I assumed you were interested in FAA medicals because you wanted to transition eventually from a military pilot to the airlines or some sort of commercial flying. Others on this site can speak authoritatively about DoD screenings far more than me. I’ve never heard of anyone who needed to go through HIMS to fly GA aircraft. I don’t think that’s a thing.
Speaking only from a general aviation/commercial aviation prospective. I think you are over thinking this. Especially if these mistakes are all in the past. Best thing you can do if you want to pursue aviation (independent of or in concurrence with the military) is consult an AME and speak with a CFI. Also, organizations like EAA and AOPA offer members access to extremely knowledgeable experts who can assist in getting and maintaining your medical.
Apologies; Yes, that was intelligent and logical on your part. Regardless of my end goal as far as what aviation would likely look like for me in the civilian twilight of my life, yes, I would like to be capable of Class 1 Certificate civilian flying. To generate money flying as a civilian in any way that isn't CFI/CFII, you typically need a class 2, so I consider the potential of never or being unlikely to ever get at minimum class 2 to be a real tragedy. Obviously I can
probably get a class 2 or even class 1, there's just presumably a lot of drama to even have a shot at a class 2. Like I said, I got all that information about HIMS from an AME who is allegedly really good. I will continue to talk to him, although part of why I made this post was just to make sure he didn't say anything egregious that made ya'll take a double take. You always wanna attempt to fact-check people as best you can when you've got this much riding. I'll consider getting a second opinion too, assuming that's a normal thing to do. I'll look into the Experimental Aircraft Association and the AOPA, I didn't know there were generous people out there willing to do this.
Like I said earlier, to be a AirGuard/AirFR pilot, with the exception of lateral transfers (navy pilot, USCG pilot, Army pilot, or USMC pilot switching to AFR/AirG) you have to already have an FAA rating 99% of the time to get selected by the AirGuard or AirForceReserve unit leadership. I still heard mixed things about the USN/USMC SNA age ceiling, but I imagine I'm getting close to said ceiling. It may be 28th birthday. I also heard FAA pilot rating(s) helps with SNA in a minor way, and separately, I am concerned about trying to get a class 1 FAA certificate while a military pilot and having to leave work all the time to do rehab and the other shit the FAA requires. It sounds like a good way to get negative command action. Anyway, I'll do some more research, sounds like I'll be getting an FAA rating of some kind long before I can hope MEPS to let me in. You've all been really helpful, thanks for letting me bounce these ideas off you, it's really generous!!! I did recently get a traffic ticket for expired tags, so my days of being a bozo aren't completely behind me, but that's not a crime, thank god. No, I haven't had any tremendous bozo behavior since the week of my eighteenth birthday, and I enlisted shortly after that. No NJP or Courts Martial or 6105, thank god. Knock on wood
