ASVAB..PLC..Pilot..Bummed..

[hemiman]

Hello again Marines,

Title is kinda jumpy...and i dont really know what im asking so please bear with me..ill go in order.

ASVAB..well, practice asvab..Im currently a freshman in college, Like a "dumbie" I didnt give 100% in high school, so im "catching up" im currently trying to get accepted into the PLC Officer program, Ive went up twice to take the practice asvab..first time got a 62, second, 69..i did better, but still not sufficient...(74) im bummed, i feel stupid and embarrassed, Its the Math! it kills me! so i have the ASVAB for dummies and am doing my best to prepare for the next practice i will take in two weeks, then hopefully i can get scheduled to go to MEPS...Any advice you can give me?

(Sorry for that..just had to get it out)

Next, i heard theres a seperate test to get accepted into the aviation field? to fly? I'll tell you ive always wanted to fly...i know that alone isnt gonna "get" me to fly, I hear this text is really advanced...or in lamest terms, really HARD, especially with my lame math skills. Are there "Study guides" for this test to?

Last question, I dont have 20/20 vision, i know it can be to a certain degree, and was told about Lasik or another kind? one was accepted? If i went this route will it be paid for? I have astigmetism (sp?) is this any different to them compared to near//far sighted?

Thanks for your time, hope you can help my misguided rear!

[Vandrel]

All I can really advise you on is to improve your math as much as you can. I'm sure there are a few pilots on here, I have not seen any yet, but I'm sure they will tell you just as much as I will that pilots depend heavily on math. Depending on what type of pilot you end up becoming you may be required to coordinate with JTAC's on the ground which involves a lot of different things and can be very complicated. I am not trying to say that you cannot make it but if your math is very weak then the chances of you getting dropped from flight school is very likely. I've run into a handful of officers over the years that were flight school drops and most of them had issues with either vision or math and eventually found themselfs as supply officers or something else.

Point being, if being a pilot is your goal then you need to ensure you are not only 100% ready but 110% ready.

I highly suggest you start talking to the folks over at, http://www.airwarriors.com/forum/index.php?
You should be able to get answers for any kind of flight related question you could possibly have.

[Lisa 23]

Here's some info I found. I hope it helps.
Also, you may want to brush up on your sentence structure - capital letters at the beginning of sentences.
Also...what happened that you didn't leave on your shipdate of 1 June of this year? Are you no longer in the DEP?


ASVAB Scores Required for the Marine Corps
http://usmilitary.about.com/od/marines/l/blusmcasvab.htm

ABC's of the ASVAB
All About the Armed Forces Vocational Aptitude Battery
http://usmilitary.about.com/cs/joiningup/a/asvababcs.htm

Military Laser Eye Surgery Policy
http://usmilitary.about.com/od/theorderlyroom/l/bllasersurgery.htm

Becoming a Marine Corps Pilot/Navigator
Testing
http://usmilitary.about.com/od/marinejoin/ss/usmcpilot_6.htm



Vision Requirements to Become a Military Pilot/Navigator

Navy and Marine Corps

The Navy and the Marine Corps use the same standards (The Marines do not have their own medical department. They use the Navy for all medical procedures and standards). Navy Pilots must pass a Class I Flying Physical (http://www.nomi.med.navy.mil/Nami/WaiverGuideTopics/exams.htm). To become a pilot in the Navy or Marine Corps, an applicant's uncorrected vision can be no worse than 20/40 (correctable to 20/20) in each eye. Once flight training begins, vision can deteriorate to no worse than 20/100 (correctable to 20/20) in each eye. After flight training graduation, if the eyesite deteriorates worse than 20/200 (must be correctable to 20/20), the pilot will require a waiver for carrier operations. If the vision deteriorates past 20/400 (correctable to 20/20), the pilot is restricted to aircraft with dual controls (ie, aircraft with co-pilots).
For Navigators (called "NFOs" or "Navy Flight Officers"), there is no vision requirement to enter flight training. However, the Navigator's vision must be correctable to 20/20 and there are limits on refraction. Refraction must be less than or equal to plus or minus 8.00 sphere in any meridian and less than or equal to minus 3.00 cylinder. No more than 3.50 anisometropia. After flight training, to continue on flight status there is no limit on refraction for NFOs. No waivers are authorized for NFO applicants who exceed these refraction limits.
Normal color vision is required for both NFOs and pilots. Normal depth perception is required for pilots and pilot applicants. The Navy allows laser eye surgery, both for current pilots and NFOs, and for pilot/NFO applicants, if they apply for, and are accepted to participate in the Navy's on-going study about laser eye surgery for aviators.
http://usmilitary.about.com/cs/genjoin/a/pilotvision.htm

[Vandrel]

Also...what happened that you didn't leave on your shipdate of 1 June of this year? Are you no longer in the DEP?


I was actually going to ask the same thing when I saw that on the signature.

[hemiman]

I became a poolee in the DEP the last month of my junior year in HS. I was a 0300 Contract, through this time I came to the realization that I may have gotten ahead of myself and jumped the gun, Friends, etc. joined and encouraged me, as it was my dream too. It turned out to be too soon, and some other factors that played a role, now I have to sit down with a doctor at MEPS and tell him why wasnt totally honest on my medical records, I can only hope for the best, and I can only say at that point in time, I thought my recruiter was looking out for me. At 17 I didnt feel like I was in the position to tell my recruiter he was doing wrong. The Marines at the OSO office are helping me through this process and i feel 100% better about the situation. I can only hope everything goes well.

[Lisa 23]

So, then you're no longer in the DEP, correct? And are you currently in college being that you're talking to the OCO?

[hemiman]

Correct, I am no longer in the DEP. I cant seem to change the title under my SN. Yes I am a freshman in college.

EDIT. Sorry, my profile and my signature were not changed. Its been awhile since I have been on here.

[Lisa 23]

You'll have to get in-touch with a mod so they can change your status from Poolee to Marine Friend.
Best of luck to you with everything! :thumbup: