Color Vision Waiver

[usna1985]

Sorry about the news. Look for the open window!

One other thing . . . colorblindness is generally not an issue for the Army or Air Force (with some exceptions). Certainly not the same issue as with the seagoing services. That may be an option.

 

[ALW72]

Sorry about the news. Look for the open window!

One other thing . . . colorblindness is generally not an issue for the Army or Air Force (with some exceptions). Certainly not the same issue as with the seagoing services. That may be an option.

We had talked through the possibility of him applying to the other academies/services as well, but once he established that working on ships (especially nuclear ships) was where his interests were it didn't make sense to move forward with it. Especially once he got on campus for his first semester and decided he was going to go for nuclear engineering rather than mechanical. His university is currently the only one in the country that has a nuclear reactor on campus, and when they were able to take a tour of the facility during his intro to engineering careers class (or whatever it was called), he was hooked. I always joke that some kids go to college and meet a girl, but he went and met a nuclear reactor.

With his bad luck genetically (in the eye department anyhow), it sounds like exploring options in the civilian sector are going to be his best bet. Thanks so much for the encouragement!

 

[Butter Cup]

Over the years has anyone heard of a colorblind waiver coming earlier than March or April? If a candidate gets the application in early fall and has Noms what’s to prevent a waiver and acceptance early?

 

[Old Navy BGO]

If a candidate gets the application in early fall and has Noms what’s to prevent a waiver and acceptance early?

Admissions can do whatever they want, when they want...so I am sure that it has happened. However, as a practical matter, it makes much more sense for Admissions to wait until they can identify the entire pool of candidates that need a waiver, then select the best among that very specialized pool.

 

[A1Janitor]

Admissions can do whatever they want, when they want...so I am sure that it has happened. However, as a practical matter, it makes much more sense for Admissions to wait until they can identify the entire pool of candidates that need a waiver, then select the best among that very specialized pool.

Exactly.

Also - I would assume they would wait until the slates are settled. If my son was the third best candidate on his MOC slate, wouldn’t they wait until they knew the 3q staus of the whole slate before looking at a waiver?

 

[A1Janitor]

Over the years has anyone heard of a colorblind waiver coming earlier than March or April? If a candidate gets the application in early fall and has Noms what’s to prevent a waiver and acceptance early?

My son’s dq was end of December/early January and his waiver came early February.

 

[ProudDad2022]

My son’s dq was end of December/early January and his waiver came early February.

Over the years has anyone heard of a colorblind waiver coming earlier than March or April? If a candidate gets the application in early fall and has Noms what’s to prevent a waiver and acceptance early

My son received his waiver in early Feb also. He was foundation though. Not sure if that makes a difference in timing.

 

[Butter Cup]

My son’s dq was end of December/early January and his waiver came early February.

When did you submit your completed application and DODMERB?

 

[A1Janitor]

When did you submit your completed application and DODMERB?

I believe finished application was early December.

 

[ejh101303]

Anyone new here hear anything about a CV waiver yet?

 

[Shazamsail23]

My DS needs a CV waiver….still waiting.

 

[ejh101303]

My DoDMERB portal for USNA just changed from "Under waiver review" to "Under DoDMERB Review." Fingers crossed

 

[Shazamsail23]

My DoDMERB portal for USNA just changed from "Under waiver review" to "Under DoDMERB Review." Fingers crossed

Did you hear anything further on your waiver?

 

[Tx5Smith]

Beautifully explained. The “colorblind bucket” is its own competitive pool. Only x appointments will be drawn out of that bucket, and the final size of the bucket is not known until all DoDMERB evaluation decisions are complete.

Is this the same for NROTC as well?

 

[Capt MJ]

Is this the same for NROTC as well?

NROTC has a different waiver authority and policy than USNA. I believe NROTC does not typically give color vision waivers; the Navy program is focused on creating unrestricted line officers for the Navy. USNA allows just a handful each year, and their career field choices are limited. USCGA and USMMA are similarly stringent on waivers. I believe USMA and USAFA are less so; I suspect the same for their ROTC programs. I do not know if the waiver is more obtainable if it is the Marine Option for NROTC, allowing them to go Marine ground but not Marine air. This is all to the best of my unofficial knowledge.

This thread is a year old. This issue comes up every year, and there is a current thread on color vision here in the USNA forum. You may want to search the ROTC forum for related threads.

@GWU PNS (emeritus) are you available to assist?

 

[Butter Cup]

Is this the same for NROTC as well?

Hey there! I just sent you a private message. Two different waiver processes through DODMERB and NROTC rarely if ever commissions a colorblind mid/cadet. They commission restricted line officers only. My message explains it all.