It is myunderstanding that if one wants to apply to the CRO or STO selection board you have to wait one year from the date of surgery to even submit a package? Could you submit a package pending a waiver or will that just void your package? The application says that a complete and approved USAF Flying Class III physical is required prior to assignment for CRO training. So can you send in a Phase I application with an incomplete FC III?

Good question. Have you called the functional POC yet?

Moxie, PM me I can tell you more.

You have to wait until 12 months after PRK before applying for aviation/special duty. Undergraduate pilot training candidates can apply as soon as 3 months after surgery...all others must wait a year.

PRK does not gurantee a waiver from the AF...therefore, it does not make sense to send you to Phase II and waste AF money until the waiver is approved.

Big Jim: If you have info share it instead doing a PM...that is the purpose of this site.

Apologies TE.

Moxie - I cannot speak to CRO, as my experience has only been with the STO selection process. I originally applied for spring 06, not having had the suregery. My vision was horrible, and I did not have a complete FCIII. I was invited and went to Phase II, but not selected.

I reapplied for fall 06, having had PRK in June. I included my eye charts from the doc in my package, and again attended PII but not selected. I have reapplied again for spring 07, and I don't forsee any issues.

Bottomline (as explained to me by the cadre): If they want you, they will select you for PII, and if they still want you after PII, they will work with you, the docs and everyone else to get you into the career field, PRK or no PRK. But having it makes things MUCH easier.

Good input.

Just remember, there is no gurantee of a waiver for PRK...even if the cadre work with you...so, as Big Jim says and as recommended...much easier if you have PRK AND the waiver before applying.

The policy hasn't changed, but I think STO/CRO should get their policy in writing (like the UPT) where-by candidates can apply for a waiver after 3 months...this may be what their doing now, but I could not find it in writing.

TE:

I am already an active duty flyer who had PRK done back in August, and ACC approved my waiver in December. I will be gone for the better part of next year, but the FSO is willing to give me jump/dive physical when I get back. Does he also need to submit a separate PRK waiver to AETC as well at the 12 month point?

EDIT: I am referring to PJ/CCT and not STO/CRO.

Yes since this is for High Altitude Parachuting/Dive/SOF qualification, not just as a normal flyer (not exposed to high cabin altitude pressures).

You also need to keep up with all the required check-ups.

Hey fellas its been a while since I last checked these forums out so thanks for the inputs on the PRK issue. It has been more than 1 year for me so I should be good to go with my application.

In talking with my recruiter (I am civilian status, not cross training) he is telling me that I can apply for waiver after 3 months, and is looking at a post-op check up form when doing so. He states that the furthest check up is 3 months out, and once this is done I can begin applying for the waiver. I looked at the form on the documents section of the website, and see that it goes out to a year (which I assume is why you have to wait a year after PRK to apply for the waiver?) Is he looking at the wrong form, or has there been a recent change not reflected on the website?

I also tried consulting this link:

http://www.brooks.af.mil/web/consult_service/opto_sect/html/prk/policies.htm

But it looks like it has gone dead.

Also, in looking at past PRK threads, it seems like you are hesitant to recommend PRK to persons not meeting the minimum vision waiver. I assume this is due to the fact that you may not get a waiver even after having the surgery performed. Is this correct?

From the most current waiver guide:

For an applicant to aviation and aviation-related special duty (AASD), the individual must meet pre-refractive surgery (RS) clinical criteria and documentation of such must be provided. All pre-operative, intra-operative and post-operative documentation must be forward to the USAF-RS Registry (documentation attached in AIMWTS meets this requirement).

At a minimum the individual must be 12 months post-RS for waiver consideration. US Air Force Academy (USAFA) cadets must be treated at the USAFA Laser Center for PRK (ASA) and at WHMC for LASIK (ISA).

Non-active duty pilot applicants (civilians, ROTC) must pursue RS at their own expense and follow-up by civilian providers. They will be evaluated at the ACS at the time of medical flight screening (MFS) to determine if they meet waiver criteria. Active duty pilot applicants will also be evaluated at the ACS during MFS.

Current policy on refractive surgery is here:

http://airforcemedicine.afms.mil/idc/gro...name=CTB_071180

I'll update the site links when able.

You are correct in that not everyone who has PRK gets a waiver...most do, some don't...nothing is guaranteed.

TE-

Thank you for the quick reply. It looks like I need to do some more research on the best way to approach this.

This is a confusing area...LASIK is now authorized also.

So, to clarify here -

Applicants for Pararescue fall under AASD, correct? LASIK and PRK are both waiverable as of this letter?

I see that this was fairly recent, so I'm assuming no one has any idea on which is more likely to be waived?

I think my question slipped away here, so I'll repost it.

I'm unable to meet the eyesight requirements without surgery. I've got an appointment scheduled to meet with a doctor to discuss my options, and wanted to be certain that I'm not misreading the latest policy letter - LASIK and PRK are both potentially waiverable assuming all requirements are met for applicants to PJ/CCT?

Correct. As to which is more likely to be waiverable...correct again. Your best bet is to do the research on the procedures, the risks, etc...and do what you feel best in consultation with the eye surgeon.

Thank you very much, TE. I spoke with the doctor today, and he recommended I get PRK anyways because of potential complications I may have much later on in life.

Thank you for this thread! It answered all my questions.

I'm going to revive this question again, since new information might have come out that I did not see.

I'm a current ROTC cadet that is thinking about getting PRK since that would make CRO training easier since I wouldnt have to worry about glasses/contacts.

TE, is it still the policy that you should wait 1 year to send in your phase 1 Application if you've had PRK? If thats so, it might be difficult since I'd have to get it now to be able to be acceptable to phase 2 next year (junior year). Any other information would be appreciated.

You should contact the CRO functional directly, getting PRK asap would be advisable because you will have reviews at 6months and 1 year for a waiver for flying class 3 physical, but exceptions to policy on the IFC 3 are sometimes made for phase 2 selection

Or...you could simply wear glasses (assuming you're correctable to 20/20) and then get priority for PRK as an operator...it's up to you.

And yes, the wait is still a year for PRK.

ok. I've already done the class 3 flight physical for when I had to get it done for Freefall this past june. I'll probably just end up sucking it up and doing Phase 2 with glasses and then getting it after.

I was planning on getting it next summer, but nevermind.

Sorry to bring this post back up, but I have a question as to timeframe. It's already been covered that you have to have 12 months post-surgery to possibly be granted a FCIII with a waiver. Is there a waiver to be able to do it at 11.5 months? I had my surgery in late January and want to be able to submit my Phase I application for the January board. Will I be able to get what I need to submit package or am I stuck waiting until the July board?