I'm slated to go to basic in November, and was originally going in as a TACP. Yesterday my recruiter called me to inform me that I had been disqualified from TACP because as of October 1st the new PULHES is all 1's, and I am a 2 for eyesight.
Although I'm fairly certain that there is nothing to be done at this point, can anyone suggest anything? The new deal they cut me is to go in as another job, get lasik and crosstrain when I am able to. It is just a bad feeling to have to switch from a job I've been preparing for over the course of a year a month away from going in. Any help is greatly appreciated.
Hey, I would push the issue. If you really want tacp, don't give up until you have exhausted all possibilities.
I wanted combat control originally, but they told me I couldn't get a four year contract for it. That is true now, but it wasn't at the time. They then suggested I be a linguist, so I asked for airborne linguist, and they told me my eyesight wasn't good enough. I later found out that wasn't true either. Here I am, a linguist, and one of my closest buddies in the Air Force is an airborne linguist, and he is as blind as a bat without his glasses. My eyes are near perfect, I've never needed glasses in my life, and he can't see past his nose without contacts or glasses.
The point is, I don't buy it. One thing you will learn soon is that in the military, if you want something, you have to do it yourself. If you want to advance your career, your NCOs will tell you nothing, you have to ask everything. They will tell you if you ask, but they won't say a word if you don't.
Push the issue. Find a second opinion. Ask to speak to the recruiter's supervisor. Exhaust all alleyways!! You aren't in the military yet, so you don't have to worry about the chain of command. You shouldn't be afraid of raising bloody hell. You can go all the way to the top. The Air Force would be foolish not to take someone who wants tacp, it is a combat position. Push the issue.
Also, remember this. In the military, there is a waiver for EVERYTHING!!!! If the recruiter insists that your eyes are no good, then tell him you want a waiver. Go over his head if you have to!
Let me know how it goes. I am looking to crosstrain into tacp pretty soon.
Originally posted by 17375815: If you want to advance your career, your NCOs will tell you nothing, you have to ask everything. They will tell you if you ask, but they won't say a word if you don't.
Sorry to hear about having to deal with POS NCO's, remember not everyone is like that. But also remember too that NCO's are people as well and cant remember/do everything for someone especially grown men and women
19970252...except no substitute on job's if TACP is what your gunning for unless you have a need to get in the AF ASAP. Work with your recruiter first on the waiver or whatever you have to do but dont take up arms against him/her and start jumping ranks,etc. You will find that recruiters communication with recruits can become very limited once a recruit takes a certain stance on jobs. Also check with romad.com and any help that can be found there. Good luck
