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Love vs. Duty
Ever since I was a small child, I have always wanted to be a pilot. However, my vision is terrible and 20/20 vision is a strict requirement of US Air Force aviators. There is the possibility of Lasic surgery, but that is expensive and sometiems unreliable, and it has risks and side effects involved. And it can sometimes be a disqualifier from the flight program of the USAF.
Now, when I was a Senior in High School, I was originally going to sign up for the US Army Warrant Officer program. My counselor managed to persuade me not to. I applied to and got accepted to Saint Joseph's University because of their Air Force ROTC program. Then came something I was not prepared for. As always, there is a lady involved. I found, or actually, a lady found me. We have been dating for the past 4 months and I know I sound like some puppy-eyed immature teenager when say this but I love this woman, and I plan on marrying her when we get out of college. It sounds stupid, but I know what I feel and I know she feels the same way. Now here is my problem. Do I join Air Force ROTC and waste 4 years of my life as an Air Force Officer only to be rejected for my vision to the pilot program when I could be living a nice steady life with my lady? Or is there a small chance that I could possibly get accepted to the pilot program and fulfill my dream? Is that small chance worth it? It pains us both to go to separate colleges, and my lady fears having to wait for me to return from year long tours of duty. And she fears the current war going on as well. What do I do?
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Want to answer more questions in the Relationships category?
Maybe give some free advice about: Love Life?
There are few ways you can get there, you can obtain the licenses PPL, CPL ATPL etc. by attending flying school/college. Once you have finished your course you can work as an instructor, get a bush flying jobs or keep earning more hours in your flying school.
Flying instructor is a pretty good job, whenever you teach, you can your flying hours logged as PIC and at the same time you get paid. :)
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what matters to you more? you're dreams or you're love? maybe you can have both. i mean, if you're vision is that bad, maybe the airforce isn't for you. then again, maybe this is just you're first love, and she isn't going to be the only one kind of thing. its a choice only you can make, but make sure you think it through clearly.
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Dump the girl. She'll only get the way of things and probably wouldn't wait for you to finish four years. Besides, you have barely even been going out with her; don't waste your dreams for some woman you just met.
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It depends on your relationship. If you guys have a strong relationship..don't go to this academy. it's not worth it. or at least I dont think it is. being a lady myself I would never want my future husband to leave me for war. i wouldnt be able to handle the stress if my love was too strong. I'd be a wreck everyday. Whichever one u can live without u should not do. if you can live without ur lady go to war. if u can live with one program go for ur lady. by the way ur talking about getting rejected u dont seem to have much hope in war u talk as if u want to go to ur lady but there's something itching the back of ur brain. if ur religious pray to see what God wants for u and I'd say go for the lady. but whatever floats ur boat u should do. good luck, ur in a might tough position! i hope u do well
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I have grown up next to a marine base my entire life and, as far as I can see, there is no reason why you can't have both things. All branches of the military accept married men, as long as you meet their requirements. Having a child will definetely make them hesitate, but not being married or otherwise attached. If your girl loves you, too, then why can't she relocate to wherever you will be stationed, married or not? My husband has long considered the air force and has met with a recruiter himself. They have no problem with his being married.
On the topic of Laser Eye Surgery, I successfully underwent the surgery a little over a year ago. It only cost me a total of 1500, 750 per eye, and the company arranged a payment plan with me. I took my eye drops religiously and followed all of their instructions to the letter, and guess what? My vision is now 20/10. Better than 20/20. They say that's the top % of results, but as a nurse, I feel it's because I followed the directions well. I really highly recommend this surgery. It has made my life much easier, and I have had NO side affects whatsoever.
Good luck!
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I've always wanted to be superman, but I really dont think thats going to happen.
You like stay with her, if you want go and fight in a pointless war and get shot, then go ahead and do that.
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I think first you need to talk to your lady about your dream, and if she really loves you she'll understand that it's something you really want to do. Then, talk to...someone, I'm not sure what you call them, but like "the main guy" and explain your situation and ask if there's any chance at all you could be accepted with your vision, and if not, if they accept people who've had Lasic surgery.
You could also purpose to your girlfriend before you leave, if you leave ya know, and get married when you come home.
~Laura~
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Well I think that if it is any way possible for you too speak with someone from the USAF or some one such as an instructor and see if you can be accepted with your vision. If you can be accepted then I think you should sit down with your lady and talk things through. Let her know that it is your dream to do this and that you love her. While she is in college trying to fulfill her dreams of what she wants to be you can be training. Let her know that you can both try to achieve your life goals together and fulfill them together with each other. Good Luck and hope this helps some. If you need anything else then just drop one in my inbox.
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The first thing you need to do is speak to someone in the Air Force. My uncle was a pilot for them, and I've heard from him how rigourous the eye tests are.
You need to speak with someone in a position to know, and then you'll know whether or not your lifelong dream can come true.
Everything else follows from that.
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I had a friend that went to Afganistan while in the army. He left wearing glasses, but came back without them because the army gave him Lasic surgery. He was top priority over his supieror officers because he was in the field, if he lost his glasses he was screwed; as opposed to someone who works at a desk telling him what to do.
There is always that possibility. If the only reason your worried about the surgery is the money involved, you should find out all of your possibilities, or future possibilities first. The Air Force could pay for it for you.
As for this girl... are you going to follow her around for the next four years so that you can go to the same college? That doesn't seem very beneficial to you. I know everyone is going to tell you this... But it's only been 4 months. Your still in the puppy love stage where nothing can bother you two, but that doesn't mean that she is the one. If you plan on marrying her when you get out of college, then she should have no problem waiting until then.
I also have a friend who recently went into the Air Force. His long term girlfriend and him got married before he went away so that she could go live with him and the Air Force would provide a home and pay most of their expenses. That is always something to think about. I'm not saying you should go get married after dating someone for four months, but you should think about the future, and how well off you could be with the Air Force.
And... This is your dream... I don't think anyone should have to give up their dream for anyone else. If she loves you, and if you love her, then you will have no problem making it the four years without being at the same college.
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