The Flight Surgeon Is Not Your Friend

[Hugh Jorgan]

I leave for Navy OCS very soon and I'm sweating the "Nami-Whami". I guess it's one of those things that is out of your control.

Far from the truth. I was sweating the vision back when I knew I was going to be in front of those folks. I did something about it....went to a civlian, learned a lot about my eyes and that my vision could be improved without surgery. I also learned a lot about how best to prepare for a vision test...ie. getting plenty of rest and a good nutrition prior to the test, etc. Anyway, my point is that just like a backround check, you should go see a civilian doctor long before the NAMI folks start fondling your private parts so that you may know what sort of things they might find. If you find some "trouble spots" early on, you can correct them and go into that whami-zone feeling confident that you'll get the up-chit.

Freight Dog,
I guess I now know where I'll be getting my physicals now that Doc Scaff is retiring!

 

[BWatz]

Hugh,
Thanks for the advice. I work for an eye doc (part-time), and get exams all the time. I've got 20-15 vision, and I'm still sweating the physical. I'm in great physical shape with perfect vision, but I'm still worried. I've heard to many horror stories. I've hit the Dentist, Optometrist, and Physician this week so hopefully there won't be any surprises. Either way I'm not looking forward to "the finger". BTW, thanks to all the Navy guys on the board who helped me along the way.

 

[Future SNA]

I just had my physical done over in Meridian, all I can say is "Doc" the Flight Surgeon down there is a hell of a nice guy.

 

[BWatz]

Patmack18,

I appreciate the tip. I did not think about the tired part. I can see how that would mess up your vision. I assume once you pass that physical you are good to go.(atleast I hope) I've been running my @ss off so hopefully it will soften the "kick in the balls" that I am about to experience. Thanks again. Congrats on that jet slot!

 

[rjl2001]

the only flight surgeon i've seen was coast guard, and he was a good guy. he told me I could go see a different optometrist since my test up there was borderline. the navy optometrist though i didn't especially like. he gave me a depth perception test and was saying i must have trouble driving with such bad depth perception and playing sports, much less flying. i have 20/15 vision and i have no trouble with depth perception flying in the civilian world. anyway, i just went to an opthometrist today who was a USAFA graduate, he made it clear i can never fly in the military.

off-topic with this question but, do all the government agencies like ICE, Border Patrol, ATF, etc. use military flight physicals for their pilots or do they go with FAA flight physicals?

 

[potrack]

The two differences between Military Flight Docs and Civilian ones are:

1. The Military doc, if they find a problem, will take the opinion: "You're grounded until proven healthy"

2. The civilian company, since they paid for you need you on the line getting revenue, so they will bend over backward to get you cleared or pursue waivers for you....do all they can to keep you flying. Union medical folks help with that too.

....pilot I know is grounded in Navy but still flies commercial..............

go figure.

also...............Military flight docs are usually young, inexperienced or just not that good.

 

[46Driver]

Watz... one of the biggest things that gets guys at NAMI in OCS is the fact that... you go for your physical at 6am, on the first morning. You're groggy and delerious. I about had to get into a yelling match with the HM2 and Commander that said my eyes suck, when in fact I had a 1st class FAA medical and know that I've got perfect vision. So my advice to you is this (and do it!)... about 2 weeks prior to OCS get yourself in the routine of going to bed at 2200 SHARP and waking up at 0430... NO NAPS DURING THE DAY. Sleep deprivation is the biggest moral killer at OCS and the hardest thing to get used to. If you can have your body on the cycle already.. the rest is just a pain in the ass.

One thing I can add to this is what the docs briefed us on "Circadian Rhythms" concerning sleep cycles. If you are going to nap, no more than 30 minutes - or - make it at least 2 hours. If you stay within 30 minutes, your body gets light sleep - once you go to an hour, your body goes into deep sleep (I think they call it REM sleep.). That's the reason if you wake up 1 hour after you have fallen asleep you feel very groggy. By two hours you have cycled back up to the same plateau as you were at 30 minutes. Hope this helps.