Hi Eagle 1. Your last comment about needing to be correctable to 20/20. My DS was told by his eye doctor that he has 20/25 vision and that it is not correctable. Are there waivers for this? He knows he could never fly but still very much would like to be in the Marines. Are we wasting our time applying to USNA?
Department of Defense Standard according to DoDI 6130.03, April 2010, incorporating change Sept '11.
5. VISION
a. Current distant visual acuity of any degree that does not correct with spectacle lenses to at
least one of the following (367):
(1) 20/40 in one eye and 20/70 in the other eye (369.75).
(2) 20/30 in one eye and 20/100 in the other eye (369.75).
(3) 20/20 in one eye and 20/400 in the other eye (369.73).
b. Current near visual acuity of any degree that does not correct to 20/40 in the better eye
(367.1-367.32).
c. Current refractive error (hyperopia (367.0), myopia (367.1), astigmatism (367.2x)), in
excess of -8.00 or +8.00 diopters spherical equivalent or astigmatism in excess of 3.00 diopters.
d. Any condition requiring contact lenses for adequate correction of vision, such as corneal
scars and opacities (370.0x) and irregular astigmatism (367.22)
These could result in a disqualification by DoDMERB. Please understand, each academy will use additional service specific standards as well.
For the Army,
AR 40-501 states:
2–13. Vision
a. Current distant visual acuity of any degree that does not correct with spectacle lenses to at least one of the
following does not meet the standard:
(1) 20/40 in one eye and 20/70 in the other eye.
(2) 20/30 in one eye and 20/100 in the other eye.
(3) 20/20 in one eye and 20/400 in the other eye.
9b. However, for entrance into USMA or ROTC, distant visual acuity that does not correct to 20/20 in one eye and
20/40 in the other eye does not meet the standard. For entrance into OCS, distant visual acuity that does not correct to
20/20 in one eye and 20/100 in the other eye does not meet the standard.
c. Current near visual acuity of any degree that does not correct to 20/40 in the better eye does not meet the
standard.
d. Current refractive error (hyperopia (367.0), myopia (367.1), astigmatism (367.2)), or history of refractive error
prior to any refractive surgery manifest by any refractive error in spherical equivalent of worse than -8.00 or +8.00
diopters does not meet the standard. However, for entrance into USMA or Army ROTC programs, the following
conditions do not meet the standard:
(1) Astigmatism, all types over 3 diopters.
(2) Hyperopia over 8.00 diopters spherical equivalent.
(3) Myopia over 8 diopters spherical equivalent.
Thus, USMA/ROTC requires a higher vision standard than OCS or enlistment. Not sure about the Navy/USNA/NROTC standards.
Knowing this, my recommendation is to just do it. All they can do is say "no."