NROTC-MO Medical Requirements

S

spencermc

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Hey! I can't remember if I found the answer somewhere, and when I tried doing some research and couldn't find the answer either.

For NROTC-MO, does color vision matter? I know for USNA could go MO if you are color deficient, and for regular NROTC they almost never hand out color vision waivers, but does the same apply for NROTC-MO? Thanks!
 
There is no color vision requirement for NROTC USMC option.
 
Devil Doc - Just reporting the facts, not commenting on those. For Admission to USAFA and AFROTC, the answer is the same, no color vision requirement. :wiggle:
 
spencermc said:
for regular NROTC they almost never hand out color vision waivers,
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Is this true? Does NROTC not consider scholarships for color deficient applicants? If this is true, can DS join NROTC without scholarship--or is that up to the school?
 
Sea Service color waiver granted decisions are extremely rare and then only for LDO positions. DS, not parent, should contact the NROTC Det and ask that question for himself :wiggle:
 
libbywag said:
Is this true? Does NROTC not consider scholarships for color deficient applicants? If this is true, can DS join NROTC without scholarship--or is that up to the school?
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After your DS scours the main NROTC website to ensure he doesn’t ask questions that are easily researched, and digs into some individual NROTC unit websites which often have FAQ sections similar to my #3 post above, as Mr. Mullen recommends, he can look up the cadre contact information or call the HQ folks at their contact info. He can get all his questions answered from official sources.

The real issue is commissionability for color deficient Navy pre-comm candidates. Marines, no problem. USNA allows a tiny handful of color-deficient mids to get waived in each class, and they go in understanding they will only be allowed to commission into certain Navy officer specialties, or they go Marine, and areas such as aviation, SEAL, submarine, surface ship, etc., will never be a path they can pursue.

Though I always allow for an exception to every rule, I don’t believe color vision waivers are usually granted for Navy option NROTC midshipmen. NROTC has a primary purpose, on the Navy side, for feeding new officers into what is called “unrestricted line officer communities.” Those are the major warfare areas of surface ship, aviation, submarines, EOD, SEAL, etc.

If color vision deficiency is the challenge your DS is facing, it’s time to go back to what I said in my first paragraph, get some solid answers from a primary source. It would also be good to explore other service ROTC programs. Waiver policies differ among the services, because missions, gear and operating environments differ. My impression is that Army, similar to Marine Corps, is more color-deficient friendly. Air Force, less so, but might have more options out of AFROTC. Coast Guard, very similar if not more conservative than Navy, as a sister sea service. These are my unofficial impressions only, and nothing beats putting the work in at primary sources early, so strategic and tactical plans can be developed.
 
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Thanks, as always. We appreciate the opinions and guidance.
We already scoured the #1 school and found nothing (should've mentioned that). DS will have NROTC scholarship interview with the school very soon and will be discussing his options.
He is hell-bent on Navy even knowing the coveted spots will not go to him. So, yes, this is preparation for his strategic and tactical plan!
 
libbywag said:
Thanks, as always. We appreciate the opinions and guidance.
We already scoured the #1 school and found nothing (should've mentioned that). DS will have NROTC scholarship interview with the school very soon and will be discussing his options.
He is hell-bent on Navy even knowing the coveted spots will not go to him. So, yes, this is preparation for his strategic and tactical plan!
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Glad to hear it. This is the perfect time to ask the hard questions, the ones that might produce the “”We’re really sorry, but the only option for you is ________.”

Looking at it from the Navy perspective, the scholarship is an investment in someone who they think has the potential to commission and succeed as an officer. They have to consider medical commissionability.
 
Yes, I understand the Navy perspective. However it is frustrating to say the least. DS is highly functioning and you would never know his color deficiency; certain greens and browns are similar. That's it. For instance, our first hint at his issue was when he referred to the color 'Army brown'!
 
Let the process work. Your DS may want to email @MullenLE per the FAST Sticky at the top of the DoDMERB forum to have a private conversation with an official source about the actual color vision standard, the official tests for it, what constitutes a DQ, deep into the details of the condition as it is evaluated against the DoDMERB standard and insights into Navy waiver authority. If there are slivers of hope, or not, Mr. Mullen can frankly and authoritatively address them.
 
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libbywag said:
Yes, I understand the Navy perspective. However it is frustrating to say the least. DS is highly functioning and you would never know his color deficiency; certain greens and browns are similar. That's it. For instance, our first hint at his issue was when he referred to the color 'Army brown'!
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I feel both yours and your sons pain for Color Deficiency. I personally never knew I was CD until I took the ishihara plate test and failed the first time around. I still personally don't think I am, because It has never affected me in all my life, and can pass the plate test if I focus on the plates that don't pop out as well.

I'm not giving up my dream of going to usna and still trying again even with my situation, but I will say that it is very heartbreaking and frustrating to know that something you dream of pursuing can be shut down by something that is out of your control

Best of luck to your DS! If his dream is being a naval officer, make sure he knows that OCS is always an option too, though he might have to go restricted line, it is still most definitely a path to being an officer.
 
I guess it is the bumps in life that toughen us up. He is slowly warming to the idea of other services. But in the meantime he continuing his USNA and NROTC requirements albeit not as enthusiastically.
 
libbywag said:
I guess it is the bumps in life that toughen us up. He is slowly warming to the idea of other services. But in the meantime he continuing his USNA and NROTC requirements albeit not as enthusiastically.
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For USNA, his real competition will be against all other triple-qualified-with-nom-color-deficient applicants for the handful of seats.If offered an appointment, they are notified of what officer communities in the restricted line and staff corps (Supply Corps, Civil Emgineering, etc.) they can eventually choose. If he goes on the live chat with Admissions, he could find out what those are.
@A1Janitor DS got in last year in these circumstances, perhaps he will pop up.
 
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