Herkloadie

Ah, it's no big deal. Got rescheduled for Monday the 22. Wish me luck! Who is the "Chief" I keep hearing referred to? Like...head honcho for the aircraft or what?? Any comments on the waiver? I've yet to get a copy of my flying-approved waiver. Thanks again :)

Well, the interview Tuesday got scratched because it wasn't a good day for "the Chief". :confused:

I see. Thanks. :)

I'm in on the group buy. Much better than some stupid corporate jet. Who wants to sit in a M.85 pringles can anyway? :p

Any reason as to why the MLG door looks like its over-extended?

As promised, a scan of my waiver is attached to this post. This waiver is for non-flying only. I guess I should ask for a copy of my flying waiver as well. I've blacked out non-essential and I've been told the area I highlighted with a red box is the actual "waiver". It's not solid yet, but my interview with the flight crew is slated for next Tuesday, the 16th. So here's my round of questions (you knew it was coming ) 1. What should I wear? 2. What should I be ready to answer? 3. Should I ask questions? I have already submitted my resume for review, and I can now boast about 7 months working the flightline here at Lahm. Singlepoint, overwing fueling, towing w/o a towbar, marshaling, aircraft radio communications, etc etc so I'm fairly proficient on the line. Will this be any factor? Thank you all again. I know I sound like a broken record, but I couldn't ask any more of you all. Alexander

Well, it looks as though my perseverance has paid off. I was informed today that AFRC/SG has approved my flying waiver...even without a return to MEPS to finish my class III that I started 5 months ago. :cool: I don't have the ability to type out a well thought, individual response to the latest posts, but I assure you all I read and considered them. I will still post a copy of my enlistment waiver when I get the chance. What a great day. Thank you all for your kind advice and input. Everything has been greatly appreciated. Next step? Get my interview with a flightcrew on base. Can't wait! Quick question for h2engineer: do you happen to know who was on the crew that went to the Cleveland Air Show this past year? Long story short...I was looking through the 910th herk that was the static display, and when I (finally) got to the cockpit, I had a conversation with who I think was the FE, but maybe could've been the loadie or nav. He's actually the one who gave me the business card for the Senior Recruiter after I was surprised to hear about open flightcrew slots. I'd like to maybe catch up with him. Nice guy.

Meeting with my recruiter went well. Made me feel much more at ease about the happenings. I was not-so-confident there for a while. 1. I have a solid copy of my waiver in my hands. Should I scan and post to have those-who-know-more look? Obviously all personal info will be blacked. 2. We discussed what would happen if I would be granted a flying waiver. I'd go back to MEPS to finish my flight physical, and...interview with the flight crew on base. :cool: I'd been looking forward to that interview for oh, five months now. 2a. Should I be granted flying status and accepted for the job, I can still get donked out at the physical inspections at Lackland, which brings us to 3a. 3. We discussed what options there are if I am not granted flying status. Turns out there's "Crew Chief Apprentice" (I think 2A5?) positions open as well, which would be my plan B, then get the operation under tri-care, and shoot for a cross-train later. She talks about "cross-training" later in my enlistment like it's no big deal. Since I've never talked about it with anyone else I have to ask: Is this true? She said I would be allowed to cross-train when I reach the "5" level in my position, which I can understand. 3a. In the long chance that I get flying status, but then get medically dq'd at Lackland, she said all they would do would be to ask me what class I'd like to change to. No big deal...right? I assume not but like before, I've never heard otherwise. I am willing to do what it takes to get me on the airplane. And after all, I think the crew chief slot would get me flying occasionally anyway, right? :cool: Thank you all so much for your encouragement and input. I truly appreciate everything. :D

'Scuse me as I pick up my jaw off the floor. Good lookin bird. :)

Oh, I see. I'd seen/heard of the Fulton before but never seen that view it. Thanks!

What are those bars stretched across the nose? And if that's a "delivery" why does the paint on the radome look botched?

Solid copy, sir. Thank you for the encouragement and advice. I will definitely send Archie a PM to get his local input on this. Who has a clue if any of this will work? Nobody, but if it does I know it'll be worth it. Alexander

Roger that. Got on the phone with the recruiter yesterday and have a meeting next Thursday to 1. submit my letter and 2. discuss the whole case. I haven't had a meeting with her since before MEPS so it may be a crucial time to do so. She was much, much more accommodating today. I inquired about the nature of my waiver, and asked if it would be necessary to get a "flying waiver" and she stated that's what we're shooting for right now. So now, I wait. Getting used to that. Thank you so incredibly much again. I definitely owe you and everyone helping some stories and pictures when I finally get on the mighty C-130. Alexander

Dan, Thank you so much for the reply. I've been practically begging my recruiter for any little opening I could possibly wiggle my way through. She's consistently been a "the board says this, and there's no chance getting them to think twice". It's almost like she doesn't care if I enlist, and if I do, she doesn't care if I'm flying. I guess I did already "play ball" with her in the respect that when she told me about maintenance jobs, I said "well, we might talk about that when every one of my resources are exhausted trying to get this one." AKA "Nope, not givin up yet, sweetheart." I really do appreciate your research on the medical standards for the Air Force! I've been poking around trying to find physical requirement documents, but me being new to this, don't have a clue what I'm looking for. Looking at DoD 61304 I found this: It seems that the DoD recognizes "vericocele" as "varicocele". Also, it seems like I've kinda been screwed at least as far as 61304 goes. My varicocele is not painful, and never has been. The 61304 is just physical requirements for enlistment right? Looking at AFI48-123 it does appear as if I'm legally in the red(?) Although, maybe somebody can explain how this works, because I don't understand. If I'm given a waiver for this condition, then how can they knock me from flying status? I thought the waiver was the golden ticket?? Is there a way to get a "waiver" for flying status at this point? I guess this is where I show my greenhorns... I'm fairly sure the fudge-packer (that description fits) at MEPS isn't the one giving me hell on my job, besides the nice "statement" he wrote for me. I thought that was pretty unfair, because I thought the point of my return to MEPS was to get kind of a "second opinion" but instead I got the first opinion, again, in writing. And he wrote the thing over a month after my exam! So how is that straight??!! I'm not exactly sure who granted my waiver. I guess I'll need to discuss that with my recruiter. She'll be surprised I'll have a little more knowledge on the workings of this than I did before. Keeping it short, I read and considered all of your numbered points. Very interesting thought on the hard copy of the waiver. I'll ask my recruiter for that as well. So far, it seems like I already have been pissing in somebodies corn flakes, the difficulty I'm having. It honestly feels like somebody upstream is trying to stop me from flying status at any cost. I'm surprised that the congressman talk is actually a good idea, but I trust your input. This brings an interesting facet because I just happen to have a relative who campaigned for our congressman. Does it matter if there's a (D) or an ® beside his name? :eek: See and this, the way I see the operation working, would probably be a condition that would be easy to get a waiver for. Only makes sense. :confused: Thank you again for your input. I'll get the recruiter on the phone and start reading 48-123 and its supplement...see what she thinks. Alexander

I apologize. I stepped out of line...desperation at its worst. Thank you for your advice. I will likely not seek any of the listed officials...although it doesn't seem right to me, I think you know more than I on this topic. I have already received a waiver for service. They granted me a waiver, and then requested more information on my vision to be considered for flying status, which was odd because I thought I had completed everything at MEPS. Looking back, it almost seems like they were stalling on me for some reason. So after I submitted the vision information, they pretty much entirely disregarded that, and told me I was not qualified to fly. I may be new to this, but it smells funny to me. :(

Deleted stupid comment.

Well, thank you sir. I wish the Air Force would realize this. They may have a different perspective on my potential enlistment. Looking back, the "monocular acuity" request seems to be that the board was 1. stalling on me and/or 2. trying to find other faults with me, so that they could build a more substantial case against me from flying. Pretty disgusting, as I know the Air Force of old wouldn't consider either. I've got the heart, desire, and ability to be an excellent flying member, so why not let me?! If you read that whole thing, you're a brave soul. And of course, I respectfully return your salute, sir. :)

First off, hello everybody! I've been lurking this site for a while, as I, as well as most of you, are addicted to "herk". I work/live near the 179th base in Mansfield, so I have the pleasure of hearing the mighty Hercules rumble over quite often. Man are we gonna miss those things. Now, the reason I am really here as a member so soon (as opposed to my return from tech school), is that I desperately need anyone's help who is willing and able. I am currently "in the process" of enlisting with the 910AW in Youngstown, hopefully as a loadmaster. I would be signed and at BMT already if it was up to me. Here's what happened: Late Sep 09: Went to MEPS, got dq'd altogether and a 3P in my PULHES on account of a left vericocele. I was devastated as I was thrilled about the prospect of being a loadmaster on the Herk. I passed all other tests, including color vision, depth perception, yada ya, and got a 93 on the ASVAB. Took 5 weeks, but finally early Nov 09, I received a call that I had received a waiver for my condition. Happiest I'd been in a long time. However, the Air Force requested a current exam for "monocular acuity" to be considered for flying status. I was confused because I thought I did this at MEPS, but "whatever it takes". No problem. Promptly went to the eye doc, and sent in my gleaming report. Add some more wait, and my recruiter informs me that I have been dq'd for flying service...on account of my condition. The original plan was to get me a date to go back to MEPS so they could take a further exam. I didn't really desire to go back, but "whatever it takes". Within a few days, I was informed that my MEPS doc (extremely let's say "mean") has "wrote a statement" on my condition and no return was needed. Needless to say, HQ AFRC said no flying until I'm surgically corrected, leaving me with two options: 1. Expensive surgery, or 2. enlist as a non-flyer, and "try" (no guarantees on acceptance for flight status, which worries me) to cross train later on down my enlistment. I went to a urologist, and explained my story thus far. He was astounded that the condition was of any concern to the military. An ultrasound was done on me, and after receiving the results, he wrote a lengthy letter to HQ AFRC basically stating that the condition in no way affects my ability to do anything, and he can hardly believed I'm being dq'd for such a minor thing. My recruiter forwarded that, and they basically disregarded my urologists letter, and requested more information on my condition's size. "Yeah we didn't really look at the letter, but give us some more stuff." This is in the works right now, but I'm fairly certain I will get dq'd as it isn't very small. So now I'm working on contingency plans. I've never been more taken off guard. I consider myself to be a well-kept and well-calculated individual in great shape. I was originally planning on getting a degree while enlisted, seeking a commission, and applying for a pilot slot. I'd now be thrilled to enlist as a 1A2. Now, I don't know if any of you know what a vericocele is, or if any of you have one. Sparing the details, it is an entirely benign condition that may or may not affect you. At it's worst, it can cause moderate pain and/or mild infertility, but I know for a fact I do not suffer from the former, and the latter is yet to be determined. To prove my physical well being (and I am really not trying to be conceited here; just stating my facts), I have just graduated high school in 09 with celebrated Cross Country and Track careers. I ran at Regionals (last step before state) all four years of high school, and individually qualified from Districts my sophomore year. My team won our first ever XC conference title with myself in the lead my junior year, placing third. We got second at districts, second at regionals, and went to state as a team our first time in school history. Later my junior year, I placed 7th at the Regional 3200m (2 mile) run. Not a big track guy. My senior XC season, we won our second ever team conference title in school history, me leading the way again, in first place, also our school's third ever individual conference title. We won our first district title, but bombed at regionals. Senior track wasn't much other than winning the 3200m at conference. Long story short, I believe I am a highly capable individual in excellent physical shape. My vericocele never ONCE affected me. Needless to say, I'm pretty well disappointed and haven't been in too great of a mood since. I deferred college this year on the premise that I would spend the spring and summer training, and I would resume school this fall. Talk about a wrench in the works. Now comes the decisions: Once I am (likely) dq'd from flying status, what should I do to fight it? I know it is "final" but I refuse to accept defeat. I could: 1. Enlist in Mx (or other, but at least Mx would put me with the planes, which is where I need to be) and then later cross train. My heart really isn't in Mx at all, and I tend not to do so well when my heart isn't in it, which I feel wouldn't be fair to the USAF or myself. I could be wrong on this count. My heart tells me to fly. Also, there is zero guarantees that I will receive flight status after being enlisted a year or two, which isn't exactly my idea of a good chance. 2. I've also considered trying to connect with the base commander, to see if there's anything he could possibly do. I do well in interviews and I'm confident if he has the power to get me qualified, he would feel no remorse doing so. I would be willing to show up for a UTA weekend and do PT to prove that I am not "limited". 3. Contact HQ AFRC directly. I don't think this is too great of an idea. 4. Contact General ________. I'm also not to hot on this one. Also, as a "side" (haven't told my recruiter) thing, I've been in touch with a retired AFRC KC-135 pilot, who I *just* (luckily) happened to run into at work one day. He's an incredibly nice guy, and is still a pilot for Chatauqua and an aero sports team. He's gotten some information on my case, and is gladly taking it to the medical folks he knows to see what they can do for me, if anything. If you've made it this far, thank you so much for listening. It's becoming a very long winded story, but my passions and desires keep me going. I have never been a quitter, and I'm not starting now. Any advice/assistance anyone can provide would be greatly appreciated. I mean that from the bottom of my heart, because like I said before, "my heart tells me to fly", and I don't see anywhere I would be happier. Once again I thank you all for listening. Sorry for the long post. Ever since the possibility came into view for me, being on the crew of a C-130 is all I've wanted to do, and I would be more than honored. Thank you, Alexander