Justanotherperson: if you don't mind, please let us know how this ends up for you. DS wants to apply to USCGA, but has a similar issue. He cannot perceive many of the numbers on the Ishihara PIP color vision test. Frankly, he is not one of those people that is good at recognizing optical illusions, either, and I think it is part of the problem. He can distinguish red from green in all other aspects of life, and we are confident he could pass the FALANT test or OPTEC 900 if given the opportunity. Would love to hear from someone that actually went through the process....good luck!
KPO, and others, My DS went through this last year. There is a lot of info in color vision deficiencies on this board, just use the search function.
After DS failed the PIP (out of the blue for us) we saw our eye Dr. (a very highly skilled Dr) where he failed the PIP again. Not even close. He can see plain colors but can not discern the pastels and blending that one confronts on the PIP. Because of all that I did a lot of reading regards the problem, the tests, and all related things. If it helps, you can blame the maternal grandfather as the source of the gene.
I really hate being a bucket of cold water, but I do not want to soft soap it either for any of the readers. Last year, for the first time, USMMA decided to simply not consider candidates who could not pass the PIP. No alternate tests were considered. USCG and USNA continue to 'officially' hold out the option of offering the FALANT test (as noted by other posters). In my opinion, unless one is a pro-level athlete or has some other quality that is highly desired by the USCGA or USNA, one is not going to be offered the FALANT mas a means to get in. Sorry if that is too blunt, but they do not trot people through this alternate test routinely, and even if you find someone to give the test, I doubt they will give it serious consideration. I anticipate that in time the CG and Navy will follow the path of the USMMA.
The FALANT (Farnsworth Lantern Test) is more forgiving. It was developed by a Navy Dr. Farnsworth back in the 50's, I recall, as a means to screen for color deficiency, while at the same time not unnecessarily excluding many applicants and draftees. The machine used to give the test has not been manufactured in 30 or 40 years and therefore increasing hard to find. Plus any creditable eye Dr. will report that the PIP is the gold std.
Now, if those reading this can get their head around the color Green, the Army (and, I understand, the AF for non-pilots) are far less concerned with color vision. That is not to say "not interested", but accept applicants who can at least discern the colors on a traffic signal. Thus my DS is currently a Army ROTC cadet.
My advice is, yes, hold out hope, but get busy on plan B and C. If Plan B and C include military service, get busy looking into the Army & AF.
The petty officer I spoke with suggested that I should look into the Army, Air Force, or the Marine Corps. I'll be doing Army ROTC in UCI. There's a reason for everything, right? I look forward to Army ROTC.