Gentlemen,
My situation is a little complex so bear with me here. I started off as a Marine OCC-Air Candidate and therefore I completed a flight physical at Beaufort MCAS prior to attending OCS. My contract was cancelled about a month after getting my flight physical done due to the whole 'no air contracts until FY11 deal'. I'm 25 so I obviously didn't have time to wait around. I applied with the Navy and was picked up in March for SNA/NFO. Instead of doing a MEPS physical, my recruiter opted to submit my Marine Corps Flight Physical with my PRK waiver documentation.
I thought this would be no problem since I was already cleared for Marine SNA and the waiver was granted, but this has become quite the issue. I spoke to my recruiter (An NC1 since the LT is no longer in the office) about a month after submitting my medical information and he said that we were waiting on my medical to come back for NFO(?) which raised an immediate concern for me. The recruiter then informed me that BUMED, or whoever is in charge of my waiver, had DQ'd me for pilot due to my pre-operative cylinder number (astigmatism). I called BUMED and chased answering machines until a Lt Cmdr called me back who informed me of the same thing, more or less. The NAMI waiver guide states the following:
Applicants:
1.May obtain PRK at their expense from civilian sources of care.
2.Pre-operative refractive error measured under cycloplegia must not exceed - 8.00 to + 3.00 (SE) and 3.00 diopters of cylinder.
3.Anisometropia should not exceed 3.50 diopters (using SE for each eye).
4.SNA applicants must meet refractive, cycloplegic, and vision standards postoperatively.
My pre-operative prescription is as follows:
OD
SPH = -1.75
CYL = -2.00 x 165 (axis)
OS
SPH = -2.00
CYL = -2.25 x 007 (axis)
I had the PRK 3x due to complications, but the above pre-op prescription was the worst that I had and this is what they're saying has DQ'd me. All of my paperwork, and what I see from the waiver guide, says that they have no reason to DQ me for SNA. I also meet the post-op requirements. Is there something I'm missing here?
The Lt Cmdr suggested pretty heavily that I speak with my recruiter about this, but the guys in the office have been relatively complacent about it and haven't been very pro-active, if at all, about getting this straightened out. She also suggested that I could get this straightened out at OCS and get re-designated from NFO to Pilot if I'm really qualified (not so sure I believe this). Any suggestions on who I should deal with to help straighten this out or what may be the problem here?
Thank You in advance.
My situation is a little complex so bear with me here. I started off as a Marine OCC-Air Candidate and therefore I completed a flight physical at Beaufort MCAS prior to attending OCS. My contract was cancelled about a month after getting my flight physical done due to the whole 'no air contracts until FY11 deal'. I'm 25 so I obviously didn't have time to wait around. I applied with the Navy and was picked up in March for SNA/NFO. Instead of doing a MEPS physical, my recruiter opted to submit my Marine Corps Flight Physical with my PRK waiver documentation.
I thought this would be no problem since I was already cleared for Marine SNA and the waiver was granted, but this has become quite the issue. I spoke to my recruiter (An NC1 since the LT is no longer in the office) about a month after submitting my medical information and he said that we were waiting on my medical to come back for NFO(?) which raised an immediate concern for me. The recruiter then informed me that BUMED, or whoever is in charge of my waiver, had DQ'd me for pilot due to my pre-operative cylinder number (astigmatism). I called BUMED and chased answering machines until a Lt Cmdr called me back who informed me of the same thing, more or less. The NAMI waiver guide states the following:
Applicants:
1.May obtain PRK at their expense from civilian sources of care.
2.Pre-operative refractive error measured under cycloplegia must not exceed - 8.00 to + 3.00 (SE) and 3.00 diopters of cylinder.
3.Anisometropia should not exceed 3.50 diopters (using SE for each eye).
4.SNA applicants must meet refractive, cycloplegic, and vision standards postoperatively.
My pre-operative prescription is as follows:
OD
SPH = -1.75
CYL = -2.00 x 165 (axis)
OS
SPH = -2.00
CYL = -2.25 x 007 (axis)
I had the PRK 3x due to complications, but the above pre-op prescription was the worst that I had and this is what they're saying has DQ'd me. All of my paperwork, and what I see from the waiver guide, says that they have no reason to DQ me for SNA. I also meet the post-op requirements. Is there something I'm missing here?
The Lt Cmdr suggested pretty heavily that I speak with my recruiter about this, but the guys in the office have been relatively complacent about it and haven't been very pro-active, if at all, about getting this straightened out. She also suggested that I could get this straightened out at OCS and get re-designated from NFO to Pilot if I'm really qualified (not so sure I believe this). Any suggestions on who I should deal with to help straighten this out or what may be the problem here?
Thank You in advance.
