DODMERB Fail for Colorblindness - Waiver?

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brandda

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My son took his DODMERB exam a couple of weeks ago and we just received notification that he has failed it because, while he passed all of the medical tests, he was determined to be colorblind. I am also colorblind so it is not a huge surprise that he has inherited this trait, but it was a significant surprise that this was considered a failing disability.

On the notification that DODMERB sent, they said that this was not necessarily a disqualifying situation and that we could request a waiver from USNA. Unfortunately, this is all they told us which raises more questions than anything else.

So, can anyone help me with answers to the following?

1) Does anyone know the process for applying for the waiver that DODMERB mentions?

2) Does anyone know about the success rate associated with granting of these waivers in both general and the specific circumstance of colorblindness?

Thanks. Things are pretty anxious for us right now so any help that can be provided would be greatly appreciated.
 
Not an expert- just another parent traversing this process with my kid- there are others here who will chime in with more specifics.

Having said that, a couple of things that may help:

-the waiver process is initiated by the academy, not by the applicant. If your son is "in the running" for USNA, they will pursue the waiver on his behalf. You will be informed and may be asked to perform additional steps such as submitting more records or having additional tests. An admissions person at USNA would be the logical person to ask about your son's status for a waiver.

-this flow chart was helpful to me:
https://dodmerb.tricare.osd.mil/Content/InitExamRemedEvalProc.pdf

Hope this is a helpful start to you and to him.
 
From what they told BGOs a couple of years ago (I assume it hasn't changed), up to 2% of the entering class may receive a waiver for colorblindness. That's roughly 20-24 mids. We were also told that they are required on I-Day to sign a commitment saying they will select USMC.

Being honest, color-blindness waivers are extremely rare. Not saying your DS won't be one of the fortunate ones, but please ensure he has a Plan B. Note that other SAs, especially USMA, may be more liberal with waivers for color-blindness. For the USN, so many warfare specialties (aviation, surface, subs, SEALs) require accurate color vision. So, waivers are hard to come by b/c of the limited commissioning opportunities.
 
The 20 - 24 waivers per year is about what you can expect. The Academy will initiate the process. However you're not forced to sign on with Marines...that's Service Selection which occurs in Senior Year and the Marines are themselves very selective.

Colorblindness waiver means you will be "limited" to restricted line jobs or the Marines.

Keep your application process moving forward but by all means have your plan B ready if your goal is to serve as a Naval Officer. That's motivation.
 
Does anyone know how this affects the ROTC scholarship? He is definitely interested in a military career even if he does not get into USNA and would want to pursue that route if possible.
 
I was diagnosed as "color vision deficiency" but I am positive I am not colorblind. I wouldn't like to compete with the 20-24 mids who can get waivers for it because it would be very tough and I'm not colorblind.

I guess for some reason i just missed one too many on the test.

How should I go about fixing this problem.
 
I got a color blindness waiver (class of 2015- yes I am one of those scum of the earth plebe things), but the waiver process is not much fun. Send them and email telling them you need one (they should already know this) but they will make sure are in the running for one. From there you can do nothing and it sucks, but at the end of the day things will work out for the best. Good luck with everything.
 
nickm5 said:
I was diagnosed as "color vision deficiency" but I am positive I am not colorblind. I wouldn't like to compete with the 20-24 mids who can get waivers for it because it would be very tough and I'm not colorblind.

I guess for some reason i just missed one too many on the test.

How should I go about fixing this problem.
Click to expand...

No one is actually colorblind at the academy, everyone is color vision deficient and people just refer to it as color blindness so unfortunately unless you are retested and it is deamed the first test was just a mistake you will compete with the other applicants.
 
1191 said:
I got a color blindness waiver (class of 2015- yes I am one of those scum of the earth plebe things), but the waiver process is not much fun. Send them and email telling them you need one (they should already know this) but they will make sure are in the running for one. From there you can do nothing and it sucks, but at the end of the day things will work out for the best. Good luck with everything.
Click to expand...
What are your career options??

Did you sign a statement that you would opt for USMC?
 
My DS was also diagnosed as color deficient during his DODMERB exam. USNA had requested a FALANT test be taken. He passed that with flying colors and now no waiver is needed...
 
That is excellent news and is what we are hoping for. Do we have to wait for USNA to request the FALANT or does it make sense for us to go ahead and have it administered and send the results (if positive) in?
 
It showed up as a remedial from DODMERB, requested by USNA. My DS took the test at a military treatment facility that DODMERB helped arrange. I would probably wait and go through the procedure they recommend...the cost is covered by them then as well!
 
Mongo said:
What are your career options??

Did you sign a statement that you would opt for USMC?
Click to expand...

So I did sign the document saying I would go Marine Corps (ground). This however does not lock me into Marine Ground. That statement is only if they need me. So I could still very easily go intelligence, or Navy restricted line. On the other hand, having signed the document, they could decide they want me in the Marine Corps and I have no say (but look at it this way, nor does anyone else. It is service assignment, not selection. It comes down to the needs of the Navy. Granted I would be one of the first to go Marine Corps if they needed people to do so).

As for the falant test, don't wait to long if they do not contact you about taking it. They never requested me to take it. It may have been because no one in my home state offers the test, but it rarely hurts to be proactive.
 
No one in our home state offers the test either, but DoDMERB directed us to the nearest out of state facility...we were lucky it was an adjacent state! :)
 
"Everyone is 'Color deficient'"? I don't think that is true. Remedial for color deficiencies is probably an automatic referral for FALANT as the last resort. I don't think there is a document for MC Ground Only for admission but it does restrict for SWO and possible automatic Restricted Line Yes. Marine selection has become very selective.
 
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