Month: June 2005

About a month ago I visited my dentist to get a required letter stating that my teeth were in “good condition.” He noted in the letter that I had some “minor tooth decay,” aka, a couple cavities. To my defense, not having any insurance made it too easy for me to procrastinate getting the dreaded fillings.

My OSO told me that OCS expects you to arrive in perfect physical condition, and this includes your teeth. They say cavities aren’t usually a problem, but more serious issues are a ticket home.

Not wanting to take a chance, I decided to suck it up and go back to the dentist and get my cavities filled. It wasn’t nearly as bad as I thought it would be. My teeth are now in “stable” condition.

[ Read Letter from dentist part 1 ]

Part of the medical screening process for applicants of the Marine Corps Aviation program is a cycloplegic eye refraction. Never really having been to an eye doctor before, I can’t begin to guess of what I’m in for. All I know is that I’ll have to wear funny glasses all day following the exam. For those of you who know anything about eye exams, the requirements are as follows:

a. Visual activity 20/30 OD & OS must be correctable to 20/20
b. Cycloplegic refraction:
    (1) Myopia refraction
    (2) Hyperopia no greater then +3.00 diopters
    (3) Astigmatism no greater then +/-0.75 diopters.

Got my ASTB scores back yesterday. Same scores as last time, 5/5. I knew I wouldn’t do worse, but I thought I’d show some improvement. The Marine Corps minimum scores are 4/6. I have two choices, I can wait 3 months and take the ASTB again and try to get the second part of my score up to a 6, or I can try to get the 1-point waiver my Captain wanted me to get in the first place. I’m going to go ahead and try to get the waiver.

My mother always tells me not to worry, because God has a plan for my life, and that I need to accept what he has planned, and trust him. I believe he has led me to this stage in my life, and that I should continue trusting him.

[ Read ASTB part 2 or ASTB part 1 ]

I didn’t feel good about the decision I made to accept the 1-point waiver for my ASTB score. My OSO’s concern was if I decided to retake the test, and didn’t do as well, I’d have no chance at getting an air contract for OCC Class 190. I trust my OSO, but I also trust myself. I’ve been studying for the ASTB for months, and I am confident that I can score higher. I called the office that night and told them I wanted to come in (again) the next day and retake the ASTB.

I arrived at my OSO’s office a few minutes to noon yesterday and was escorted by Staff Sergeant L. to testing room. The ‘testing room’ is actually a conference room located somewhere in MEPS. I took my seat in the middle of the conference table and began the exam.

The test wasn’t any easier because I had already taken it. The questions were just as difficult as last time, but this time I knew what to expect. I knew I was going to be short on time, and that there were going to be some questions I wouldn’t answer. The ASTB not only measures your knowledge of certain subjects, but also your ability to think and solve problems quickly.

Two hours later I finished the exam. I should receive my scores this Monday.

[ Read ASTB part 1 ]

After weeks of studying, I showed up at my OSO’s office today at 3:00PM to take the ASTB. Staff Sergeant B. brought me to the testing room where I began filling out my information. I mentioned I took the test once prior while in talks with the Navy. He told me he needed a different form since I had already taken the test with the same form (form 5).

He came back a few minutes later to tell me that my scores from when I took the ASTB with the Navy were good enough, I didn’t need to retake the exam. I got a 5/5 last time I took the test, and the Marines require a score of 4/6. The Staff Sergeant told me I could just get a 1-point waiver and I’d be good to go. We talked it over with the Captain and he agreed that a better score wouldn’t really help my chances of getting an aviation contract.

Since I came all the way into the office, I knocked a couple more things off my list of to-dos. I went upstairs to the 4th floor (same location as my medical exam) and got fingerprinted. I expected the classic ink fingerprint, but they had a digital fingerprint station. I was on my way back to the OSO office in just minutes, and without black fingertips.

Once back at the office, I was more thoroughly measured by the Staff Sergeant. Apparently they need to be sure I won’t get stuck while ejecting from a jet.

Copies were made of my Social Security card and my birth certificate. I still need to bring in my college diploma, as well as my SAT score report to be copied.

The Staff Sergeant also let me know that they had received all 7 of my letters of reference. All I need to do now is turn in my application which is pretty much done!