Sight Restrictions

[Two_Sox]

Hi,

Hope I'm pitching this to the right area...I have monocular vision (lost my right eye at 3 yrs old).

I was wandering is there are any (I mean any!) positions that I could carry out within the RAF?

My family have a long history within the RAF. My grandfather served in Cairo during WWII. So it's something I've wanted to do since I could walk.

I know I can't fly but anything in or around aircraft will do for me. I am able to drive a car and I could qualify for the new NPPL, if I had enough money.

I've talked to a careers officer and they didn't appear to be 100% sure and I just want further confirmation before I resign myself to the fact that I cannot join.

Please be honest.

Many thanks,

Ben

[L1A2 discharged]

Go back to the careers office and ask them to get a decision through the medical and manning branches. They have the contacts but it may be too difficult for them to get off their butts and check for you.

Good luck.

[Two_Sox]

Thanks. I'll keep pestering them.

[XV277]

You used to be able to take a pre-application eye test - you asked your optitian to do it, they sent it away to the Medical Branch and they wrote back to tell you what jobs were open to you.

[D-IFF_ident]

Rumour has it that there used to be a Sqn Ldr pilot on VC10s who only had one eye. That's not to say that you will be accepted as a pilot - you must meet entry level requirements and the rumoured Sqn Ldr apparently lost his sight in an airborne incident involving a Hawk and a Duck. He was flying the Hawk, I believe

You will have to pester the recruiters, or DORAS directly to get a definitive answer - us lot on PPrune can only give our opinions. Good luck!

[AdanaKebab]

Whilst we're on the subject of sight .. does anyone know if the RAF allows individuals to undertake laser eye surgery?

[Tigs2]

Laser eye surgery, for pilots is a no.

As per the one eye, I have known a couple of people on ground branches work for many years with only one eye, however they lost the eye whilst in service.

[Two_Sox]

Thank you all for your quick responses.

I'll keep asking questions and I'll let you know how I get on.

I would find it a bit strange if they would allow people who lost there sight during service to continue to serve and not allow someone with limited sight to join. I've had a lot more time to adjust to my vision and can now do pretty much anything that a normal sighted person can (except those magic eye pictures!).

Thanks again. It's nice to come to a forum with a good community spirit.

[Two_Sox]

Sorry for being such a civy...but what is a DORAS?

[Tigs2]

I think Department of Recruitment and Selection.

[eagle 86]

I knew an Air Force pilot who lost an eye whilst serving - kept on but in a ground job, knew an Army pilot who lost a leg in a civvy accident and regained flying cat medical, knew numerous other aircrew who lost category medically but kept on in ground jobs. I guess the military look at money already invested and the ability to still serve constructively whereas someone joining with a "disability" is unknown and unproven.
GAGS
E86

[Two_Sox]

Thanks.

Everyone keep your fingers crossed!

[AdanaKebab]

AIDU,

Thanks ... hadn't thought of that!!!! It was the middle of the night you know.

[Stuff]

Whilst we're on the subject of sight .. does anyone know if the RAF allows individuals to undertake laser eye surgery?

AIDU was spot on, it is allowed in some particular circumstances and only specific procedures are approved. Speak to the SMO!

[Sand4Gold]

TWO SOX,

The careers officer you spoke to needs a kick up the rump. He should have found the answers to your questions, and then phoned you back. I do not know what the current rules are, but I suspect the RAF will pursue the weapon/depth perception issue if nothing else.
However, you will only know that by seeing something written down in tablets of stone. Do not take no for an answer until you do.

Thinking outside the box - approach the Royal Auxiliary Air Force, they may have different recruiting criteria than for those serving on the Active List. Over the years, many support functions have now been put in the hands of civilians, maybe you could look at possible options there. Not ideal, but could be the next best thing.

You come across well on your posts, so I am confident that those you ask will help you to the best of their ability (bar one careers officer!). Good luck.

AA


P.S. Wasn't there a case against the military in Canada that was fought under their Human Rights Act?......might be worth a read through LostEye.com.

[Two_Sox]

Thanks AA.

I'm not looking primarily at positions that would need depth perception. I was hoping for something in the way of Intel Officer or ICT.

If it doesn't work out I'll definately look at the Royal Auxiliary Air Force.

Thanks again

[MrBunker]

http://www.raf.mod.uk/careers/istherafforme/health.cfm

Doesn't look too promising I'm afraid. Check out the Eyesight section.

[knowitall]

"lost my right eye at 3 yrs old"

for starters you could struggle to use the SA80 rifle during training due to a stunning peice of design it can only be fired right handed

[AdanaKebab]

I have spoken to my Med Centre ref Laser Eye surgery.

It is now permitted to have Laser Eye surgery whilst serving in the RAF. You must be serving in the UK though and will be subject to further testing for 12mths after surgery. You will also be downgraded for this period. Some specialisations can even get it paid for by Her Maj (most likely flying trades).

Speak to your local Med Centre for further info. to ...

[Pontius Navigator]

I know of 2 aircrew who lost eyes. One was a navigator and the other a pilot. The pilot was retrained as a nav and made a very good one by all accounts.

In both cases it occurred as a result of bird strikes on Canberras but the difference was that these were all ready trained and productive aircrew. It was cheaper to keep them than pension them off.