See our advertising policy here. On top of these medical conditions that can disqualify you from becoming an Air Force pilot, there are also physical requirements for fitness, height, and weight. Pilots must have uncorrected distance visual acuity no worse than 20/70 in each eye, and vision must be correctable to 20/20 or better in each eye. A pilot must have vision no worse than 20/70 that corrects to 20/20 in both eyes to qualify for basic flight training with normal color and depth perception being required. least 20/30, or, Visual acuity no worse than 20/70 Welcome to the United States Air Force. The modern military standards require an intense amount of screening to make sure each candidate is going to be able to fulfill their duties without any issues. Air Force Pilot vision requirements? How To Choose The Right Military Branch For You, Military Hearing Requirements and Disqualifications, Basic Training Packing List for each Military Branch, 7 Best Navy SEAL Watches For 2020 ($55 – $495). The refractive error limits to qualify for potential flying duties are +2.00/-1.00 in any meridian and 0.75 astigmatism (pilot) and +3.00/-2.25 in … Many young people dream of becoming pilots in the U.S. Air Force, but only a handful of those who enlist make the cut. allergies after age 12, Transient loss of nervous system Since a pilot in the Air Force is an officer position, you’ll most likely be attending Officer Training School which is where you’ll be completing most of these physical fitness tests. In general, the Air Force pilot height requirements are as follows: In some cases, a height waiver may be filed, again, depending on whether or not the aircraft you’ll be working with can accommodate your height. Advertiser Disclosure: This site may be compensated through the advertiser affiliate program (at no cost to you). To join the RAF you’ll need to meet certain criteria, like nationality, age, education and health. If you are significantly taller or shorter than average, it might mean that you’ll be unable to become an Air Force pilot and since, unfortunately, there is nothing we can do about our height, it’s not a requirement we can overcome with sheer grit. United Kingdom army pilots are only allowed to wear spectacles with a lens power between - 0.75 to … Vision for both must be correctable to 20/20. We may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site. Army rangers are the standard infantry unit for the army, so their vision requirements align directly with the standard requirements for the army branch as a whole. Some criteria apply to everyone joining the RAF; others only apply to specific roles. Air Force pilot requirements are there to ensure only the best become an officer and fly aircraft to defend the US. The reason this condition can be a disqualification is because some people who have astigmatisms have very blurry vision or poor image perception without very strong corrective lenses. Pilots must have normal color vision. So now, you are able to enter the pilot training pipeline if you’ve had PRK or LASIK surgery to correct your vision and become an Air Force pilot. Required fields are marked *. THE TRUSTED RESOURCE FOR MILITARY FAMILIES, Virtual Reality is Changing the Way Our Military Operates, Navy Weight Requirements: What You Need to Know, Uncorrected visual acuity of at Apart from these standards, Air Force pilots must have normal depth and color perception. Most candidates with a baseline of physical fitness are able to pass these tests without much strain although you should definitely prepare for them by keeping up with a regular fitness routine. To become a pilot, you must meet a series of requirements, some of which are the same for all enlistees, and others that are specific to aspiring pilots only. Learn about the vision requirements for each branch of the military, as well as vision problems that would be disqualifying. The Air Force requires pilots to have no less than 20/70 vision in each eye, correctable to 20/20. So, unfortunately for those who are colorblind, becoming an Air Force pilot is out of the question. The pararescue vision requirement is the same as that of the Air Force Pilot. Aspiring pilots must be at least 5 feet 4 inches tall, but no more than 6 feet 5 inches tall, and they cannot be overweight. Apart from the visual, physical, height, and weight requirements, becoming an Air Force pilot also has educational, age, and test score requirements which we’ll touch on briefly here. You need to be able to see properly and reach all the necessary controls without being too large or too small for the aircraft. For obvious reasons, complete or partial blindness is going to disqualify you from military service as you will not be able to fulfill the duties required by being enlisted in the military at any level. The Air Force provides a myriad of support to the rest of the Canadian Forces. No matter which branch of the military interests you the most, there are a lot of considerations you need to make regarding eligibility. that can be corrected to 20/20, Must meet refraction, The standard for color vision within the military revolves around the idea that you must be able to easily distinguish between different objects that vary in color by a significant amount. For reference, to enter Navigator Training in the Air Force, a candidate’s eyesight can’t be worse than 20/200 and correctable to 20/20. Once you become an Air Force pilot, eyesight standards get a little less harsh. While there is no specific standard for color vision in the military, you will be tested on your ability to perceive different colors when getting tested for the military. You cannot be color blind, which immediately disqualifies about 8.5 percent of the population, and you must have 20/20 vision uncorrected. Depending on the situation and need for vision correction, there are some cases in which the military may be able to subsidize some or all of the cost for Lasik or PRK procedures. Additionally, with the advent of laser vision correction, some of these rules have changed. Your weight and body fat percentage will be measured during your initial physical and the requirements are based on age, height, and gender. Once again, the vision requirement of a CCT is the same as a pilot. The AF has officially adopted a new (more lenient) color vision policy that is more in line with the Army and Navy. ... (Air Force) Air Force Waiver Guide states “History of Strabismus surgery generally results in fluctuating exam results” “These individuals will not be favorably considered for a waiver to enter aviation training”. hypoglycemic medications, Disturbance of consciousness ... or have had certain types of laser refractive surgery to improve their vision may apply for the Pilot occupation. Tactical Air Control Party (TACP) Entry requirements for TACP are an uncorrected vision of 20/200 that corrects to 20/20 in both eyes. without explanation, History of hay fever, asthma, or Go Before the Selection Board. Being an Air Force pilot is a dynamic, challenging, but highly rewarding role with excellent career opportunities. Article content. Near vision for pilots must be 20/20 or better without corrective lenses. Becoming an Air Force pilot is an accomplishment that leads to a long career with the Air Force and many civilian career opportunities. U.S. Air Force - Career Detail - Pilot The strength of the lenses someone wears and having normal color perception are also something that the Coast Guard will consider when picking applicants. Most people are well aware of the strict vision requirements of pilots, but it’s much more intensive than a regular check-up at the optometrist. With contacts, you are allowed to wear them when you graduate basic training to correct your vision as long as they do not alter your eye color. EOD operatives need to have excellent vision as they need to spot devices that could be a threat to an entire unit. So, pilots who have graduated from Flight School can keep their titles so long as their eyesight doesn’t worsen beyond 20/400 in each eye and can continue to be correctable to 20/20. It can be tactical airlift with a Hercules aircraft. Related Article – Virtual Reality is Changing the Way Our Military Operates. The Airborne units of the army have slightly different vision requirements as they are not quite as standard of a unit as the rangers. The CSO requirements are going to be the same as the Air Force Pilot. Pilots flying with 1st or 2nd class certificates and private insurance should investigate this option. In general, candidates can weigh up to 231 pounds. Their seated height must be between 34 and 40 inches. But at the end of the day, you’re still a part of the military and physical fitness is essential. Entry requirements for TACP are an uncorrected vision of 20/200 that corrects to 20/20 in both eyes. controls and accompanied on all flights by a pilot or copilot of Medical Service Group 1 or 2, qualified in the model of aircraft operated. To join as an officer, you must be between the ages of 18 and 39. will also be measured but requirements vary. As of 2007, aspiring military pilots who have had PRK or LASIK eye surgery are no longer immediately disqualified from flight school. If someone is considered legally blind to a point where no correction will allow them to see, this is an immediate disqualification from every branch of the military. Finally, joining the Air Force as an officer won’t require you to take the ASVAB, but most will be required to take the Air Force Officer Qualifying Test (AFOQT) which is similar to the SAT and the standards are high although they change based on the current average scores. Weight requirements, on the other hand, can be worked on. In general, you need vision that corrects to acuity of 20/20 in one eye and 20/40 in the other. This also means that you will need to be able to tell the distinct difference between objects that are red and green to prove you don’t have color blindness. A Navy or Marine pilot needs to have a base vision of 20/40 in both eyes that is correctable to 20/20. Your email address will not be published. Learn more about the Military Medical Waiver process for each branch of the military here. 20 Medical Conditions That Might Disqualify You From The Military. Lasik is something that is considered by many who are about to or already in service with the military. There are also age requirements to join the Air Force. The main purpose of these requirements is to ensure physical fitness but for Air Force pilots, it’s also a matter of weight limits on aircraft. Those pilots in the army need to have vision that is or can be corrected to 20/20 in both eyes to qualify whether that is through glasses, contacts, or laser eye surgery. Medical Requirements. OTTAWA — Canada’s air force has been bending on minimum medical standards such as vision and hearing requirements as it contends with a critical shortage of experienced pilots. Like we have seen with many of the other issues involving vision, most vision issues that require waivers are looked at on a case by case basis. With this article, we hope to break down the specific requirements for each branch of service so you know whether or now you would be able to join the branch. Pilot Vision Requirements. Click Here to learn more about our organization. Becoming fully trained and capable of responding to any scenario is what makes aircraft pilots succeed. My current vision is about 20/80 (currently corrected to 20/20 with contacts) and has been very stable for the last few years. For Air Force Reserve Pilot Training, vision requirements are: Distance vision no worse than 20/70, correctable to 20/20 -- Near vision 20/20, uncorrected. Getting into the military is not as simple as it used to be where you show up to an office and are sent to basic training. Air Force. 6 comments. The Air Force ROTC enforces high standards with candidate vision requirements: vision must be no worse than 20/ 200 (correctable to 20/20) in each eye. Being the smallest branch of the military, there are not many specialized jobs that the coast guard offers that present unique vision requirements. All U.S. Air Force Academy candidates must meet the medical requirements, undergo the medical examination process, and understand disqualifications. Marine Recon operators need to have a 20/200 visual acuity to qualify for the force. Not being able to pass these tests or noting that you are color blind on your medical application will be an automatic disqualification for service in any branch of the military. It’s also possible for the surgeon to document that glare is degrading the person’s night vision to 20/50 or worse, even though basic vision is still better than 20/50. Related Article – GT Score Explained: 5 Things To Know. Related Article – Basic Training Packing List for each Military Branch. U.S. Air Force - Meet requirements Big news today. To enter flight training, a candidate must pass a Flight Class I Flying … Rob V. is the founder of OperationMilitaryKids.org. Vision can be no worse than 20/40 in either eye for near vision and 20/200 … Related Article – Army Medical Disqualifications List. Originally, pilots who had already graduated from Flight School could elect to have PRK or LASIK surgery to correct their vision and those who had the surgery were studied which eventually led to the 2007 decision that changed the rule. Vision Requirements for each Military Branch. 40 inches tall when seated, Sitting eye height and arm span From the individual branches to specific jobs within those branches, there is a wide range of vision requirements that make a future candidate eligible. Navy divers have the same vision requirements as Navy EOD specialists. This is one of the most commonly asked questions when people wonder if they qualify for service. Pilots in the army are not very common unless you are looking to pilot a helicopter or specialized army aircraft. There are a few more specific vision requirements for Air Force service members though. Related Article – Navy Grooming Standards. Copyright © 2020 www.OperationMilitaryKids.org. accommodation, and astigmatism requirements, Diabetes mellitus requiring Here, we’re talking about requirements necessary to become an Air Force Pilot, one of the most coveted positions in the military. ... Must have normal color vision. Airborne troops need to have a distance acuity that corrects to 20/20 in one eye and 20/100 in the other. There are high standards in terms of test scores and education with other requirements based on your job title for vision, physical fitness, height, and weight. Air Force pilot Army pilots have some of the strictest eye vision requirements – no wonder considering the demanding and stressful conditions they confront. 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