Naval Academy Waiver Process

A1Janitor

A1Janitor

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So DoDMERB disqualified my son for color blindness. Since he has an LOA, the waiver process automatically started.

The waiver is given by the Superintendent.

By what is the process - Does admissions fill out a waiver request and send it to the Superintendent?

Does admissions give recommendations to the Superintendent?

Does the Superintendent review the file diligently, or is it a rubber stamp of the recommendation of admissions?
 
It’s a team effort to build out each year’s class.

Medical folks well-versed in commissioning standards, medical record review, DODMERB process, past precedent, current waiver policy and other factors are an integral part of the Admissions process. No doubt the color deficient group is being reviewed now, more applications are still being processed, DODMERB findings and remedial updates are incoming, with the upcoming 1/31 USNA deadline. The entire application is looked at and scored; LOA decisions are made. At some point, the number of available waivers, or a range of waivers, for color deficiency will be determined, based on the needs of the Navy and Marine Corps.

The Superintendent and his staff have a close working relationship with Admissions, likely involving regular briefings. As a 3-star admiral in a leadership position similar to the President of a college, the Supe no doubt has indicated which aspects of Admissions decisions he wants in-depth briefings on, which cases he wants to make personal decisions on, and which he feels comfortable delegating to the Director of Admissions and his staff. We don’t know what the Supe’s “standing orders” are.

Admissions will prep the appropriate executive document with background, analysis and recommended decisions to the degree the Supe has indicated he desires for his decisions he chooses to make.

The Navy selects its Supes very carefully, and I am willing to bet the Supes take this particular part of their large scope of responsibility very seriously. A few years ago, the Admissions Director was a retired two-star admiral, USNA grad and Ph.D., and I know how committed he was to his team learning everything they could about a candidate, and making the decision that was right for the Navy and right for the candidate.

I believe the Admissions team is a group dedicated to building the best possible class each year under the leadership of an involved Supe.

The fact your DS has an LOA is, of course, a very strong factor in his favor, as has been discussed on other threads about your situation. USNA said they would save a seat for him on a conditional basis. Now they know they have a DQ to deal with, so they will consider his case along with all others vying for the color deficient waivers, who may or may not have LOAs, and whose record may score higher or lower.

This may take time to play out, as applications have not yet closed, and I don’t know how close they are to determining the final range of the class size and the target range/number of color deficiency waivers.

Hang in there. It could be days, weeks or months.
 
A1Janitor said:
This waiting sucks! I wish someone would contact the Supe for me and tell him I am getting tired of waiting.
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1) Get used to it. It's part of the military.
2) CAPT MJ gives a great summary of the Supe's involvement in the Admissions process, but fails to mention that the Supe also has a bazillion (technical term) other issues on his plate at any time.
3) USNA's objective is to let candidates know their admissions status by April 15 -- that is a long time away and I would expect the first priority is the evaluation of 3Q candidates; then dealing with waivers.

I presume that your comment about getting tired of waiting is partly in jest, but there are thousands of parents and candidates in your shoes, and the Supe is fully aware of the anxiety. (Remember, he was in those shoes himself (long ago, even longer than me by 2 years), and probably has gone through the college admissions process with his own kids). That being said, relief of the anxiety is probably low on his list --there is a reason for the April 15 objective, any expectation before that date is self induced anxiety.
 
Yep, the Supe, as the “college president,” is dealing with complex budget issues, competing resources, midshipman cases of all kinds, leading and directing all the divisions of the entire USNA complex and supporting units...I think bazillion is a fair estimate. It is a big job with a bull’s-eye painted on it. With the advent of social media and email, all kinds of folks offer him advice!
 
Colorblindness is a bit different than most medical DQs. First, it's a (no-pun intended) black/white issue. You either have it or you don't. It's not like "history of concussions" or something else that must be evaluated individually.

Second, USNA can admit up to 2% of each class with a colorblindness waiver. That's roughly 24 people. My impression is that they typically don't reach that number and the actual number admitted is about half of that.

My guess on the process is that they look at the number of folks needing waivers for colorblindness, determine the number they want to admit with the condition this year, and then select the best. This is no different than any other admissions decision.

The Supe's involvement is likely mostly related to determining the number of candidates with colorblindness who will be admitted this year. I doubt he spends much (if any) time reviewing each person's file and largely (if not entirely) relies on Admissions to determine who will receive the waivers and offers of Obviously, he can be as involved or not as he deems appropriate -- but he certainly doesn't have time to review thousands of records individually, which is why he has the Admissions staff.appointment.

If your son has an LOA and a nom, then the decision of the waiver is really a decision of an appointment. IOW, if Candidate A has no LOA, giving that person a waiver now doesn't do anything other than make him eligible to receive an appointment. If Candidate B (your DS) has an LOA and a nom, giving candidate B a waiver removes all obstacles to an appointment. Thus, I agree fully with Capt MJ that they are deciding how many CB folks to admit and who are the most qualified folks for that spot. Also agree that the fact your DS has an LOA certainly puts him high on the list but no one here knows if it's high enough or when the final decisions will be made (other than before April 15).

Finally, I assume someone has communicated to your DS that, if he is appointed, his option on service selection will be limited and he'll likely be asked to sign something saying he understand this. I believe available options are USMC ground, restricted line and staff corps. IOW, no ships, subs or aviation.
 
My son wants to be a naval officer. He understands the job limitations ... and he is very interested in many areas that are allowed. He would do whatever they ask him to do.

You have color blindness basically right. The test they give though is misleading. It combines colors together so that he can’t distinguish green and red. When he takes the Farnsworth Lantern test - he can distinguish the colors 100%.

If they give 10 color blind waivers based on WCS, I like his chances. I was told by admissions that he is considered by the naval academy as a top candidate.
 
As technology improves does it matter as much if one is colorblind? I am totally naive in this subject but I can't imagine someone still needs to look at the colors on a buoy to steer a large warship. Will colorblindness not be a disqualifying medical condition one day?
 
Buoys are red/green. Lights on ships are red/green. Landing lights on carriers are red/green. Being able to differentiate between red and green in shipping and aviation is critical and, if you can't tell the difference, you could literally get people killed, including yourself.

Technology is great, but it can fail and can't overcome the need to identify colors in all circumstances -- at least not for now.

We can only hope that, one day, they figure out a way to "cure" colorblindness.
 
usna1985 said:
Buoys are red/green. Lights on ships are red/green. Landing lights on carriers are red/green. Being able to differentiate between red and green in shipping and aviation is critical and, if you can't tell the difference, you could literally get people killed, including yourself.

Technology is great, but it can fail and can't overcome the need to identify colors in all circumstances -- at least not for now.

We can only hope that, one day, they figure out a way to "cure" colorblindness.
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Hence why I said my son can distinguish between red and green. Just not when they mix them together in that circle test.

But ... my son is willing to take the 20% of the jobs that don’t require it.
 
Concur 100% with @usna1985. Colors matter heavily in aviation and seamanship. It also matters when looking at radar screens, operation picture screens, working to fix on all that technology or diffusing a bomb too.
 
A1, we share your angst regarding color blindness. DS found out he was red-green deficient through this process. It was a surprise because he doesn’t have trouble distinguishing red and green anywhere in “real life” other than in those little plates. It was also frustrating to learn that the Farnsworth Lantern test was no longer admissible as of a year or two ago. But, like your DS, mine is determined to serve as a Navy officer, whatever duties that may entail. I think there are a number of good opportunities in the RL community. My DS knows he may just have to go the OCS route if a waiver is not in the cards for him
 
VT93 said:
... But, like your DS, mine is determined to serve as a Navy officer, whatever duties that may entail. I think there are a number of good opportunities in the RL community. My DS knows he may just have to go the OCS route if a waiver is not in the cards for him
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Navy Officer Candidates are evaluated against the same DOD standard for Q or DQ.
https://www.med.navy.mil/sites/nmotc/nami/arwg/Documents/WaiverGuide/DODI_6130.03_JUL12.pdf

Some few waivers may be granted to those going Restricted Line or Staff Corps. The majority of the OC class will be Unrestricted Line. It is very similar to USNA in that respect.

OCS is very competitive, serving as the adjustment valve, with class sizes varying with new Ensign yields from USNA, NROTC and other commissioning paths. The Navy can shop for exactly what they are looking for to meet various goals in a given FY. Seats fill up quickly.
If USNA doesn’t work out this year, make the next year count academically, and re-apply once again for one of the color-deficient waivers, showing perseverance and determination. If the USNA path is not viable, early contact with a Navy officer recruiter to discuss what majors work best for OCS career paths might be worthwhile. Business majors for Supply Corps aspirants, cyber/IT for that RL community, etc. Excellent grades at a reputable school, high class standing, physically fit, leadership activities, Navy-friendly major - all good OC packages. Different than OCS and NROTC, OCs know what community they are going to before they report. They are essentially recruited for those, and with successful completion of OCS, they’ve got what they want. OCS is not a cake walk, and the learning curve is steep the first year in the Fleet when working alongside USNA and NROTC grads who have much deeper exposure to Navy training.
 
Another option in addition to Capt MJ's excellent suggestions is to look at the Army and Air Force. My (albeit limited) understanding is that they are much more forgiving of colorblindness and that most of their jobs are open to those with the condition, including AF pilots/FOs. Thus, you may not even need a waiver or they may freely granted. They also have many of the same communities that are RL/Staff Corps in the USN, though the names may be slightly different in some cases. In any event, if the desire is to serve, that can be fulfilled in ways other than the USN. [Coast Guard and Merchant Marine will likely have same issues as USNA WRT colorblindness.]
 
usna1985 said:
Another option in addition to Capt MJ's excellent suggestions is to look at the Army and Air Force. My (albeit limited) understanding is that they are much more forgiving of colorblindness and that most of their jobs are open to those with the condition, including AF pilots/FOs. Thus, you may not even need a waiver or they may freely granted. They also have many of the same communities that are RL/Staff Corps in the USN, though the names may be slightly different in some cases. In any event, if the desire is to serve, that can be fulfilled in ways other than the USN. [Coast Guard and Merchant Marine will likely have same issues as USNA WRT colorblindness.]
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I appreciate the response.

Those schools are an option next year. But he will be a semester away from his bachelors after a year of college. So ultimately it becomes a tough call if he wants to reapply.

I assume he would do Navy too - and get noms for all of them.
 
A1Janitor said:
I appreciate the response.
Those schools are an option next year. But he will be a semester away from his bachelors after a year of college. So ultimately it becomes a tough call if he wants to reapply.
I assume he would do Navy too - and get noms for all of them.
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If that's the case, he should just do his 3 semesters at any college and then go to OCS. He would be two years ahead of my current Plebe. He could be retired by the age of 41.
 
THParent said:
A1Janitor said:
I appreciate the response.
Those schools are an option next year. But he will be a semester away from his bachelors after a year of college. So ultimately it becomes a tough call if he wants to reapply.
I assume he would do Navy too - and get noms for all of them.
Click to expand...

If that's the case, he should just do his 3 semesters at any college and then go to OCS. He would be two years ahead of my current Plebe. He could be retired by the age of 41.
Click to expand...

It’s an option he is looking at.

But then he will face the question of a top law school like Harvard or OCS.

I won’t feel bad for him too long when he doesn’t get the waiver. Though I believe he has earned a spot.
 
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