Flight Physical

I hate writing negative things about the process here, because it makes it seem more real.

But in the interest of full disclosure, I will.

I went to my flight physical in Ohio this past weekend. It was yesterday at Wright Patterson Air Force Base.

It didn't exactly start off on the greatest note. I began at the dental office. They took x-rays, and then I had an actual mouth exam by a dentist. Now, the dentist who examined me told me that he was very new. Just started, really. So he found these things called "incipient cavities". A LARGE part of my family are dentists, and they said that there is no need to fill incipient cavities. Apparently, if one improves their brushing and flossing, they go away.

Well, I told him I'd get them fixed, so I needed to figure out how to get that info back to him. He said, "I'm not completely sure, let me ask my supervisor". The supervisor comes, looks at my teeth, and essentially says something to the effect of "I wish you hadn't written it in pen because I wouldn't bother with these".

At least it's something I can fix.

Next came Urinalysis and blood drawing. Everything was fine with that. Then, I got a chest x-ray. No problems with that either. I also got an EKG. Totally fine.

I had my eyes checked in a very similar way to my initial Medical Physical, and also had colour tests for Red, Blue, and Green.

I got measured seated, standing, and reaching up (for ejection seats in airplanes)

I met with the doctor, and he seemed totally fine with my general health. He DID tell me a slightly unfortunate piece of news: If your eyes are bad, they need to be 20/70 or less. They also need to be correctable to 20/20. My eyes are 20/100 and 20/200, so they fall outside of that. The only way that I could be a pilot is to go in as a Combat Systems Officer and try to switch before flight school, or get a waiver. A waiver is essentially a doctors report from Wright-Patterson with the specifics of the medical ailment, and request that it be waived and I become a pilot with that ailment.

The doctor said, "I can't guarantee they will grant you a waiver. It depends on the needs of the Air Force and how many other qualified candidates they have." In other words, do they take me, or an applicant that has no problems?

I decided I'd apply for the waiver. Why not. The only problem is that it apparently takes about a month or two, which would put me in Officer Training MAYBE in February, more likely in April.

Then I had lunch, and when I came back, I went to Optometry/Opthalmology. They dilated my eyes (fun) and while I was waiting, I got my ears tested. I didn't pass the hearing test. Well, my right ear passed. My left ear didn't.

The Sargent who was my liaison at Wright Patterson basically told me that pilot and combat systems officer were out, and all that was left that I could do was Air Battle Manager or Drone Pilot. First of all, I am super against drone piloting. I do not want to sit in a room and fly a plane from that room. No. I don't like playing video games, so why would I like flying drones? ABM...I wouldn't mind doing. But I'm not going to just give up and settle for that without exhausting all my options for becoming a pilot or even a CSO. It is apparently a teeny tiny almost non-existent possibility that I will be granted a waiver for my hearing, but I'm going to try.

It would help if I knew a flight doctor at ANY base that could help me out, so I'm going to try to find a contact. Apparently, the way the waiver is written can have a pretty large impact on the decision. I also, unfortunately, have to get an MRI to submit with my waiver. Fun.

Devastated doesn't even begin to describe it.

Crossfit

About a month ago I started doing crossfit.

Long story short, it's essentially weight lifting and circuit training.
I always was skeptical because I didn't want to look like this:

Although, during my trip to Israel, I realised that I looked like this:

 I've sadly come to realize that I will have "big" arms. I just want to do it efficiently and MINIMALLY.

My friend who made me my initial weight workout (and who gave me the above arms) recommended Cross Fit as a good training device. I like it so far! I stopped lifting as much as I was before because of the annoyingly bulky arms that are displayed above.

It's hard to describe everything that happens in a crossfit class/workout but it's not just weight lifting, it's also cardio and a bit of gymnastics. As a former diver, I LOVE the gymnastics part. There are rings, there are ropes, there are handstand pushups, and there is jump rope. A big crossfit thing is doing "double unders" which are two passes of the jump rope underneath your feet.

I've been abstaining from running recently, and the 3 main crossfit cardio methods are running, jump rope, and rowing. I choose jump rope every chance I get. I even dreamt about it the other day. In reality, I can do a bunch of singles and then a double under. Then another couple of singles and another double under. I've found it's really tough on my arms, not my legs. Yes, I have to lift my feet a LITTLE more, but it's the strength in the arms to continually get the rope to double under that is the really exhausting thing.

Anyway. An example of a work out is: 200 single jumps, 30 crunches, and 15 pushups.

Four rounds.

After I did this workout, and hence doing 800 single jumps, I felt it. Not to mention I felt it in my abs and triceps. I was exhausted, sweating, had jelly arms....and I loved it. If I wasn't joining Air Force, I probably would not do it. I'm more of a cardio girl than I am a weight girl. But, I know that I have standards to meet for Air Force that purely cardio will not cover. Crossfit is a fun, challenging way to get myself there.

The coach/teacher also knows my story and is delighted to help me get there. Also, this was the first place I ever got a "military discount". I didn't have any paperwork, and it was just my word, but the coach was super nice and just gave me a military discount without me even asking.

Me doing pullups (assisted) in the greenish blue tank.

No words

I got an automated call yesterday from Wright Patterson Air Force base confirming my physical for the 13th of November.


My recruiter told me it was the 19th.

It's a long weekend so the soonest anyone (me) can do anything about it is Tuesday the 13th of November at 7:30am.

I was right

Here's the deal:

The original recruiter I was working with got fired.
The recruiter who took his place HAS NEVER DONE OFFICER CANDIDATES BEFORE.

He did really well with enlisteds (18, 19, 20 yr olds) so they threw him into Ohio to deal with the mess my original recruiter left behind.

Instead of asking questions, he tried to figure out everything on his own.
I feel kind of bad for him, but at the same time, I wish he TOLD me what happened...

There were so many emotions I experienced after I found this out, I can't even begin to describe it.

Honestly, I am a MUCH more difficult candidate than enlisteds - I've lived, worked, and studied abroad, traveled A LOT, and have all sorts of different references and unusual family circumstances. No wonder he couldn't wrap his head around it.

I went into the Boston MEPS (Military Entrance Processing Station) yesterday and nearly cried with relief. I started by asking them if this was the first time my recruiter in Ohio was doing this. As you read above, they said
"Yes, you are definitely right."
It was the first time I dealt with competent people who really truly helped me and knew what to do.

I had two wonderful Sargents who stayed hours past their work days to make SURE my security clearance paperwork went through. I'm not even going to get into the disaster that was the security clearance. Suffice to say, the software needs a MAJOR upgrade, and there should be a way to allow APPLICANTS to fill in the electronic paperwork. Either way, this is what I finally got to do:

1) Sign off on my security clearance paperwork. It took 9 hours, 5:30am to 2:30pm, to finally get it signed. It was submitted and resubmitted about 15 times.

2) Get fingerprinted.

3) Do a medical check in (easy)

4) Swear In! It was so nice to FINALLY be able to voice/establish some commitment to my employer for the next 13 years.
It went like this:

I, (NAME), do solemnly swear that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; and that I will obey the orders of the President of the United States and the orders of the officers appointed over me, according to regulations and the Uniform Code of Military Justice. So help me God

It finally felt real, which was also helped by...

5) Getting a contract. Now, this is KIND of tricky, because technically, I need to do my flight physical before I get a real, bona fide, pilot trainee contract. Remember, there is a chance that I would get  bumped to Combat Systems Officer if they find something during the flight physical that they don't like. But basically, my contract has me as an Air Force reservist, pay level E-5, with a 8 year commitment (4 yrs. active duty, 4 yrs. reserve). It will change when I pass the flight physical, so it's just a formality, but it feels SO GOOD to FINALLY have SOMETHING in writing.

So guess what? I have one thing left to do: Pass my flight physical, which according to my recruiter, is still scheduled for the 19th of November. I'm so incredibly happy.

Final piece of good news: I was given the number of a recruiter here in the Boston area that I can ask questions to. No more dealing with clueless individuals. What a relief.

I mean, really??

Those of you who are close to me, meaning those who see me almost daily, know that I am perpetually frustrated with my recruiter. I don't want to keep bashing him on this blog, but at the same time, I hope that maybe someone else who is going through this process (and is as frustrated as I am) finds this blog and maybe takes solace.

I've decided that this is probably my recruiters first time ever doing this. I mean, this is the first time he has rated [flight position] officer candidates that he needs to get to Officer Training School. I don't know this for a fact, but his lack of knowledge about....everything led me to this conclusion.

I essentially scheduled myself for the TBAS. I had to find out about requirements for my flight physical by myself. It has been almost two months since I got in, and I heard nothing about going into MEPS to sign off on my security clearance paperwork.

Maybe there is some great mystery that I don't know about, but I filled out the paperwork in January, before I even moved back to Boston. He has it. I know it's there. There have been some minor changes, but nothing crazy. I thought to myself,

"If I'm just going in to sign some paperwork that says 'Yes. Call these people so that you can find out about me' then what is the big deal?"

I felt kind of bad going over his head, but I called Boston MEPS last week and spoke to the Air Force liaison. It went something like this:

Me: Hi, I need to come in and sign off on my security clearance paperwork so that I can get it rolling
Them: Hang on. Your recruiter should be doing this. When did you get your acceptance?
Me: September
Them: It really shouldn't be taking that long. Have your recruiter call me directly.

So I did. And I got an email about half an hour later that said 'As long as you give Boston 72 hours notice you can go in to sign the paperwork.'

?!?!?

If I had known that all it took was 72 hours notice, I would have done this in September. So I asked if I could do it in a week from (this was Wednesday last week), and apparently I can go in Wednesday of this week...

I would LOVE to put in all sorts of personal opinions about this in writing, but I won't. Mostly because I am reading this:

and it says "Good officers strive to develop...effective leadership, impartial justice, and wise and fair attitudes in every way."

So I won't add my partial, biased opinions on this matter. I'm sure you can guess what they are.

Costly

Glen's Falls, NY

So,
I wrote a while back how I was scared of talking to the tower. Mike took me flying in the "ring of fire" which is Bedford to Beverly to Manchester to Fitchburg to Bedford. It SUCKED. Every one of those airports is "controlled" which meant I had to tune into the ATIS, get the information, and TALK. I was a nervous wreck... I didn't want to do my long cross country by myself. I had done my short cross country at Keene, which wasn't bad at all because I just puttered around by myself in the air, I didn't have to talk to anyone, and the airport was uncontrolled, so I just announced myself what I was doing. And if I didn't, no big deal. I could see everything perfectly so it's not like I was going to crash.

My long cross country will inevitably involve doing a stop and go at a class C airport. Class C's include Hartford international, Providence International, Albany International, Manchester International....Basically any large-ish airport that isn't Boston or New York. Boston and New York are class B and even busier (they probably wouldn't let me come in for a landing, they're so busy). It's a little daunting to be sitting on the runway at a "real" airport. You can see the terminals and big jets waiting for passengers, and then there's me in my teeny Tomahawk.

Planes waiting at terminals in Germany

I wish I could have taken a picture but when I went to Manchester, there was a line of commercial jets waiting to take off. I'm sure you've seen it on TV or when you're waiting to take off at an airport. It was awesome and frightening to see this line of jets, told to "hold short" for me, just so that I could "touch and go" (land and take off again).

It kind of looks like this:

Hello, big jets...

Mike wanted to send my on my long cross country solo, but I really didn't feel ready yet. So, I asked if he could come with me on another one. He said yes, but only if I plan it and surprise him. So I did. I found out that I couldn't go north (my original plan was to nip up to Maine somewhere) because Obama was campaigning in New Hampshire. No matter, I thought. I will go to Martha's Vineyard. I always extol the awesomeness of flying by citing the quickness of a trip to Martha's Vineyard. Though I'd never done it before, I knew that it only took about 45 minutes to an hour to get down there. By car, it probably takes about 4 hours.

It was a beautiful day yesterday, so the flight was gorgeous. I wasn't as afraid to talk to the tower, partly because I had stressed out about it so much that there wasn't much more stressing to do. :)

On my way back, I had us stop at Providence International to practice a stop and go at a class C airport. I'm still so nervous (that's the perfectionist in me talking) but I think I can handle a long cross country by myself.

Bedford to Martha's Vineyard to Providence, R.I., to Bedford took a total of 2.6 hours of flying time. That's insane when you compare it to driving that distance. Anyway. it is also insane how much it costs to do it with Mike. When I fly with Mike it costs me $160 an hour. I substitute teach now (no more waitressing). I make about $10 an hour. People ask me why I haven't got my private pilot license yet and that's why. It's just a ridiculous amount of money (for me). Even though I live at home with my mom and don't have to pay many living expenses, it still takes a while for me to save that much. Subbing is not a guaranteed, every day kind of thing.

I've debated going into debt for this, because I REALLY want my license before I go to Officer Training School, but at the same time, I don't want to be racking up insane amounts of interest that I can't pay off.

I don't know what to do, but I know that when I do my long cross country, I will be going to Glen's Falls (that's right on the MA/NY border), then doing a stop and go at Albany International *gulp* then back home to Bedford.

Eyes

I didn't want to apply for a pilot slot because I thought that since I didn't have 20/20, 20/15 vision, I'd not get in.

I found out that if you have crappy vision, the air force will fix it, as long as it's correctible to 20/20 (mine is).

I mentioned that Hanscom had an "old" and "new" system. I never told Hanscom that I was going to Ohio for my flight physical. So, they called me yesterday (Thursday, 10.18) and asked for my email address so that they could send me the specifications of what I'd need to do to get my flight physical.

I could have said, "Oh no, I'm taking the flight physical in Ohio".

But I didn't. I wanted to see what I'd have to do to take it at Hanscom. Well. I got an email today with the list of things that I'd have to schedule. There was also an "introductory" letter.

I read the letter and what struck me was this sentence:

"Soft contact lens wearers shall remove their contacts 30 days prior to their flight physical" and then later on "the optometrist will cancel your appointment if you haven't done this. THEY CAN TELL"

Today is October 19. I literally have EXACTLY 30 days until my flight physical. I wear soft contact lenses. If I hadn't gotten that email today, my trip to Ohio would be completely wasted. I can't afford the flight to Ohio, so I'm relying on family for help. How AWFUL would it be if I took the flight and essentially WASTED the physical because I didn't know about the glasses?

My recruiter never told me about the glasses. Once I found out about it (today) I emailed my recruiter saying that I just got information from the flight physical at Hanscom that I can't wear contacts 30 days prior to my flight class I examination. If he had any other candidates going on the 19th, he might want to notify them TODAY about the contact lens thing.

He said
"Hi Ma'am,
Thanks so much for the email and letting me know about the contacts. I'm sorry, but flight medicine never told me about that."

Oy. I mean, I feel like this process should be way more transparent and streamlined?  No?