Military

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AS201

Well-Known Member
Hey Doc,
Not sure if you can answer this or not, but if you get DQ for a medical by the FAA, can you still be able to join the military? Are their medical standards as high or higher?
Thank you!
 
You should probaly talk to a local recruiter for whatever branch you want to enter. But if you cant pass a FAA medical and want to fly in the military I'm going to venture a guess and say their medicals are at least a stringent as the FAAs if not tougher.
 
Military flight physicals are significantly more thorough and stringent than class 2 or class 3 FAA physicals. Can't speak to a 1st class, as I haven't had one yet, but I'd venture a guess that the mil physical is at least as stringent, if not more. For the USN side, you do vision screening (20/40 correctable to 20/20 with no color blindness or significant astigmatism or glaucoma), blood work, EKG, hearing test, anthro measurements (body size stuff), X-rays (especially if you have a history of allergies or sinus issues), as well as a few other odds and ends. If the FAA isn't letting you fly, suffice to say that the military won't be either, though there are waiver processes available in each realm, and I don't know specifically what is holding you up, so I guess that would depend.
 
Thanks guys for your replys! Im just looking into different options for a career that I would like. Thanks
 
AS201 said:
Hey Doc,
Not sure if you can answer this or not, but if you get DQ for a medical by the FAA, can you still be able to join the military? Are their medical standards as high or higher?
Thank you!
Click to expand...
You never mentioned flying for the military, just joining the military. What are you thinking of doing in the military? Thinking of going in as an officer or enlisted?

The requirements between the different branches are not completely uniform, as some are pickier than others about different things. The physical at MEPS is pretty thorough, but some stuff is waiverable.
 
Well, I was planning either the army for infantry, or a pilot in the army. What do you think?
 
I have never had a physical as thorough as the one I had at NAMI (Naval Aerospace Medical Institute) in Pensacola, FL. All prospective Naval Aviators were (are still?) required to go through this in order to qualify to start flight training. As AMG alluded to it is possible to get waivers for certain conditions but I don't have any info about what they are or how this works. NAMI looks at Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard candidates. I don't know anything about Air Force or Army.

My FAA Class I physicals pale in comparison...


Kevin
 
Ok thanks guys. Im pretty sure that Ill get an FAA medical and am not worried about it, I just like to get a backup plan.
Thanks :)
 
AS201 said:
Well, I was planning either the army for infantry, or a pilot in the army. What do you think?
Click to expand...
Those were my top two as well. I wanted to fly, but I wear corrective lenses, so guess which one I went to. Since the FAA DQ'd you, you might be in a similar situation I was in.

While the Infantry totally rocked for me, I would have been a pilot without hesitation if I would have had an opportunity.

I'm not signing your contract or serving your military commitment though, nor is anybody else, you are. You'll have to decide "what do you think" for yourself.
 
staplegun said:
I have never had a physical as thorough as the one I had at NAMI (Naval Aerospace Medical Institute) in Pensacola, FL. All prospective Naval Aviators were (are still?) required to go through this in order to qualify to start flight training. As AMG alluded to it is possible to get waivers for certain conditions but I don't have any info about what they are or how this works. NAMI looks at Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard candidates. I don't know anything about Air Force or Army.

My FAA Class I physicals pale in comparison...


Kevin
Click to expand...

Affirm, all SNA's and SNFO's still roll through NAMI before classing up for API. Hardest flight physical I've ever had, and the only one in 5 years of getting mil flight physicals where I have tested worse than 20/20. Must be something in the water :)
 
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