OK, first post! Looking for some words of wisdom. I’ve been reading a decent amount through posts so I hope I’m not repeating too much. I’m 30 years old and currently work as a plant manager, managing 30+ employees in manufacturing. I got my B.S. in Psychology. I’ve been a very sports oriented person competitively swimming, cycling, triathlons, and rugby up through college.
I am working on enlisting in the Air Force. TACP was the initial goal but my PULHES is horrible (211122). The Air Force surgeon said I’m good to enlist despite waivers, but my recruiter said my PULHES means no TACP for initial choice.
(Side note: my MEPS physical and ASVAB I took through the Army, where I initially started this process and did not receive all waivers needed, have recently expired so I have to go back through the process again soon with the Air Force.)
As explained by my recruiter, the first “2” in my PULHES is for having a kidney removed when I was 7 (infection). No issues since. Second “2” I believe is for bad distance vision but correctable to 20/20 (need to check). Last “2” is from counseling while in college 8 years ago and took mild depression medication for a year because I was failing to finish some course work. No issues since, went back to school switching to psychology, finished my degree (horrible GPA though so I didn't completely learn my lesson at that point!), but have been able to mature and excel in multiple jobs requiring attention to detail, dedication, and responsibility.
I’ve been staying strong, hoping that putting in some leg work (collecting paperwork and references) might magically change some of these horrible “2’s” to “1’s”. But I’m wondering if this is really just a lack of understanding of the system, and that I should attempt another route. Maybe sending in an OTS packet with the hopes of earning an Air Liaison position or another great officer position? Or, do I dig in my heels for TACP and ask for waivers on all the above issues after/at MEPS?
My backup plan if I don’t make it (in response to a great post by amlove21) is to excel in any job I end up getting assigned to, doing what needs to be done to keep planes in the sky. I am willing to do other jobs. I just don’t want to give up too soon when all it took was a little extra leg work and some waiting to get a shot at my goal.
I am working on enlisting in the Air Force. TACP was the initial goal but my PULHES is horrible (211122). The Air Force surgeon said I’m good to enlist despite waivers, but my recruiter said my PULHES means no TACP for initial choice.
(Side note: my MEPS physical and ASVAB I took through the Army, where I initially started this process and did not receive all waivers needed, have recently expired so I have to go back through the process again soon with the Air Force.)
As explained by my recruiter, the first “2” in my PULHES is for having a kidney removed when I was 7 (infection). No issues since. Second “2” I believe is for bad distance vision but correctable to 20/20 (need to check). Last “2” is from counseling while in college 8 years ago and took mild depression medication for a year because I was failing to finish some course work. No issues since, went back to school switching to psychology, finished my degree (horrible GPA though so I didn't completely learn my lesson at that point!), but have been able to mature and excel in multiple jobs requiring attention to detail, dedication, and responsibility.
I’ve been staying strong, hoping that putting in some leg work (collecting paperwork and references) might magically change some of these horrible “2’s” to “1’s”. But I’m wondering if this is really just a lack of understanding of the system, and that I should attempt another route. Maybe sending in an OTS packet with the hopes of earning an Air Liaison position or another great officer position? Or, do I dig in my heels for TACP and ask for waivers on all the above issues after/at MEPS?
My backup plan if I don’t make it (in response to a great post by amlove21) is to excel in any job I end up getting assigned to, doing what needs to be done to keep planes in the sky. I am willing to do other jobs. I just don’t want to give up too soon when all it took was a little extra leg work and some waiting to get a shot at my goal.
!
