidates were listed as PPQ or PNQ on the DoDMERB site. Here is his response to my response:

"When the website came back up, there were some erroneous fields displayed. We’re trying to correct it."​

I hope this provides everyone with crystal clear clarity on PPQ from a DoDMERB perspective anyway..

 

[Pima]

I kind of have a feeling of why the question?

I understand your goal may be to fly, BUT, you have 4 yrs in front of you, and if you want the AF, you want the AF. Even as a pilot you will not be known as Pilot Smith, you will be Lt/Capt/Major, etc. Smith. You wear the blues first.

The thing is people don't think about the statistical chances of flying that dream airframe, even as a PPQ.

Let's do the math.

1250 for this yr.

Expectation of graduates 1000.

That is 20% loss.

From that 1000 about 550 will get UPT.

That means 700 of you will not going UPT.

From that 550, approximately 10% will not graduate out of UPT

We are now down to 500, or 750 of you will not get winged, basically 60%, again 60% of incoming AFA will not get winged, if everyone wants to fly.

From there out of the 500 left, only 10% will get those dream jets, if that is your goal.

So if you are going in to fly that 22 or 35 or the 15, 15E, 16, your chances are is 1 out of 25. 50 out of 1250. That means a lot of people will not get that dream, but will be wearing the uniform.

Great to have the goal, great to have the dream, but ask yourself before you commit is it only for the best chance to fly? You need to say I want to wear the blues.

If so remember that there is no guarantee. Remember that to be a success in the AF for promotion you will step out of the jet. Remember the only reason IMPO to go down this path is to accept whatever they assign you to, if that means PA/CE/Maintenance you still go.

This path is incredibly long. You are 17/18 now, and even if you get every wish you will not be operational in the flying world until you are @24. A lot can happen in the next 7 yrs.

Keep your options open, keep your mind open. Don't close doors and don't plan your life away.

JMPO.

 

[aglages]

From there out of the 500 left, only 10% will get those dream jets, if that is your goal.

Only 10% of the UPT graduating class gets fighters? Anybody have a breakdown on what airframes the "average" UPT graduating class receives? Thanks.

 

[bsa07eagle]

That is a great breakdown PIMA, but I also want to encourage people to not give up on their dream planes. From what I saw with our firsties getting their AFSC's, all who wanted pilot got it, in fact, some of them who did not want pilot got it as well. Of course, I know nothing of UPT and how anything goes, but if you make it so far as to get into UPT you are as close to your dream as you ever will be. Remember, not everyone wants fighters. There are usually just as many people who want heavies as those who want fighters. So don't give up after you see those numbers up there. I know very little compared to PIMA (who has years of experience as well), but we are constantly discussing how few people get their dream plane. There are also many people who go on to do just as they dreamed all their life. The pilot AFSC is not nearly as competitive as many other AFSC's that I saw firsties fighting over.

Later,

Brian

 

[Pima]

I am just spouse, but honestly I would be shocked that an AD pilot would disagree.

Fighters are rare. It may not be 10%, but I highly doubt that they surpass 15%.

I am not exaggerating, I am being honest.

I was the wife who lived through LIFT, and RTU of a 2nd Lt. It is insane. I am thankful I was deaf, dumb and blind, however looking back now, I get the fact that when he was studying it wasn't an excuse to fold laundry with me as a newlywed.

I now get it was a make or break point. Seriously, UPT can only be seen as giving a dissertation for college.

PM Bullet about being the President of an FEB.

 

[Christcorp]

2 things:

1. 10% getting their "Dream Jet" doesn't mean only 10% get jets. Just might not be the F-22 or F-15 that you wanted. Or WHATEVER it is you wanted. And remember, not everyone wants jets.

2. Brian; I really doubt that someone who "Didn't want pilot" got it anyway. Pilot requires a 10 year commitment after academy graduation. The air force can not FORCE you to do a 10 year commitment. And I doubt very much that they are going to give you a pilot slot, go through all that training, and then let you get out of the air force about 3 years later.

 

[Stealth_81]

Only 10% of the UPT graduating class gets fighters? Anybody have a breakdown on what airframes the "average" UPT graduating class receives? Thanks.

It's really hard to say what an 'average' UPT class gets, since it is really variable depending on what the AF has available. It also changes over time, so what you see now might not be accurate in 3 years. A good example of this is the amount of UAV slots that classes have been getting. A year or two ago, nearly every class had 2 or 3 (sometimes 4) UPT grads getting UAV slots. Lately it is not uncommon for a class to get none. They still happen, but not nearly as frequently.

Remember, after the first 6 months of UPT you will get 'tracked' into your next trainer, dependent on how well you perform in the T-6. T-38s are for those destined for fighters/bombers. T-1s are for those who will go with heavies. T-44s for the C-130 people (although these are being phased out and C-130 pilots will come from the T-1 track), and the UH-1 for the helo pilots. Also, after training in your track aircraft, you can still get a heavy even if you tracked T-38s. However, it doesn't work the other way (that I have ever heard of). This is only accurate for training at Laughlin, Vance, or Columbus. At Sheppard, everyone does their third phase in T-38s.

In looking at recent classes, I would say that an 'average' track select would be 10 T-1s, 6 T-38s, 1 or 2 T-44s and 1 or 2 UH-1.

Because there is no good 'average' airframe drop, I'll just give you the last two that I've seen:

Vance AFB Class 10-12
3 - C-17s
2 - F-15Es
1 - B-1
1 - F-16C
1 - KC-10
1 - KC-135
1 - U-28
1 - RQ/MQ-1
1 - T-1 (FAIP)

Sheppard AFB Class 11-01
3 - F-16C
2 - U-28
1 - B-1
1 - F-15C
1 - B-52
1 - A-10
1 - C-130J
1 - T-38 (FAIP)


Stealth_81

 

[LodgeChief2011]

Ok, just got off the phone with DoDMERB. After looking at the reason why I was "Commission Qualified" instead of "Potential Pilot Qualified" (sitting height was less than 32 inches, which is clearly a mistake, because I am 6'4" and my sitting height is really 38 inches), it came to me to get this fixed. This is the reason why I am not being considered for the Falcon Foundation, and it really concerns me. Is it still possible to get this fixed in time to be considered? I would not want this mistake to hold me back from that!

Please advise me on what to do!

 

[falconfamily]

Ok, just got off the phone with DoDMERB. After looking at the reason why I was "Commission Qualified" instead of "Potential Pilot Qualified" (sitting height was less than 32 inches, which is clearly a mistake, because I am 6'4" and my sitting height is really 38 inches), it came to me to get this fixed. This is the reason why I am not being considered for the Falcon Foundation, and it really concerns me. Is it still possible to get this fixed in time to be considered? I would not want this mistake to hold me back from that!

Please advise me on what to do!

Same thing happened with my son. You can get your school nurse or health care provider to remeasure you. Standing and sitting. Have them sign and put on proper stationary. You can fax it to DODMERB. They will correct it in the system. Good Luck!

 

[LodgeChief2011]

Ok, thats what I am going to do! Is there still enough time to be considered for Falcon Foundation?

 

[falconfamily]

Ok, thats what I am going to do! Is there still enough time to be considered for Falcon Foundation?

You will have to ask your counselor about that. But get the correction first. Follow up with the DODMERB folks to make sure they have it in the system (they did it for us the first day they got it).

 

[Mateson]

Ok, just got off the phone with DoDMERB. After looking at the reason why I was "Commission Qualified" instead of "Potential Pilot Qualified" (sitting height was less than 32 inches, which is clearly a mistake, because I am 6'4" and my sitting height is really 38 inches), it came to me to get this fixed. This is the reason why I am not being considered for the Falcon Foundation, and it really concerns me. Is it still possible to get this fixed in time to be considered? I would not want this mistake to hold me back from that!

Please advise me on what to do!

My DS is in the same situation and we are hoping to get to the bottom of this and be re-considered at least for the Falcon scholarship. If you find out anything please share.

 

[LodgeChief2011]

Well, I will make sure to let you know anything that I find out!

Tomorrow, I am going to go in to the clinic to get ACCURATE sitting and standing measurements, and have them submit those ACCURATE measurements to DoDMERB, and hopefully they will be processed the same day, and my status will update to "PPQ." Once that happens, I will notify my admissions counselor of this correction. Hopefully they will consider me for Falcon. I have already been accepted to NWP, and if I dont get Falcon, I will enroll as a free agent.

Definitely talk to your DS about NWP (if you haven't already); from what I hear it is a great program for improving your SAT/ACT scores and preparing you physically to max out on your CFA! I am ecstatic about going there this upcoming semester, and believe it will be a great experience!

If you have any questions, feel free to PM me and I will try my best to answer them!

I hope everything works out!!!

LodgeChief2011

 

[LodgeChief2011]

My DoDMERB medical status changed to Potential Pilot Qualified today!!! Woooo!!!! Now I can be considered for the Falcon Scholarship!

To everyone else who had the same problem (they made a mistake on your physical), get new and accurate measurements (in my case) from your doctor (and have him sign the paper with those measurments), type up a memorandum to go with that paper, and fax it into DoDMERB, if you have any more questions, contact them.

I hope everything works out for yall.

-LodgeChief2011

 

[falconfamily]

My DoDMERB medical status changed to Potential Pilot Qualified today!!! Woooo!!!! Now I can be considered for the Falcon Scholarship!

To everyone else who had the same problem (they made a mistake on your physical), get new and accurate measurements (in my case) from your doctor (and have him sign the paper with those measurments), type up a memorandum to go with that paper, and fax it into DoDMERB, if you have any more questions, contact them.

I hope everything works out for yall.

-LodgeChief2011

Chief : Glad to hear it worked out for you! Those DODMERB folks do a great job!