Air Force Nurse - Hearing Question

just_cause, BSN, RN · Oct 14, 2008

MEPS is "military entrance processing station" and all sevices USCG, USN, USAF, USA all go through...

Look up the regs yourself, my suggestion, and piece it together. Recruiters are 'generally' good natured but I would want to have the info myself - as you are the most concerned.

What you generally do is go through MEPS..if you are disqualified THEN a waiver package is submitted...the regulations will show the guidelines for what is and what is not waiverable and what is required.

If the board finds everything "ok" aside from the H3 I would 'suspect' they reply with 'submit a waiver' so you can proceed OR submit a waiver and if it's ok then re-apply.

TonyLaws · Oct 14, 2008

Anyone else have any information for this question? I'd love to hear from some other Air Force Nurse Officers.

just_cause, BSN, RN · Oct 14, 2008

Tony,

I know on your first posting of this you wanted a reply from an AIR FORCE officer - but please relook my reply and search for some information prior to posting your duplicate thread.

I believe the information I provided you should put you on the right track... you can look into it yourself - LOOK at the regulations - here are some more specifics so you can follow up.

The information is derived from

Army Regulation 40-501

, Chapter 2.

Military Entrance Processing Station (MEPS) Regulation 40-1

, paragraph 5-1b(1) directs the use of Army Regulation 40-501, Chapter 2 for medical qualifications for all branches of the Armed Forces (including the Coast Guard). The information in Army Regulation 40-501, is derived directly from Department of Defense (DOD) Directive 6130.3

You can find this with a quick google search. Yes MEPS does processing for all branches. You do not do waviers PRIOR to MEPS - the waiver process is based on regulation...and after MEPS identifies the problem. There are certain dis-qualifiers that prevent you from accessing into the service...which are often more stringent then those that retain you into the service.

If you have any specific questions post them on this thread... and I'd be happy to help - we don't need a 3rd :)

TonyLaws · Oct 14, 2008

just_cause

1. yes , i did want an answer from an air force officer.

2. i know that waivers are not done prior to meps. if you read you will notice that i said that i have been through meps and my hearing was a h3. i have been through meps and my interview process. my packet is sitting waiting for a air force board to review.

my recruiter whom i assume knows more than either you or i on this process went ahead and submitted me with my hearing being at a h3 (meps result).

i would assume that i would need a waiver for hearing, so why was i submitted without it? does the waiver process for medical officers take place after you are accepted for commission?

i served as a enlisted member for 4 years, so i'm familiar with the meps process. i'm not familiar with medical officer process.

now if you want answer my question please do.

just_cause, BSN, RN · Oct 14, 2008

If you search HEARING in the AR reg I pasted above you will the limitations / requirements.... or for any ailment.

That being said you would not be commissioned or accepted to sign a packet if you didnt' get a waiver prior - for a condition requiring a waiver.

Look at the REG for hearing... based on what that says you can see if it's not an issue, a DQ, or a P-DQ. The reg contains the information for the waiver as well. Being prior service we both know that all info is in the REGs and it just requirse a bit of nugging through.

Best case scenario - you look through.. H3 is not a DQ and that's why you dont' need a waiver. Worst case H3 is a PDQ with no waiverable optino and you are SOL. And then the scenario in between it's DQ based on a waiver. Again, you would not get accepted or commissioned for a condition that DQ'd you had required a wavier.....

allnurses Guide · Oct 14, 2008

could someone in the air force please reply.
my recruiter in south carolina recently sent my packet to the air force board for me to be considered for commission into the air force. everything in the packet is good (good references, good interview, 3.67 gpa, etc). the only drawback was that my hearing was at a h3. i hear perfectly fine but just barely (one tone) missed being a h2. i don't use hearing aids, my hearing is great for normal conversation, i just can't hear the low tones. what i don't understand is why my recruiter did not seek a waiver for my hearing before submitting me. can i be accepted as a air force nurse and then get the waiver? will i even need a waiver? does the air force use a different system for processing individuals then meps? i know the army uses meps but they have their own as well, is the air force the same? can they just review my hearing tests and change me in the air force system? i did submit a hearing test i received from a civilian doctor in my packet.

if i have to have a waiver can someone respond and let me know what the process is?

i don't want to be declined just because my recruiter didn't submit a waiver before submitting me to the board.

first thing let me say: relax! the process of applying can seem brutal, but from what you are telling me at most you might need a waiver, and you might not. apparently, your recruiter at least thought there was a chance that you would not need a waiver.

you are applying to usaf medical officer position so forget all that you know from enlisted life about getting into the military. waivers, if you need one, are a dime a dozen for medical officers. the af wants you for your brain/degree not necessarily for your perfect physically fit body. secondly, even if your package is denied it isn't that big of deal your recruiter can help you apply for a waiver or fix whatever is wrong with your package and send it back to the next board. there is usually at least one board a month.

the overall process at meps is generally the same, but the process of what is waiverable and not waiverable varies by service branch.

this is just the typical hurry up and wait scenario with the military. it sucks, but this type of stuff will happen over and over with military as long as you are in the military.

out of curiosity have you discussed this with your recruiter?

capt e, usaf, nc

Miss Mab · Oct 14, 2008

Just as an aside---my AF odyssey never included a stop at any MEPS station. My flight physical was completed at my base prior to commissioning so it's a bit of a misnomer to say all services will utilize the MEPS process or facility.

JDCitizen · Oct 14, 2008

I did not go through meps I went through flight medicine...

I knew exactly what my sticking points were the day of the physical (kind of). What I didn't know is all the hoops my records went through to get up to the SG.

Knew my hearing was off was told no problem

Knew I had thrombocytopenia and was told that could be a problem..

Apparently my hearing was a problem that went all the way up to the SG got sent back down now after further testing its back with the SG... Second testing was done by a civilian Audiologist.

I don't know if the thrombocytopenia even came up.

I am on my third recruiter and he called today asking me about the status of my packet...

Now what I was told it seems waivers can happen at three levels

1) Depending on type the MD who did the physical

2) Commander

3) SG

The SG has the final say and if its yes I am in if its now plan B starts...

Now please note this is what I have been told and what I have experienced so far.... I don't know how much is bull and how much is not. Apparently though from reading on the site and others the waiver setup is really different for each person...

All I can say is best wishes, have patience and be very persistent.

just_cause, BSN, RN · Oct 14, 2008

I concur and have gone through a 'flight physical' as well.

That being said - if a PDQ is on your file... its on your file.

At that point the regulation is useful - it's also useful if you are unsure if something is a problem...or not a problem....

TonyLaws · Oct 15, 2008

wtbcrna,

Thank you for your response. I have spoke to my recruiter who said they want me start the process for a hearing waiver by sending me back to MEPS for a hearing test. However, I'm concerned I'll do the same on the test again.

Has anyone on here ever received a waiver from the Air Force for hearing?

TonyLaws · Oct 15, 2008

Let me change up my question this way:

Has anyone on here ever received a waiver from the Air Force for hearing? If so, what was the process you followed? Can you describe your story of how you received it?