The Doctor is in! Ask a Flight Surgeon!

[Flash]

NFO applicants have no min for their uncorrected vision.

Au contraire, mon frère. There are indeed limits for NFO applicants, not for winged guys though.

Refractive Limits: Manifest refraction must not exceed +/-8.00 diopters in any meridian (sum of sphere and cylinder) with astigmatism no greater than -3.00 diopters. Refraction must be recorded in minus cylinder format. Must have no more than 3.50 diopters of anisometropia in any meridian.

 

[Mouselovr]

Au contraire, mon frère. There are indeed limits for NFO applicants, not for winged guys though.

Refractive Limits: Manifest refraction must not exceed +/-8.00 diopters in any meridian (sum of sphere and cylinder) with astigmatism no greater than -3.00 diopters. Refraction must be recorded in minus cylinder format. Must have no more than 3.50 diopters of anisometropia in any meridian.

Let me clarify my wording,
Yes, there are limits concerning eye anatomy/shape, but there are no applicant NFO uncorrected vision limits. OP stated his diopter measurements were within limits.
________________
DVA uncorr No Limit
w/ corr 20/20
________________
NVA uncorr None
w/ corr 20/20

p26 1.21 APPLICANT CHECKLIST
https://www.med.navy.mil/Portals/62/Documents/NMFSC/NMOTC/NAMI/ARWG/Waiver Guide/AWRG COMPLETE_231227.pdf

 

[WookieMonster]

Hope this is the right forum, looking for some advice. I’m currently in last week of OCS as an SNA, no orders and not medically cleared. My stuff was sent to NAMI and then they asked for more info related to my mental health history. Basically, I took Zoloft starting at 13 and then switched SSRIs to lexapro at 15 and then Wellbutrin at 18 and then off meds entirely at 22 (23) now. I’ve had the prescription gone for over a year now, and I was never actually even taking the meds in college, i just didn’t want to change my prescription because i had an FAA special issuance. I have no hospitalizations, a bit of counseling on and off, no self harm or attempts ever. The therapy was something my parents signed me up for when they divorced. I just got all the way through OCS and the flight surgeon never seemed worried, I was really surprised they’re asking more info. Where do I start? Am I likely DQ?

 

[FiveSevenK9]

Not DQ yet if they’re asking for more info. I had classmates clear with mental health history as long as treatments were over a year old case by case. Others got diagnosed with ADHD which dq’d them. Good luck, hope for the best for you.

 

[emutoez]

I’m not sure if this is the right forum to ask, but I recently sustained a stress fracture during the last two weeks of OCS. I was still allowed to commission and am scheduled to report to Pensacola as planned.

Do you happen to know what the waiver process looks like once at Pensacola? I’m concerned about whether this injury might disqualify me during the initial medical screening after check-in. I’d really appreciate any insight into what I might expect, as it’s been difficult to find information; especially since it seems uncommon for people to report with an existing stress fracture.

 

[Mouselovr]

I’m not sure if this is the right forum to ask, but I recently sustained a stress fracture during the last two weeks of OCS. I was still allowed to commission and am scheduled to report to Pensacola as planned.

Were you green-light by NAMI at OCS? I'm assuming so since you stated you commissioned on time and are heading to Pcola.
Stress fractures heal.
If you're still symptomatic ie its affecting your ability to walk/run ect when checking into Pcola, let the docs know. They'll give you a downchit until you're better.

I don't see any specific guidance with respect to "stress fractures" in the waiver guide, so I can't provide anything concrete in writing. However, stress fractures are a common injury.

I wouldn't be worried

 

[Framer]

How long is a pre-commissioning flight physical good for? My clinic on base wants me to practically do the whole Class I (I'm currently enlisted). I'm just wondering.

 

[CaptAverage]

hi, I can’t seem to get a straight answer anywhere.

I am applying for SNA (the Sept. 2025 OCS board) and was told at MEPS that my vision is just outside of SNA vision requirements and that I should seriously consider lasik. 20/40 left eye and 20/50 right eye. Since I wasn’t flat out DQd at MEPS, can I get lasik now while going through the OCS application process? I understand that it’ll dq me from flight training for 6months but at the rate everything is going anyway, that won’t be a problem.

My question is will getting lasik now, before the OCS board, dq me from selection altogether or will I still be considered even though I am recovering from lasik and will by OCS date be fully recovered with perfect 20/20 vision?

Thanks in advance yall!

 

[FormerRecruitingGuru]

hi, I can’t seem to get a straight answer anywhere.

I am applying for SNA (the Sept. 2025 OCS board) and was told at MEPS that my vision is just outside of SNA vision requirements and that I should seriously consider lasik. 20/40 left eye and 20/50 right eye. Since I wasn’t flat out DQd at MEPS, can I get lasik now while going through the OCS application process? I understand that it’ll dq me from flight training for 6months but at the rate everything is going anyway, that won’t be a problem.

My question is will getting lasik now, before the OCS board, dq me from selection altogether or will I still be considered even though I am recovering from lasik and will by OCS date be fully recovered with perfect 20/20 vision?

Thanks in advance yall!

I’m confused: Did you already receive an N33 letter saying you are qualified for aviation? If not, that is step 1.

You must be medically qualified for the specific program/s before you can even apply.

 

[CaptAverage]

I’m confused: Did you already receive an N33 letter saying you are qualified for aviation? If not, that is step 1.

You must be medically qualified for the specific program/s before you can even apply.

I have not heard anything back from MEPS and my recruiter hasn’t mentioned anything.

Will I even be “cleared for aviation” if my vision isn’t 20/20 uncorrected? It is correctable to 20/20 (with glasses).

 

[exNavyOffRec]

I have not heard anything back from MEPS and my recruiter hasn’t mentioned anything.

Will I even be “cleared for aviation” if my vision isn’t 20/20 uncorrected? It is correctable to 20/20 (with glasses).

The second line @FormerRecruitingGuru wrote is your answer, if you don't meet the requirements you won't be cleared, if you aren't cleared you can't go to board.

 

[Mouselovr]

hi, I can’t seem to get a straight answer anywhere.

This is the right forum for this. Just read back a couple of pages, and it has everything you could ask for.

20/40 uncorrected is an absolute min bar for SNA. 20/20 is the min corrected.
If you get lasik, you’ll be temporarily DQed for 6 months. After that, you go back to MEPs, they give you a waiver and you’re now qualified as pilot and to submit an SNA package to go to OCS.

It’s a very common practice.

 

[DBM]

This is the right forum for this. Just read back a couple of pages, and it has everything you could ask for.

20/40 uncorrected is an absolute min bar for SNA. 20/20 is the min corrected.
If you get lasik, you’ll be temporarily DQed for 6 months. After that, you go back to MEPs, they give you a waiver and you’re now qualified as pilot and to submit an SNA package to go to OCS.

It’s a very common practice.

I have 20/40 in both eyes. Assuming that they don't find anything that would DQ me, is it as simple as getting glasses? I am correctable to 20/20 as well.

 

[Mouselovr]

I have 20/40 in both eyes. Assuming that they don't find anything that would DQ me, is it as simple as getting glasses? I am correctable to 20/20 as well.

They'll issue you glasses when you check into Pensacola. You'll have to wear corrective lenses (glasses or contacts) when you fly. Simple as that.

You can also get LASIK once in service while waiting to class up. Couple of friends did it while waiting for NIFE as they were on the edge of SNA mins and didn't want to wear glasses.
Pro tip. If the frames you initially select are uncomfortable in the flight helmet, go back to optometry at the clinic on Pensacola. They can order you more pairs with different frame shapes. Flight helmets are tight.

 

[DBM]

They'll issue you glasses when you check into Pensacola. You'll have to wear corrective lenses (glasses or contacts) when you fly. Simple as that.

You can also get LASIK once in service while waiting to class up. Couple of friends did it while waiting for NIFE as they were on the edge of SNA mins and didn't want to wear glasses.
Pro tip. If the frames you initially select are uncomfortable in the flight helmet, go back to optometry at the clinic on Pensacola. They can order you more pairs with different frame shapes. Flight helmets are tight.

Thank you for helping me understand the process. I appreciate it.