Let me just say thanks for having us and what a ride! My DS has applied to both the Naval and Air Force Academies and has received a conditional LOA to NAPS. We got correspondence regarding both DODMerb reviews. For the Air Force Academy we just had to submit Administrative AMI, but for the Naval Academy (NAPS) an automatic waiver was submitted because of "Color vision deficiency"...which we had no idea he had.
What's the likelihood of him being DQ'd from NAPs because of this? How long would this waiver take if granted or not?...we've already submitted all other AMI's. Should we get a second or third opinion/eye exam? How late does the Air Force Academy offer appointments to their prep school? I know you can't really know until you know. Just looking for insight from those that may have experienced any of this.
The color vision deficiency is a high hurdle to clear. USNA admits only a tiny handful of color-deficient appointees each year. A good thing is if he gets a waiver for NAPS, successfully completes NAPS, then that means they are saving a seat for him among that handful of color-deficient appointees this time next year.
Your son should have a candid talk with his Admissions POC. Color-deficient midshipmen are barred from being commissioned into the major Navy warfare communities (unrestricted line, or URL) such as aviation, surface (ships), submarines, SEAL, EOD, etc., and will only be allowed to commission into some of the restricted line or staff corps communities, such as intel, cyber, meteorological, supply corps, etc. He will not know what will be available (which community will have room), I believe, until his first class year. Marine ground (everything but aviation, I think) will also be open to him, as I understand it. The color deficient appointees are informed of this before executing their appointment and reporting for induction, so they are clear about what can and cannot happen for them, career-wise. Backing it up a year, if your son receives one of the few waivers, this is what awaits him. The Admissions team member, his official source, can advise him on how this works, and he should take good notes, so he is crystal on what doors will be open or closed to him. If he is fortunate enough to be waivered, has a desire to serve, then there will be excellent career paths available, but if his lifelong dream was to be a Navy or Marine pilot or the like, that door is closed. Full color vision is considered necessary for URL.
As to your questions on the AMI, second opinions, DoDMERB process, and so on, posting in the DoDMERB forum (or maybe a mod will decide to move this thread there), will likely bring a response from
@MullenLE , the Deputy Director of DoDMERB, to offer to communicate with your DS by email and phone.
Good luck - if he gets this waiver, that means USNA really, really wants him and is willing to hold one of the few color-deficient slots in the Class of 2027 for him. He should know, though, what the ramifications are for his service assignment choices down the road.
I suspect USAFA may be similar, but I know nothing about how they handle career paths for this group. Once again, Admissions should be the primary resource.
