Potential Pilot Qualified

[GemStateMom]

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

Congratulations! Hope you qualify for the Falcon scholarship! Quick question - did the DoDMERB website state you are potential pilot qualified, or did you find out directly from DoDMERB? We had the opposite happen - when the DoDMERB site first came back up, it listed DS as potential pilot qualified, but now it does not...

And again, good luck!

 

[aglages]

We had the opposite happen - when the DoDMERB site first came back up, it listed DS as potential pilot qualified, but now it does not...

What is you son's current status if not "Pilot Qualified"?

 

[AVT]

I believe I had the same problem, status changed from "Potential Pilot Qualified" to "Qualified".
I called my admissions counselor and found out my status was Potential Pilot Qualified.

 

[GemStateMom]

Agency: US Air Force Academy
Cycle Year:2010
Current Medical Status: Qualified

I think I remember reading that the part about potential pilot qualified was not supposed to be showing up, so maybe they fixed it. Let's hope that is the case, and there wasn't really a status change!

 

[aglages]

I believe I had the same problem, status changed from "Potential Pilot Qualified" to "Qualified".
I called my admissions counselor and found out my status was Potential Pilot Qualified.

Same with my son. If you are going to attend the USAFA, I don't think it matters as long as you are qualified. Who actually is or isn't really Pilot Qualified will be decided in a couple of years.

 

[GemStateMom]

Same with my son. If you are going to attend the USAFA, I don't think it matters as long as you are qualified. Who actually is or isn't really Pilot Qualified will be decided in a couple of years.

Some of us here are still holding out a glimmer of hope for a scholarship, and I understand one must be potential pilot qualified to qualify. That is why the concern!

 

[vamom]

Also, I think one thing was a bit confusing with all of the posting regarding the status was what the online app says vs. the Dodmerb site. For DS, online app states
Dodmerb: Qualified
but on the actual Dodmerb site it reads:
Status: Potential Pilot Qualified

I think some posters were indicating that they were PPQ and others thought that they meant that their status on the APP stated PPQ.

As far as I can tell, no one's status on the APP stated PPQ.....the "PPQ" or "PNQ" were noted on the Dodmerb site (along with some whose Dodmerb was "Q" as well.

I don't know if I've helped to clear up or to confuse, but this is where I believe the initial confusion came from. I definitely could be wrong!

 

[aglages]

Some of us here are still holding out a glimmer of hope for a scholarship, and I understand one must be potential pilot qualified to qualify. That is why the concern!

So...whether DoDMERB (when it is actually working correctly) lists your son as "Pilot Qualified" or just "Qualified" will be a determining factor in whether your son receives a scholarship or not? Wow. I wonder if DoDMERB knows (or cares) that their classification matters to anyone. What does Larry say about this?

 

[vamom]

So...whether DoDMERB (when it is actually working correctly) lists your son as "Pilot Qualified" or just "Qualified" will be a determining factor in whether your son receives a scholarship or not? Wow. I wonder if DoDMERB knows (or cares) that their classification matters to anyone. What does Larry say about this?

Aglages, I (once again BIG DISCLAIMER) think that perhaps the PQ vs Q regarding scholarship may be an "urban myth" that gained wings, if you will. If you look on the Falcon Foundation website, it does not mention anything about PPQ....simply Q for USAFA. There may be more to the story and perhaps that is something that they don't necessarily put on their site but others "in the know" have shared that on the forum. But I have yet to see any validated info on the forum that confirms the PPQ vs Q issue regarding scholarship. Granted, its a big forum but I've tried to keep up! DS is not considering prep or Falcon so I don't have a dog in this fight.....I'm just making an observation based on my self-education these past few months. I think it would alleviate a LOT of angst among many posters if that question re: scholarships and Q VS PQ would be answered by a subject matter expert a la Mullen/Dodmerb. Just my thoughts!

 

[aglages]

I think it would alleviate a LOT of angst among many posters if that question re: scholarships and Q VS PQ would be answered by a subject matter expert a la Mullen/Dodmerb.

Couldn't agree more. I also don't have a "dog" in this fight but if I did I would certainly get an answer from DoDMERB and the Falcon Foundation about whether DoDMERBs here today gone tomorrow statuses actually have any affect on Falcon Scholarships.

 

[Karek]

Page 25 of the candidate booklet, the link on your USAFA application states to be considered for Falcon you must be "flying qualified".

Best of Luck to all!

 

[LodgeChief2011]

Congratulations! Hope you qualify for the Falcon scholarship! Quick question - did the DoDMERB website state you are potential pilot qualified, or did you find out directly from DoDMERB? We had the opposite happen - when the DoDMERB site first came back up, it listed DS as potential pilot qualified, but now it does not...

And again, good luck!

After I faxed in the paperwork this morning, it changed to PPQ this afternoon on the DoDMERB Website. As long as it does not say Commission Qualified, and gives reasons for being so (i.e. sitting height less than 33 inches), then yall should be fine!

Good luck to you too!

 

[aglages]

"flying qualified".

Another DoDMERB status?

 

[Stealth_81]

Aglages, I (once again BIG DISCLAIMER) think that perhaps the PQ vs Q regarding scholarship may be an "urban myth" that gained wings, if you will. If you look on the Falcon Foundation website, it does not mention anything about PPQ....simply Q for USAFA. There may be more to the story and perhaps that is something that they don't necessarily put on their site but others "in the know" have shared that on the forum. But I have yet to see any validated info on the forum that confirms the PPQ vs Q issue regarding scholarship. Granted, its a big forum but I've tried to keep up! DS is not considering prep or Falcon so I don't have a dog in this fight.....I'm just making an observation based on my self-education these past few months. I think it would alleviate a LOT of angst among many posters if that question re: scholarships and Q VS PQ would be answered by a subject matter expert a la Mullen/Dodmerb. Just my thoughts!

Not to feed the debate, since I have no one in this, but on the Falcon Foundation website there is this part from their history page:

Key elements of the Falcon Foundation program in 1982 were:

Scholarships were valued at $2,500

There were now only 35 scholarships with funding support (12 were funded in perpetuity).

Scholarship sponsor charges for annually funded scholarships were raised to $3,000 annually.

The Air Force Academy removed the limit of 45 scholarships.

The Academy expressed the desire to have all Falcon Scholars to be physically qualified to be pilots (the Air Force was seeking to have 70% of the Academy graduates qualified to be pilots).

The Foundation Trust Fund value stood at $1,306,387.

Now, granted that is from 1982, but I saw nothing else in their history chronicles that says that that is no longer the case.

Stealth_81

 

[Mattsmom2015]

Well if that's the case that takes my DS out. I just checked the Dod website and his eyes put him out. He is Qualified but not PPQ. Too bad since we understand the Academy will "fix" them if he is there and they want him to fly. Just add that to the list of disappointments this year.

 

[vamom]

Not to feed the debate, since I have no one in this, but on the Falcon Foundation website there is this part from their history page:

Key elements of the Falcon Foundation program in 1982 were:

Scholarships were valued at $2,500

There were now only 35 scholarships with funding support (12 were funded in perpetuity).

Scholarship sponsor charges for annually funded scholarships were raised to $3,000 annually.

The Air Force Academy removed the limit of 45 scholarships.

The Academy expressed the desire to have all Falcon Scholars to be physically qualified to be pilots (the Air Force was seeking to have 70% of the Academy graduates qualified to be pilots).

The Foundation Trust Fund value stood at $1,306,387.

Now, granted that is from 1982, but I saw nothing else in their history chronicles that says that that is no longer the case.

Stealth_81

I can now see why so many posters were concerned about the PPQ status...I missed this "history page" when I looked at the Falcon Foundation site. And my understanding is that the Falcon Foundation gives the AFA "proxy" to recommend those who they (AFA) feel should receive the FS. So if this historical info still holds today, that is significant info for those hoping to receive a FS.

 

[Christcorp]

Mattsmom: A little info. The PRK surgery that the academy allows cadets to have, is not a guarantee.

1. It's available to most all cadets. Not just those who want to be pilots.
2. You have to be medically reviewed prior, and APPROVED. Your eyes can actually be TOO GOOD or TOO BAD to have the surgery, and then you simply can not have it.
3. Even if you do receive the surgery, there is no guarantee that it will improve your eyesight to the point of making you pilot qualified. Matter of fact; besides the normal weekly, then monthly, then quarterly checkup; you'll have a full medical exam at the one year mark to determine if you are pilot qualified for your eye.

In other words, it's not some magic procedure where anyone who doesn't have 20/20 vision is miraculously "Healed". In other words, there's no guarantee that the academy would have approved his PRK surgery, or that they could "Fix" his vision to the point of being pilot qualified. I personally know a couple of individuals where it improved their eye sight immensely, but they still weren't pilot qualified. Then again; they weren't trying to be pilots, so they were ok with it. I also know individuals that weren't allowed the procedure either because of the severity of their vision. Best of luck. mike....

 

[Falcon15]

Page 25 of the candidate booklet, the link on your USAFA application states to be considered for Falcon you must be "flying qualified".

Best of Luck to all!

Thank you for finding that information! I knew I read it somewhere last year but had been unable to find it now.

 

[Mattsmom2015]

Mattsmom: A little info. The PRK surgery that the academy allows cadets to have, is not a guarantee.

1. It's available to most all cadets. Not just those who want to be pilots.
2. You have to be medically reviewed prior, and APPROVED. Your eyes can actually be TOO GOOD or TOO BAD to have the surgery, and then you simply can not have it.
3. Even if you do receive the surgery, there is no guarantee that it will improve your eyesight to the point of making you pilot qualified. Matter of fact; besides the normal weekly, then monthly, then quarterly checkup; you'll have a full medical exam at the one year mark to determine if you are pilot qualified for your eye.

In other words, it's not some magic procedure where anyone who doesn't have 20/20 vision is miraculously "Healed". In other words, there's no guarantee that the academy would have approved his PRK surgery, or that they could "Fix" his vision to the point of being pilot qualified. I personally know a couple of individuals where it improved their eye sight immensely, but they still weren't pilot qualified. Then again; they weren't trying to be pilots, so they were ok with it. I also know individuals that weren't allowed the procedure either because of the severity of their vision. Best of luck. mike....

I totally understand that it is not guaranteed. My point was that he is totally out of the possibility of the scholarship because of his eyesight. His dad never entered the Air Force because he knew his eyes were bad and he would not be able to fly. He had them corrected and it was very helpful. Fortunately DS's eyes are not as bad as his dad but still out of the running for pilot at this point. Dad still wears glasses so I understand that you may not be perfect after surgery, we were just hoping for the option.

 

[Christcorp]

I totally understand that it is not guaranteed. My point was that he is totally out of the possibility of the scholarship because of his eyesight. His dad never entered the Air Force because he knew his eyes were bad and he would not be able to fly. He had them corrected and it was very helpful. Fortunately DS's eyes are not as bad as his dad but still out of the running for pilot at this point. Dad still wears glasses so I understand that you may not be perfect after surgery, we were just hoping for the option.

Well, if he goes to college, enrolls into ROTC; "Even without a scholarship"; then reapplies to the academy, he may get accepted. THEN, once at the academy, he'll possibly have the opportunity to have PRK surgery, and maybe his dreams of flight status won't necessarily be ended. Don't totally give up. Just means that he isn't PQ for prep. Doesn't mean he still can't reapply to the academy. While I can't promise a person will get an appointment; I can promise you that if he keeps applying and pursuing his dream, that things will work out for the best for him. But if he quits because he thinks he doesn't have a chance, then he'll never feel complete. His Pilot opportunities are completely over.