Had to google your condition, wasn't familiar with it. First off don't stop trying until you have multiple answers of No... A lot of military members, pilots, flight docs, etc may not be familiar with the exact regs for the FC1 for your condition. Your job is to now become 100% aquatinted with the Flight Class 1 reg, and AFI, so you can defend yourself/ show your hiring board it might not be an issue.
A couple things without researching your condition in the AFI:
There is a difference between a waiver for someone that has wings, and one that doesn't, you can guess which is easier to get a waiver for.
Most hiring boards are looking for someone that doesn't require waivers, why you ask? Well no waivers means easy accession. I had 3 waivers total when hired, so it is doable...
Go make friends/ connections at the units you are interested in... Go rush the unit like a frat/sorority, make them want to stick their neck out to get you to UPT because you will be an asset.
I had two of my waivers already written by my guard Flt Doc before I showed up to Brooks(now Wright Patt), also my civilian AME was the ex Flt Surgeon for the whole state, talk about lucky... he was able to write a background summary for the waiver that was presented to the Flt doc at Brooks...
You mentioned CSO, research FC1, FC2, FC3, CSO I believe needs a FC2, Loads get a FC3. If you are serious about serving your country consider any of those options, you will be aircrew and love it even if you aren't sitting at the rounded end, and you can't log it in your logbook.
For contacting the recruiter, bypass the traditional Enlisted recruiter, you need to first speak, and become "friends" with the Pilot/CSO/Load recruiter. Don't sell yourself short on first contact show them why you are worth it to them vesting time in you to get a slot.
If you go to a traditional recruiter they most likely won't know anything about the waiver process for FC1, so they may say it's not doable, again why it's important to school yourself and contact the right people.
Hope that helps...
Kaudbron,
Thank you for the response, it's nice to see optimism for a change. When I first started looking into flying I got discouraged right away because I was listening to unknowledgeable people that were telling me that I'd never fly because of my eyesight. Looking at where I am now I wish I had gotten other opinions before I decided to pursue another career. Only to then decide that I wasn't going to listen to those people and figure out a way myself. I would have most likely been a little farther ahead in my flight training than I am now...
I'm still trying to get familiar with the AFI and the Flight Class 1 reg and hopefully I'm on the right track.
I found a waiver guide my condition is listed on page 235 which states,
http://www.wpafb.af.mil/shared/media/document/AFD-130118-045.pdf
"Although some defects in stereoscopic vision may be ameliorated with correction of the visual
abnormality, individuals with corrected childhood amblyopia (by eye patching and/or strabismus
surgery) still exhibit a high prevalence of reduced depth perception capability. History of
strabismus surgery generally results in fluctuating exam results and variable levels of stereopsis
which are prone to decompensate in the aerospace environment. These individuals will not be
favorably considered for a waiver to enter aviation training."
Favorably is not a NO and it also highlights the fact that I wont be at the top of the list, which means I still have a chance.
Depth Perception Waiver Test and Approved Limits
"The USAF utilizes the VTA-DP, or its newer replacement, the Optec 2300 (OVT-DP), for
assessment of depth perception in aviators.
Passing this test requires the ability to discern depth
based on a disparity of at least 25 seconds of arc (line D), although the test is capable of scoring as
low as 15 seconds of arc (line F). The limit of human stereopsis capability is around 5 seconds of
arc. The Verhoeff test, measured intermediate stereopsis test, is no longer authorized as a screening
test for USAF aircrew. The AO Vectograph and Howard-Dolman tests are other distant stereopsis
that are available, and are utilized by the Aeromedical Consultation Service (ACS) to determine the
waiver potential for substandard stereopsis cases. The AO Vectograph is an approved low cost
alternate test to monitor stability of stereopsis performance in defective depth perception waiver
cases.
Test Passing Scores
OVT-DP and VTA-DP Line D, E or F
AO Vectograph 4/4 (60 arc secs); in some cases after ACS evaluation
3/4 (120 arc secs)"