Opportunities When Dropped for Color

huenemed

5-Year Member
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Jul 11, 2011
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My son received his appointment, and got half way through indoc at Kings Point when he failed his color vision test. The color vision is necessary for the requisite Coast Guard license.

Will this impair him from other academy opportunities? Will getting the appointment to KP help him in any way? I assume he will have to go through the entire application process again, correct?

He had his heart set on studying engineering, and obviously his grades, community service, athletics, etc. are all top notch.

Any insight anyone can give would be greatly appreciated.
 
Check with DoDMERB but FALANT "Farnsworth Lantern Test" may be his next test. This is a more specific test for color vision and may be the best to override the first vision disqualification. They have to distinguish green from red as a minimum as most Chanel markers are green and red.
 
Thanks AF6872 - yes he failed FALANT. I was wondering if his prior appointment to KP would help out with the other academies - it appears that AF, if commissioned and not flying, does not require passing the color test, as does West Point.
 
huenemed,

I've been following the dismaying events on this and the MMA thread. I'm very sorry for the disappointment your son must feel. I know you will remind him that this was not his failure!

No doubt he, and you and his other parent, will want to take a bit to evaluate your options. The truth is, I don't think we know whether being appointed to, and subsequently medically disenrolled from, MMA will help with another SA's appointment, but it certainly cannot hurt at all to inquire. In a practical sense, having gone through the appointment process itself will be very helpful if he decides to pursue that route. I'd think a call to each respective academy's Admissions Office would be in order. DoDMERB is good for two years, so he won't have to go through that if he decides to reapply this year. And contacting the MoC who proffered the nomination to MMA last year, explaining the circumstances, may garner him some personalized attention to his case.

In the case of USNA, color blindness is waiverable, although I believe it is infrequent. You can and should check with Admissions to get an idea of the realistic chances. Please keep us posted, to the extent you care to.

Fair winds and following seas,

LAP
 
Thanks for the advise LAP. We're putting together a game plan now. I didn't know that the color vision requirement could be waived at USNA - we'll check into that. I know with AFA he can go "commissioned" (i.e. not fly) and that there is the same option in USMA. He is certainly resilient if anything - if you talked to him today you wouldn't know the disappointment he felt just 3 days ago.

I have a plan of action for him to execute and he'll be busy - I told him "just because you're not at Kings Point doesn't mean Kings Point isn't with you"!

He's got a lot of foot work to do, as well as ensure at least a full load in the local community college unless for some reason he can get into CalMaritime for this semester (complete long shot so not getting any hopes up for that!).

I'll keep the status posted for those in the future who may encounter similar setbacks - if anything I have learned, more often than not its endurance that matters!
 
Thanks for the advise LAP. We're putting together a game plan now. I didn't know that the color vision requirement could be waived at USNA - we'll check into that. I know with AFA he can go "commissioned" (i.e. not fly) and that there is the same option in USMA. He is certainly resilient if anything - if you talked to him today you wouldn't know the disappointment he felt just 3 days ago.

I have a plan of action for him to execute and he'll be busy - I told him "just because you're not at Kings Point doesn't mean Kings Point isn't with you"!

He's got a lot of foot work to do, as well as ensure at least a full load in the local community college unless for some reason he can get into CalMaritime for this semester (complete long shot so not getting any hopes up for that!).

I'll keep the status posted for those in the future who may encounter similar setbacks - if anything I have learned, more often than not its endurance that matters!

For USNA the color blindness issue may, in very rare occasions be waived for those who choose the Marine Corps option.
 
For USNA the color blindness issue may, in very rare occasions be waived for those who choose the Marine Corps option.
Doesn't make sense. The waiver is prior to induction. The Marine Corps option is not made until first class year.
 
There are those that slip through the DoDMERB screening and are offered an appointment to USNA, during medical at USNA the FALANT colorblindness test is failed. In very special, rare circumstances the Marine Corps option has been offered, but again, this is in specific cases determined by USNA.
 
There are those that slip through the DoDMERB screening and are offered an appointment to USNA, during medical at USNA the FALANT colorblindness test is failed. In very special, rare circumstances the Marine Corps option has been offered, but again, this is in specific cases determined by USNA.

Not a matter of "slip(ping) through" at all. The Ishihara and Falant tests are different and a certain percentage of the male population will be able to fail one and pass the other. DoDMERB contracts with civilian facilities which are not trained to administer the FALANT test which is the defining USNA test for admission. Therefore, a few will candidates will show up on I-Day who will fail the FALANT test. RetNavyHM, a past contributer to this forum, who both worked at DoDMERB and administered the I-Day physical exams once commented that he had never heard of a candidate being sent home on I-Day for failing the exam. I have never heard of a candidate being forced to take the Marine Corps option on I-Day as a condition of remaining. They can also select all the branches of restricted line (intelligence, supply, CEC, etc).

The above only applies to those who pass the Ishihara. For those who flunk it, they will be given another chance by being administered the FALANT. If they pass this, they are good to go. If they flunk this, they will require a waiver. The Supt annually grants a few waivers to these individuals. For them, when they do their applications, should they know that they are going to flunk both tests, by avowing in their essay that all they have ever wanted their entire life is to be a Marine, it might influence their waiver. Perhaps this is the situation of which you are thinking.
 
Doesn't make sense. The waiver is prior to induction. The Marine Corps option is not made until first class year.

usna1985 addressed that in another thread:

I believe USNA told us that up to 2% (~20 mids) of the class can receive a waiver for color-blindness each year. If I recall correctly, you must sign something on I-Day (or before) stating that you will go USMC.
 
If I recall correctly, you must sign something on I-Day (or before) stating that you will go USMC.
I had this very situation a couple of years ago and had extensive conversations with RetNavyHM and he never indicated this. Also in this anecodatal example, my candidate was not asked to sign anything. He was actually disappointed in that whoever relayed the info to him, emphasized heavily Supply Corps, which was the least of his desires. Additionally, knowing the USMC as well as I do, as selective as they appear to be at USNA, I don't think they would be willing to accept someone due simply to a physical default.
 
I had this very situation a couple of years ago and had extensive conversations with RetNavyHM and he never indicated this. Also in this anecodatal example, my candidate was not asked to sign anything. He was actually disappointed in that whoever relayed the info to him, emphasized heavily Supply Corps, which was the least of his desires. Additionally, knowing the USMC as well as I do, as selective as they appear to be at USNA, I don't think they would be willing to accept someone due simply to a physical default.

Correction. In retrospect I do seem to recall that he did have to sign that he had been informed that he was ineligible to select unrestricted Navy line.
 
Correction. In retrospect I do seem to recall that he did have to sign that he had been informed that he was ineligible to select unrestricted Navy line.

This jives with my fall semester ac year roomie's experience, Mongo. She was one of the extremely small number of women who are color-blind to some extent (it is a sex-linked trait on the X chromosome, so a woman has to inherit both copies of the gene to be color-blind). Since USMC is and cannot be either promised or guaranteed, she signed a statement to the effect that she understood she was ineligible for unrestricted line service selection.

However, if the appointee understands this going in, there are still excellent service-selection billets available.
 
Long shot hit! A Hail Mary pass in the form of an impassioned plea to the Director of Admissions at CalMaritime opened up admissions for my son for this semester. As of this moment the only requirement left is to get his medical forms completed and all should be good! Thanks all for the advice.
 
huenemed,
Congratulations to your son....way to find the other/next door when the first was closed!
 
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