Posted on Sep 1, 2020
Bill Davis
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I’ve always wanted to be a pilot; a friend of mine who’s a Chief is trying to talk me into the Air Force.

Here’s the dilemma:
I’m 21, no degree. So I’ll have to enlist and do college active duty which, if I’m correct will probably take a lot longer than 4 years (no?).
And my vision is crap. As in 20/350 uncorrected, which I know is disqualifying as is, but I’m hoping to get PRK in a couple years anyway.

So: enlist, degree, PRK, commission.

What are the actual chances that works and I get a pilot slot? Like for heavies; not even going to try for fighters.

I know it’s theoretically possible but I feel like it’s not realistic.
I’ve been given the impression that unless you go to the academy or at least did ROTC you’re not getting a slot.

Thank you for your input
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Responses: 19
Sgt Field Radio Operator
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Edited >1 y ago
Great advice has already been offered about talking to a recruiter. You are 21 years old. Have you taken any college classes and what do you do for a living? After I was discharged, I worked full time and went to school full time. I was at work, at school, studying, eating or sleeping. I obtained my degree in 5 years but I had no social life. The career that I wanted required a degree, so I worked hard. You can do the same. After you talk to a recruiter, sit down and establish a plan with goals. Plan, set goals, implement. Make course adjustments if needed.
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SSgt Investigative Analyst
SSgt (Join to see)
>1 y
Sergeant Hallock, I did that. Left AD and went to school full time. My wife was the breadwinner for the duration, so I was a student. It took every minute of four years to graduate. I spent all of my time on campus with my nose in a book.
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SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth
SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth
>1 y
Great answer brother Sgt (Join to see)
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SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth
SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth
>1 y
1SG Walter Craig - Done
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MSgt Aerospace Medical Technician
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Also for your PRK question. It has to be an approved Air Force facility.

WAIVER GUIDE Updated: Mar 2011 Supersedes Waiver Guide of Oct 2009 By: Col John Gooch (Chief, ACS Aerospace Ophthalmology), LtCol Michelle Aaron (Chief, Aerospace Vision Section), and Dr. Dan Van Syoc Waiver guide reviewed by the AF/SG Consultant for Ophthalmology, Refractive Surgery, Lt Col Charles Reilly. CONDITION: REFRACTIVE SURGERY (RS) I. Overview. Vision correction with spectacles and contact lenses poses some operational disadvantages, such as fogging, displacement, and potential equipment incompatibility. The AF approved RS to reduce dependence on traditional optical correction. This led to implementation the USAF Refractive Surgery (USAF-RS) program. The USAF-RS program has three management groups: (1) Trained aviation and aviation-related special duty (AASD) personnel, (2) Applicants to AASD, and (3) Warfighter personnel. This waiver guide provides program management directions for the first two groups. The USAF-RS program authorizes two primary categories of corneal refractive surgery (CRS) for eligible AF active duty and AF Reserve Component (ARC) members; Advanced Surface Ablation (ASA) and Intra-Stromal Ablation (ISA) procedures. Approved ASA procedures include: photorefractive keratectomy (PRK), epithelial-laser in-situ keratomileusis (epi-LASIK), and laser in-situ epithelial keratomileusis (LASEK). Approved ISA procedures include: standard laser in-situ keratomileusis (LASIK), All Laser LASIK (using a femtosecond laser for flap creation). Wave-Front-Guided (WFG) technology combined with ASA and ISA procedures are also approved and include WFG-PRK and WFG-LASIK. Some CRS techniques, such as radial keratotomy, thermokeratoplasty, and intra-corneal rings, are associated with less predictable outcomes and more post-treatment complications and are not authorized. Intra-ocular RS techniques, such as clear lens extraction and phakic lens implantation, are not authorized.
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MSgt Aerospace Medical Technician
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FYI I was prior Army for 11 years. Since joining the Air Force Reserves, I've never seen so many Enlisted members with Bachelors, Masters, and even Doctorates degrees. They choose to be Enlisted.

Depending on your job, I am a MedTech. All of our Officers are Nurses, surgeons, respiratory, anesthesiologist, etc. Different world from the Army
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