Color Vision Deficiency Waiver Granted for NROTC DODMERB

ma25

Member
Joined
Jan 5, 2021
Messages
23
DS had been preparing for USNA since 7th grade. He failed the Ishihara Pip test at the DodMerb Physical. We knew it would be a very slim chance to get a color vision waiver and appointment even though he's pretty awesome :) . After receiving the TWE for USNA we thought all hope was lost. He then received a National NROTC Scholarship 4 year full ride to our state university- super happy about it though it would be pending a color vision waiver from DodMerb. He quickly tried to go thru the steps to provide AMI to Dodmerb. This required him going to a Military Medical Treatment Facility to take a CCV Color Vision Test. We were nervous about him starting school and then the waiver being denied etc. All of the info on this forum points to a very low chance of color vision waivers being granted. And that probably is the case, I just want to give the run down for future seekers and show there is hope.

DS then received a 4 year National AROTC Scholarship! Wow! He had to choose, but knew 100% he wanted Navy and was not exactly willing to take the "safe" Army offer. We allowed him to be the adult he wanted to be and let him make the decision.

DS contacted the cadre at his NROTC unit. They set up an appointment for him to go to the local Airforce Base where they do this vision testing. In the CCV test they separately test each eye for how well they see each color blue red and green. He scored 100% Blue, 90% Red and 60% Green. This is considered "Mild" - however Mild is the lowest score haha.

Yesterday he received the official notification from BUMED that his "medical waiver has been granted for participation in NROTC".

We are super excited for him! He was shooting for the stars and landed on the moon. He will be at school with his cousin and several friends from his childhood that he grew up with. This is exactly where he's meant to be.
 
Congratulations!! I can imagine the excitement at your house tonight!

Thanks for posting about this. 2 out of my 4 boys are CV deficient. One more than the other. I'm interested how they'd do on the CCV. My current applicant is still applying to USNA to see if he can be a unicorn but he's not really putting much stock in it and goes back and forth weekly on whether or not to finish the application. Thankfully, he's applying to USMA, USAFA, AROTC, AFROTC as well where a waiver is more likely.
 
Congratulations!! I can imagine the excitement at your house tonight!

Thanks for posting about this. 2 out of my 4 boys are CV deficient. One more than the other. I'm interested how they'd do on the CCV. My current applicant is still applying to USNA to see if he can be a unicorn but he's not really putting much stock in it and goes back and forth weekly on whether or not to finish the application. Thankfully, he's applying to USMA, USAFA, AROTC, AFROTC as well where a waiver is more likely.
Remain optimistic. My son lucked out and got one to USNA. Sometimes it is comes down to how many waivers are needed in a given class.
 
Congratulations!! I can imagine the excitement at your house tonight!

Thanks for posting about this. 2 out of my 4 boys are CV deficient. One more than the other. I'm interested how they'd do on the CCV. My current applicant is still applying to USNA to see if he can be a unicorn but he's not really putting much stock in it and goes back and forth weekly on whether or not to finish the application. Thankfully, he's applying to USMA, USAFA, AROTC, AFROTC as well where a waiver is more likely.
For USNA, be sure he is clear on what officer communities are closed to him, which are open, to the small percentage who are given the waivers. It is usually Navy Restricted Line, some Navy Staff Corps, and Marines (ground, not air). That means aviation, surface ships, submarines, and others are off the table. Could help in his decision-making. Admissions can clarify that for him.
 
For USNA, be sure he is clear on what officer communities are closed to him, which are open, to the small percentage who are given the waivers. It is usually Navy Restricted Line, some Navy Staff Corps, and Marines (ground, not air). That means aviation, surface ships, submarines, and others are off the table. Could help in his decision-making. Admissions can clarify that for him.
Thank you for that advice. He knows that many career fields are out for him and is realistic but it will be good for him to sit down and map it out.

I found it interesting that USNA asked about any potential issues on the Summer Seminar application. He put down his CV deficiency even though it hasn't been formally diagnosed. We know it exists. I think he liked that it was on the application already so he doesn't need to get all the way through DODMERB before admissions knows about it.
 
Congratulations!! I can imagine the excitement at your house tonight!

Thanks for posting about this. 2 out of my 4 boys are CV deficient. One more than the other. I'm interested how they'd do on the CCV. My current applicant is still applying to USNA to see if he can be a unicorn but he's not really putting much stock in it and goes back and forth weekly on whether or not to finish the application. Thankfully, he's applying to USMA, USAFA, AROTC, AFROTC as well where a waiver is more likely.
Thanks! Celebration day for sure!

You're welcome. You can get the Waggoner color vision test for free- 30 day trial at waggonerdiagnostics.com That may help you see their level of deficiency. It is a lot of work to complete SA applications but totally worth it. Good luck!
 
Thanks for all the important information on this page. I will remain optimistic on my son's service academy applications(USNA, USAFA). He completed his DODMERB vision test last week. We found out after the exam that he has vivid red and vivid green deficiency. We never knew he had this color deficiency.
 
As mentioned in posts above I would recommend you research what limits your son may have in career paths in the military and beyond. for example with aviation, challenge with red/green vision could impact a pilot or navigator's ability to see airport beacons, approach-slope indicators, digital cockpit signals. Most importantly IMO, navigation (tail) lights on aircraft red/ green also advises of direction. The FAA and military branches likely would DQ him from that path - just too dangerous of a disadvantage that would perhaps prohibit passing a Class I flight physical. Same may apply with SWO paths, carrier operations, etc. Certainly he should go for it, but also line up plans B,C,D,E for an education in case the SA path does not work out. Good luck and thanks for your son's willingness to serve.
 
There are just as many red-green challenges in Surface Warfare, Submarine Warfare, and the other unrestricted line (URL) warfare communities as Naval Aviation. USNA is very clear to the annual handful of color vision deficient appointees and midshipmen who receive waivers about what “seats” are likely to be available in the Navy Restricted Line and Staff Officer communities when it’s time for service assignment.
 
DS had been preparing for USNA since 7th grade. He failed the Ishihara Pip test at the DodMerb Physical. We knew it would be a very slim chance to get a color vision waiver and appointment even though he's pretty awesome :) . After receiving the TWE for USNA we thought all hope was lost. He then received a National NROTC Scholarship 4 year full ride to our state university- super happy about it though it would be pending a color vision waiver from DodMerb. He quickly tried to go thru the steps to provide AMI to Dodmerb. This required him going to a Military Medical Treatment Facility to take a CCV Color Vision Test. We were nervous about him starting school and then the waiver being denied etc. All of the info on this forum points to a very low chance of color vision waivers being granted. And that probably is the case, I just want to give the run down for future seekers and show there is hope.

DS then received a 4 year National AROTC Scholarship! Wow! He had to choose, but knew 100% he wanted Navy and was not exactly willing to take the "safe" Army offer. We allowed him to be the adult he wanted to be and let him make the decision.

DS contacted the cadre at his NROTC unit. They set up an appointment for him to go to the local Airforce Base where they do this vision testing. In the CCV test they separately test each eye for how well they see each color blue red and green. He scored 100% Blue, 90% Red and 60% Green. This is considered "Mild" - however Mild is the lowest score haha.

Yesterday he received the official notification from BUMED that his "medical waiver has been granted for participation in NROTC".

We are super excited for him! He was shooting for the stars and landed on the moon. He will be at school with his cousin and several friends from his childhood that he grew up with. This is exactly where he's meant to be.
What communities does his wavier allow him to go into? Can he go unrestricted line?

I'm in a similar situation so I'm trying to find out more information
 
What communities does his wavier allow him to go into? Can he go unrestricted line?

I'm in a similar situation so I'm trying to find out more information

This post is from 2021 and the OP hasn’t been back since then. I doubt you will get a response. Maybe you will get some information from other posters, however.

Stealth_81
 
  • Like
Reactions: axr
What communities does his wavier allow him to go into? Can he go unrestricted line?

I'm in a similar situation so I'm trying to find out more information
@A1Janitor should have insight into that. You can do a search for his posts as he's shared a lot about his son's waiver and status at USNA.
 
What communities does his wavier allow him to go into? Can he go unrestricted line?

I'm in a similar situation so I'm trying to find out more information
I am not involved in waivers, BUT being a boat driver for a long time, being red/green deficient is a bad thing to have when you are responsible for the safe navigation of any vessel. You would not know which side of a vessel you were looking at, nor have any idea of how to maneuver to avoid a collision without ARPA. There are lots and lots of indicator lights on a bridge or CIC that show green for go and red for trouble, if you cannot see immediately which is which it is a danger. I would make an informed guess "Unrestricted Line" would be out unless he can pass a CCV or Lantern test. @Capt MJ would likely have a better idea of what careers he would be eligible for.
 
From navy.com:

Restricted Line Officers are designated for duties in aviation, engineering, aerospace engineering or special duty. Jobs include Aviation Maintenance Officers, Specialists in Cryptographic Support, Intelligence, Automatic Data Processing, Public Affairs and Oceanography.

Staff Corps Officer are specialists in career fields that are professions unto themselves, such as physicians, nurses, chaplains, lawyers, civil engineers, etc.

Also marine ground.

My son flirted with doctor, supply officer, amdo, intelligence, and CEB.
 
What I have observed being offered to NPQ USNA midshipmen: Marine ground, Intel, Crypto, Cyber, Meteorology, Supply, CEC (Construction Engineering Corps, SeaBees), EDO (Engineering Duty Officer), HR, and perhaps a few other cats and dogs. Color vision NPQ may be further restricted if a sea duty tour is part of normal career rotation.

The above listed officer communities are either Restricted Line or Staff Corps. Restricted Line may have command tours within their own communities, as may Staff Corps Officers. There may be some sea duty rotations, but typically not like the Unrestricted Line community officers which rotate between sea/operational and shore duty. RL and Staff Corps officers typically serve in designated billets for their community their entire career, once designated in that field. They become technical and functional leaders in their field. Unrestricted Line officers can command at sea or ashore, as in an aviator would command a squadron but could also command a NTAG (a shore regional recruiting district) in a billet designated for URL. URL officers are professionally developed to do the “big jobs” - Fleet Commanders, Joint Task Force Commanders, NATO Commanders, Battle and Strike Group Commanders, ship/squadron/sub/SEAL Team, EOD Group command - warfare specialists. Staff Corps are the “professionals” - Med Corps, Dental Corps, Nurse Corps, Medical Service Corps, Supply Corps, JAG Corps, Chaplain Corps, etc.

URL, RL and Staff Corps work together to provide the leadership of the Navy, either in broad leadership roles or specialty roles.

Much depends on the needs of the Navy as to how much I take room is available each year in these non-URL communities.
 
Back
Top