Eye Waiver for -6.5 in one eye?

kayaker

Mother of USNA Graduate (Class of 2019)
5-Year Member
Joined
Feb 5, 2013
Messages
141
My son was accepted to NASS 2013 and is looking forward to finding out whether the USNA experience is for him. It looks like he may not meet the vision requirement, and I'm wondering how likely a waiver would be for an otherwise top candidate -- scholar/two sport athlete team captain. Hoping he won't get his heart set on USNA to be DQed for having his mom's eyes.
 
Waivers are case by case. There is no flat answer.

I am sorry, but I don't know what the parameters are for vision, but I would think that if he is way off the parameters, the waiver would be harder even if he is a great candidate.

Eyes are not like wisdom, they don't get better with age, they get only worse. Giving a waiver in civilian world perspective is like a health insurance company accepting a pre-existing condition for at least 9 yrs. SA=4, AD = 5.

He decides to stay for 20, and it is a lifetime of coverage.

Off topic, but for many the real concern is now sequestration and the impact on every branch. JMPO, if they are wilingl to stop funding the Blue Angels, shorter sea tours, flight training and healthcare is already on the list, it doesn't take a leap of imagination to guess there will be an impact on SAs and ROTC too.

Sequestration is not going to be a 1 yr budget cut, it is planned tol end in 2023 when his commitment is up. The hierarchy knows this.
 
Thank you, Pima. The parameter in the catalog is -6. My son is -5.5 in one eye and -6.5 in the other. I understand the likelihood of more change for the worse -- heading to the optometrist next week for a checkup before baseball season starts up. When we encouraged him to consider a military career, we weren't even thinking about his eyesight because it's corrected to 20/20.

Regarding sequestration, a very sad state of affairs. Both my son's grandfathers are USN Retired, and I am a former DoD civilian employee. We are watching what's happening with dismay.
 
There is a posting on here somewhere from Larry Mullen in September 2010 noting that USNA changed its standard to -8 diopters myopia permitted before a waiver is needed, consistent with USMA and USAFA. But a web search pulls up the 6.0. Can anyone confirm which is the current standard?
 
Thanks, SeaMars. I looked back to September 2010 but couldn't find the post by Larry Mullen you reference. I guess he is no longer around? Is there another guru? I have seen references to the -8 standard too, but I'm wondering if it changed. I contacted Admissions yesterday to ask the question, but I didn't get a call back -- busy with the move, I imagine. Having studied the forum a bit more, I realize how individualized the waiver process is, so perhaps it is a hurdle to get over, not a big black wall blocking the way? My son is looking forward to NASS, so we'll send him and hope for the best on the vision front.
 
From a post in September 2010:
"Myopia limits also differ between the services.
For Sea Services the limit is -6 and for others it is -8.*
My son's myopia is just over -6 so he qualified medically for USMA, but needed a waiver for USNA (these are very hard to get and he was fortunate to be granted one). There are a number of stories on these forums of people who originally desired only USNA, but because of their vision, they changed paths and applied to USMA, received appointments and have been very happy there."

Response from Larry Mullen, Deputy Director of DODMERB, 10/2/2010:
Effective 28 Apr 2010, that is no longer correct. This new standard is "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 {does NOT meet standards}:thumb:

I don't know if this is still correct, but would love to find out. Can anyone confirm or correct?
 
My dad sent me information from NAVMED P-117. Page 15-29, Entry Into a Program Leading to a Commission in the Navy Unrestricted Line, appears to have a standard almost identical to the standard in the catalog. The standard for Navy Restricted Line is -8 or +8. I see why the Unrestricted Line standard applies to USNA candidates since the USN invests so much in them. So, it seems a waiver would be necessary for my son unless his vision improves:eek: Hopefully, if he decides the USNA is something he really wants to pursue, he'll impress enough to justify a waiver.
 
My dad sent me information from NAVMED P-117. Page 15-29, Entry Into a Program Leading to a Commission in the Navy Unrestricted Line, appears to have a standard almost identical to the standard in the catalog. The standard for Navy Restricted Line is -8 or +8. I see why the Unrestricted Line standard applies to USNA candidates since the USN invests so much in them. So, it seems a waiver would be necessary for my son unless his vision improves:eek: Hopefully, if he decides the USNA is something he really wants to pursue, he'll impress enough to justify a waiver.

According to the Manual Of the Medical Dept of the Navy (the same reference you were sent) the current standards for accession into a program leading to an URL commission the standards are -6 to +6. Unfortunately that is the best data I have and can't reconcile it with the quote from Mr. Mullen above. Either way a waiver may be possible, but if you wanted exact clarification I would call the USNA admissions office.
 
My current prescription (fresh from the Plebe Summer optometry exam) is:

Right: -4.25, -3.25 astigmatism
Left: -6.25, -3.25 astigmatism

A bit over the limits for both eyes.

A waiver is possible. Unrestricted line may be another story, but I'm still here.
 
Thank you all! I called USNA Admissions and am waiting to hear back from them (Medical Officer?) next week. They re moving offices, so we'll wait. when I hear something, I'll post what I find out.

My husband I feel like USNA and USN are a great choice for this son, though I'm learning being Restricted Line may not be ideal career-wise.

Thanks again for your feedback on this forum!
 
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