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My quest into WOCS


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Hello Everyone,

 

I found these forums after browsing information about WOCS and deciding that its been long enough. It is time to pursue my goal of being a military aviator. Something I have wanted to do since I can even remember. Today was the second step. I sat down with a recruiter to begin my packet, which was step one. Today I took the ASVAB. I scored a 131 GT and my AFQT was a 95.

 

I will be sitting down either tomorrow or Wednesday to begin the next steps in preparing my packet for submission. I am hoping to have it ready for the January board. I am beginning to review for the SIFT exam. Just want to be as prepared as possible.

 

A little bit about myself. I am 26, and currently employed for a very large financial firm. I took a promotion to Pittsburgh from our NY office. Since getting here I've come to the realization that I am not pursuing my dreams to the fullest. I am a former D1 athlete and captained my team my senior year. Very decorated as well on the field. I graduated with a 3.2 GPA and a major in Finance after transferring schools. Unfortunately, my GPA was a 2.3 when leaving my first school. I am hoping that will not count against me but I understand that it might. Since I transferred sophomore year, I grew up and got it together.

 

Good luck to everyone applying for the November board and hopefully I will be joining you shortly.

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Good luck, and prepare for a long road ahead. Be ready to make things happen on your own, and when it's something only your recruiter can do you might have to prod him on a regular basis to get things done.

 

The GPA shouldn't really be an issue. You have a 4 year degree, so that puts you ahead of the curve on its own. The 2.3 will likely come up during your board, but just take responsibility for it being low and explain what you did to improve it.

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  • 3 weeks later...

Road block number one. Was scheduled to take my SIFT this Monday. My recruiter called me and told me that I have to do the MEPS physical first before they are allowed to schedule my SIFT. So I went to sign the paperwork and do the urine test. They marked on my MEPS form to no surgeries. I had surgery in 2005 on my right shoulder. Now I have to track down all the records from it. Going to be a massive headache. My physical therapy place has disbanded to my knowledge so getting those records is going to suck. I am hoping I can get them from my college since I needed them for athletics. If not, I will have to hike back to NY to get my records from my primary care physician and have them write a letter clearing me.

 

The recruiter basically said also that if i didnt disclose it they would have no way of knowing. Im not taking that risk. Everything comes to light eventually and that would be a back breaker if they found out I intentially left something out. Not to mention intregrity and tust going out the window. So now I have to track down records from 8 years ago =(.

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Many recruiters will tell you to not disclose things so they can avoid extra paperwork. Just remember, it's your career that you're building, not theirs.

 

I had a few old injuries that I couldn't get records for. If you can just get an official looking document from anyone associated with the injury and treatment stating that the records aren't available that should get you through.

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I had a similar issue with a much more severe series of trauma surgeries and I got through without too much trouble. My best recommendation is like what was said before, get as much documentation as you can and get a current medical report from your doctor saying that you are good as new. Any kind of X-rays or imaging will help a great deal as well.

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  • 2 weeks later...

When I came into the Army, I had to get a waiver for a very similar shoulder surgery. After fighting for 5 months just to GO to MEPS. It took a General Officer, a LTC and daily calls to my recruiter to get there. 2 days after MEPS, I had the waiver. One month later I was back at MEPS and enlisted.

 

When I had my flight physical, I was DQ'd for a "head injury" in an IED blast. There was no injury, but Aeromedical was being extra thorough. 4 months of consultations, out of town appointments, and a lazy flight surgeon later, the request for waivers was submitted. 2 days later I had the waiver. 2 weeks later I submitted my packet. One month after that it was accepted.

 

My family often joked that they thought the Army was doing their own version of psychological testing to see how bad I wanted this. (Still not ruling it out).

 

The point to all this is, keep your foot on the gas and don't let up. No one will fight for your career as hard as you will. Bug the sh*t out of your recruiter. If he asks for one form of documentation, give him four. If he says you are going to MEPS next week, ask him why not this week. They deal with a lot of guys who want to be high speed and be Delta Force Apache Jet Pilots but flake out. They will forget about you in a heartbeat if you aren't up their ass.

 

It will be frustrating, disheartening, and annoying. What drove me was the desire to have my fate decided by the board, not by a lazy flight surgeon.

 

And trust me. Seeing your name on that selection list is oh so much sweeter when you had to fight tooth and nail for it.

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Can someone please confirm as I have been getting a bunch of contradicting answers. I am hoping that I can take the SIFT while waiting for my medical records to arrive. I was told that I had to pass the initial physical at MEPS first. Is this true? I can't find anything written in stone as to the order that each thing must be completed. I called the phone number for the SIFT exam and they said that the physical being done first may be a local policy to my recruiter. If thats true I am going to be really upset since i was given 2 days notice after I took off work 3 weeks in advance so that I could sit for the SIFT.

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Look into local college ROTC programs. Give them a call, explain what you're doing and they might administer the test for you. I was able to do it that way and avoid MEPS entirely to get the SIFT completed. Just make sure you get the proper documentation of completion signed by the administrar.

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It seems like they throw more and more at me haha. After tracking down my physical therapy records. I was now told that I need a recent exam/clearance letter from my doctor in addition to the medical and physical therapy records.. As if 5 years of D1 baseball (had a redshirt year) was not enough to say my shoulder is good to go. Heres my issue, my doctor is back in NYC and I am in Pittsburgh. Also, shelling out the money for an exam isnt going to be cheap as well as even getting an appointment. Hes in the top, if not the top shoulder surgeon in NY. Would they take it from any other doctor that could clear me? Maybe even a primary care doctor?

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  • 4 weeks later...

Well i was finally able track down my medical records. I had to actually go through the hospital and not the doctor. That was October 8th. It has been a waiting game ever since. I mailed the letter out to request the documents the afternoon of the 8th. Called the hospital on October 18th and they said they did not receive it. Finally, on the 23rd they said they received it and that it would still be 7-10 business days for the records to come back from storage. Since I will back in NY Friday I am thinking about stopping by the hospital to see if they are in since I will be in the area anyway.

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  • 1 month later...

So I finally got my records and am hoping to finally get to MEPS and take the physical. My recruiter is now telling me that they are going to want a clearance letter from a doctor. I provided them with the surgical records and all records from physical therapy. Before I go shelling out a good chunk of money and taking time off from work to see a doctor, has anyone submitted medical records and gotten the waiver without this specific letter my recruiter is asking for? I wish I could show them my baseball statistics from college and ask if that was sufficient to show my shoulder is in good order now haha.

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When I had my med read done by MEPS for my multiple surgeries they wanted a follow up report from my surgeon that everything was good to go in his opinion before I even went down. Luckily for me he had already done that and it was just a matter of getting the records from when he did. Just the way it has to be I think. Try and contact the doc that did all your work and see if he still has his post op follow up reports. That should suffice.

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  • 2 months later...

So to update. Just did my MEPs physical and SIFT today. They did write DQ due to my shoulder but are submitting a waiver. Odds are i will have to meet with a specialist for evaluation first they said. As it stands. Asvab of 131 GT, 95 AFQT, SIFT of 70. And meps physical complete.

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So to update. Just did my MEPs physical and SIFT today. They did write DQ due to my shoulder but are submitting a waiver. Odds are i will have to meet with a specialist for evaluation first they said. As it stands. Asvab of 131 GT, 95 AFQT, SIFT of 70. And meps physical complete.

Great scores! Sounds like you're in good shape if you get your medical squared away.

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Live about 30 minutes out up in the Greensburg area, but I work up in Cranberry. You? Are they still sending people to the Air Force base before MEPS?

 

Ohh ok. There were a bunch of people from Greensburg at MEPS yesterday. I havent had to go to the air force base at all (im assuming you mean at the airport). Im in Green Tree but work in downtown. My recruiter is in Robinson and I'm the second packet shes had to do, so at least she had some experience. If no one out your way knows what to do I can put you in touch with her. FWIW, no one at MEPS had a clue what the SIFT was except for one person and I had to explain it to them. They had to pull out the manuals sent to each of the MEPS to figure out how to load it up on a computer for me.

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Ohh ok. There were a bunch of people from Greensburg at MEPS yesterday. I havent had to go to the air force base at all (im assuming you mean at the airport). Im in Green Tree but work in downtown. My recruiter is in Robinson and I'm the second packet shes had to do, so at least she had some experience. If no one out your way knows what to do I can put you in touch with her. FWIW, no one at MEPS had a clue what the SIFT was except for one person and I had to explain it to them. They had to pull out the manuals sent to each of the MEPS to figure out how to load it up on a computer for me.

 

Yeah it's out by the air port it's the 911 Refueling Wing Base I believe, When I went to MEPS a few years ago, thinking I was going to join the Navy they packed all MEP goers there for the night before busing everyone down to MEPS. Took the ASVAB there as well. If you didn't have to then maybe its optional now..which would be great!

I believe it about seeing a lot of Greensburg people. Out my way I think the only recruiting stations are Greensburg and Monroeville.

How are you liking the city? Get to catch any Pen's games yet? :)

Oh wow so your recruiters not too far from where I work. I haven't gone to speak with any recruiters yet as I'd be laughed out in my current state ( gotta work on my weight, fitness first) but yeah that would be great to have that contact in case no one in my area has any packet experience.

Haha oh brother, well at least that sounds like maybe they don't do it too often so..maybe better chances of being selected from a smaller pool of applicants? :) Can hope haha.

 

Anyways sorry for hijacking your thread man, don't see many people nearby online.

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Yeah it's out by the air port it's the 911 Refueling Wing Base I believe, When I went to MEPS a few years ago, thinking I was going to join the Navy they packed all MEP goers there for the night before busing everyone down to MEPS. Took the ASVAB there as well. If you didn't have to then maybe its optional now..which would be great!

I believe it about seeing a lot of Greensburg people. Out my way I think the only recruiting stations are Greensburg and Monroeville.

How are you liking the city? Get to catch any Pen's games yet? :)

Oh wow so your recruiters not too far from where I work. I haven't gone to speak with any recruiters yet as I'd be laughed out in my current state ( gotta work on my weight, fitness first) but yeah that would be great to have that contact in case no one in my area has any packet experience.

Haha oh brother, well at least that sounds like maybe they don't do it too often so..maybe better chances of being selected from a smaller pool of applicants? :) Can hope haha.

 

Anyways sorry for hijacking your thread man, don't see many people nearby online.

 

Haha no problem man. Let me know if theres anything i can do to help. Love the pens. Was a huge fan before i even moved out here from NY. Been to a ton of games so far. I used to live 2 blocks from PNC park on the river so i caught a ton of games there last season. When it gets warm and you need a good place to run, run the trail on the north shore. Its a perfect 3 miles from the 9th street bridge to the barrier right past the casino and back. I would start there, run to the casino, back to the heinz lofts, then back to the 9th street bridge and it was 5 miles. Just an idea if you are near the city.

 

They put us up in the Sheraton in Station Square the night before MEPS. Not too bad of a place to stay.

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Yeah man the Pens rock. Trying to get to at least 1 more game this year :) Aw man that sounds like a good run, not much scenery like that up by me. I've got twin lakes park up by me which is nice, not sure the mileage but it has different exercise events at different intervals, like pull ups, ladder climb, etc, etc.

Cant wait to start working out again, I messed up my leg last June and am just now starting to recover to the point where I can start walking without a limp. I ended up fracturing my fib and tearing the tendons in my ankle. has been all healed up for the past few months now, just trying to get it and myself back into shape haha.

 

Oh wow, very nice! Beats where we stayed haha.

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Back to MEPS we go for the shoulder consult on Monday. Recruiter told me ill need all day, which is great timing considering I took off from work that day already. What better way to spend my birthday though right?!

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  • 2 weeks later...

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