Color Deficiency Waiver

Typically, receipt of a waiver for any medical condition means that USNA is strongly considering offering you an appointment. The reason is that they only review waivers for such candidates; it's a resource issue.
 
usna1985 said:
Typically, receipt of a waiver for any medical condition means that USNA is strongly considering offering you an appointment. The reason is that they only review waivers for such candidates; it's a resource issue.
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Will they send a letter in the mail, or is it an automatic update on the portal?
 
I think medical clearance appears on the portal but am not certain. For appointments, MOCs are given about a week to notify candidates. Whether they do or don't, after a certain number of days, the portal is updated and then a hard copy certificate is mailed.
 
usna1985 said:
I think medical clearance appears on the portal but am not certain. For appointments, MOCs are given about a week to notify candidates. Whether they do or don't, after a certain number of days, the portal is updated and then a hard copy certificate is mailed.
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OK. Thank you for the help.
 
usnamidshipmenhopeful said:
Will they send a letter in the mail, or is it an automatic update on the portal?
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My son received a waiver for color deficiency back in Nov.
Your DODMERB portal will say 'waiver granted', but it won't show on your USNA portal.
The only mail he got is from USNA notifying him about the waiver and asked him to sign a form that says that he understands that he's limited in his options upon commissioning to USMC grounds and restricted lines.
 
I received a waiver last Friday. I saw my portal changed under the required actions tab. Usually it says complete medical qualification exam but now it says none. I emailed my BGO who told me I was granted a waiver. Does anyone know how many candidates receive a red green color blind waiver?
 
USNA is permitted to grant a colorblind waiver to up to 2% of the entering class (around 22 people). Typically, fewer than that actually receive such a waiver.
 
My DS portal also shows "none"under the requirements tab. He was earlier disqualified for color deficiency. I am hoping that means a waiver has been granted. Did the Dodmerb status change for anyone ? The site seems to be down and am unable to access the Dodmerb site.
 
If you're uncertain regarding whether a waiver has been granted, I suggest you contact your RD (Admissions counselor) who will have the official status.
 
Yes, I checked with admissions and they confirmed he did receive a waiver. Hopefully there is a good chance for an appointment.
 
Just got off the phone with the admissions person in charge of medical who confirmed my waiver. She said those who receive waivers will be receiving a letter about it as well.
 
I would take this as a good sign but not get your hopes up too much. Not much thought has to go into a waiver for colorblindness -- you're either colorblind or you're not. [Contrast that to "history of concussion" or eczema or severe allergies -- these issues are a bit more nuanced and individualistic from a medical perspective.] The only issue for USNA is the number of those with colorblindness who can be appointed, which is NMT 2% of each incoming class.

Thus, it is possible that USNA is simply granting waivers up front to everyone who needs one (because doing so wouldn't seem to take much effort from a resource standpoint) and then figuring out which of those folks will actually receive appointments. I'm NOT saying this is what has happened; merely, that it is possible that USNA could take this approach with an issue like colorblindness.

Ergo, it's a positive development, but not a dispositive one.
 
I should have been more clear. No more than 2% can be appointed with colorblindness -- this is b/c of the limitations upon graduation. They can give waivers to everyone if they like. In the past, it seems they have only given waivers if they intended to make an appointment. This year, as you note, it seems like a lot of folks have been granted waivers on this site alone. That makes me wonder if they are just handing out the waivers and then making the decision point at the appointment level. However, that is ONLY a guess on my part -- could well be wrong.
 
There's only 4 people on this forum who got the waiver last week. With all the information that I've been reading on this forum, it looks like color deficiency waivers are rare and only given out to competitive candidates. It's very good thing that one more hurdle has been cleared. I don't think we need to stress over if everyone's else is getting a waiver.
 
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Thanks for
usna1985 said:
I should have been more clear. No more than 2% can be appointed with colorblindness -- this is b/c of the limitations upon graduation. They can give waivers to everyone if they like. In the past, it seems they have only given waivers if they intended to make an appointment. This year, as you note, it seems like a lot of folks have been granted waivers on this site alone. That makes me wonder if they are just handing out the waivers and then making the decision point at the appointment level. However, that is ONLY a guess on my part -- could well be wrong.
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Thanks for the clarification.
 
DODMERB portal finally updated to say color blind waiver granted. Has anyone who received a colorblind waiver had their DODMERB portal update as well?
 
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