Skeptical

R

Reese329

New Member
Joined
Mar 6, 2018
Messages
3
Hello everyone,
I am new to the site and was hoping someone could share some insight into commissioning. My son is a freshman (4th year) at VMI. His goal is to be a Marine pilot. He has taken and passed his ASTB as a senior in H.S. with above average scores and they are going to contract him next week. The part I am concerned about is his vision as a pilot. They want to get him contracted ASAP but as ground instead of air. They want him to pass OCS first, then get vision correction, and then switch his contract to air. This is what makes me a little skeptical. Should I be concerned that they will not honor the switch from ground to air or am I over reacting? Thanks for any help.
 
Reese329 said:
Hello everyone,
I am new to the site and was hoping someone could share some insight into commissioning. My son is a freshman (4th year) at VMI. His goal is to be a Marine pilot. He has taken and passed his ASTB as a senior in H.S. with above average scores and they are going to contract him next week. The part I am concerned about is his vision as a pilot. They want to get him contracted ASAP but as ground instead of air. They want him to pass OCS first, then get vision correction, and then switch his contract to air. This is what makes me a little skeptical. Should I be concerned that they will not honor the switch from ground to air or am I over reacting? Thanks for any help.
Click to expand...

What's the time line? Can he get PRK over spring break? DS was in similar situation vis a vis Army Aviation. He was unable to get it done with enough recovery time.

He abandoned aviation, but he gets cut tomorrow.
 
Yes, he has plenty of time for recovery. He is only a freshman and will go to OCS this summer. He will then have three years to have surgery and recover. My only concern was contracting as ground first versus air. Why not contract air and then if it does not happen then he is not somewhere he did not intend to be.
 
Sorry I can't help, but your solution seems to be what we would try to execute.

All I know is that the Military (at least, the Army) requires PRK and the recovery time is relatively long. Recovery time means actual medical recovery plus time for them to evaluate the longer term outcome. If for one reason or another he couldn't qualify because of eye issues, better to have hopes dashed sooner than later.

Just put my DW on a plane to Biloxi to take care of him during his 5 days of no driving.

Best of luck to your DS!

BTW The title and placement of your post give no hint as to the nature of your question. Qualified posters, of which I am not one, maybe passing over your inquiry.
 
It is true that he can go to Air from a Ground contract. I believe he’d compete for it during TBS. But your skepticism is justified, once he signs a ground contract, he may never see the inside of a cockpit. If he signs an Air contract, flight training is guaranteed given that he meets standards.
 
Also, air contract may not be for aviator (pilot), but could also be for NFO.
 
I believe the competition was all but over. They were contracting him as air but because he failed the eye exam which was the last qualifier, they said they could not give an air contract. As I said he is only a freshman but when they saw his ASTB score they wanted him to contract immediately they are doing it ground. I ask my son what was the rush, he said they wont leave him alone. They want him contracted ASAP. I don't know? I was not in the military so I have no idea about any of this.
 
I mean they have manpower needs to meet, so if he’s well qualified and they want him then they’ll take him however they can get him. If he doesn’t qual air, than that means ground. He can go get surgery to qualify (potentially) for an air contract. If he wants to do that he shouldn’t sign a ground contract. But in the time it takes to get qualified, any contract (air or ground) may be gone (for the time being). Of course since he’s a 4th He has time for slots to open again.
 
If he wants to fly then don’t sign the ground contract unless he would be happy to have a ground MOS. It has traditionally been easier to get an air contract for the USMC than ground. He would need to talk to the OSO and even if there is a local MOI he could talk to about the ease of changing to an air contract. Don’t sign something unless he is ready to execute the contract he signs even if stats show an upgrade is favorable.
 
Agree with Hoops. There is no rush to contract ground and there is no reason DS can't be firm with them, unless there is an NROTC scholarship involved. There may be issues with age regarding surgery. As I recall USNA doesn't do this until their junior year as their eyes are still changing. PIMA might be able to tell you more about this.

Keep in mind that all they guarantee is an aviation slot at school. One can still wash out, and end up going ground even with the aviation contract. In the Corps you should always be prepared to do any job, because you may not get your first choice, second choice etc.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top