I'm so distraught. I went to MEPS Monday and failed the depth percepton test. I've been working so hard getting myself into shape for almost a year and then I fail something that is seemingly beyond my control. I kind of wish that I've been tripping over stuff and stabbing my face with a fork while eating because I had no idea I had depth-perception problems and I'm still not really sure that I do besides having to look in a device at five circles and failing to correctly answer which one was the closest to me. What a suprise and let down. I can't remembering being in more of a funk than right now and I wish it was something I did, but I think about all I can do is tell myself I didn't eat enough carrots or something.

There is a technique to passing the depth perception test. Do a search on the website in regards to the depth perception test, and ask to retake it before you sign your contract.

Don't get too upset yet. After doing a little research, I think you will find that lots of people have trouble passing the depth perception test. So go get a second opinion from a civilian optometrist and see what he thinks. Then go from there.

I remember the first time that I took a depth perception test for a flight physical the docter had me "try again" half a dozen times. Goodluck

Andy

Well I hated to give you the bad news SCOOTER but once you take the depth perception test at MEPS and you fail on that day, you are pretty much done for CCT. Even if you go to a civilian Doctor and pass it there, MEPS will not accept the test. How do I know this? because it happened to me. I failed it at MEPS in Sept 03, then took it again two months ago for my Annual Reserve Physical and pass it there. Therefore I told my recruiter; to see if MEPS would overturn their decision and they said NO. Sorry about the news and good luck.

-SrA Cortes.

Check out this past link to posts, especially what "Seven", "Wildtiger", and "Sb" posted on the thread. Hopefully some of that is helpfull. Don't lose sight of your goal! Do whatever it takes to jump through the hoops!
http://www.specialtactics.com/ubbthreads...ll&vc=1

Thanks for the info guys. I'm not giving up yet by any means. I talked to a Chief (Timothy) Brown down in Randolph, TX, and this is what he said: []It is possible to get a re-test on the depth perception if you ask your Recruiter. They may suggest you wait until you get to BMT, and that is possible, but would be better if you request it now. You can still take the PAST [at BMT], then you will get another medical screening, so it might work. Now, if after all this you still have a depth perception problem, sorry but you would be open to injury in the job.
I wish you the best........... [/]

I'm thinking that the circle test at MEPS is the RANDOT test -- can anyone confirm this? I just looked at five circles and had to tell which was closest to me. It seemed too basic to be the the OVT or VTA-ND test that is required for the flight physical, but I'm not sure and I couldn't find any pictures on the net that looked exactly like the five circle test I took. I'm having my recruiter check into a retest and will try to see an eye doctor as soon as I can.

When I went through MEPS in '98 to get GTEP for CCT I failed the depth test. My recruiter told me to go get a depth perception test from a civilian eye doctor. I did it and passed, went back to MEPS showed them the civilian doctor's results and they gave me a waiver. I went to BMT took an eye exam there and my depth perception was perfectly normal, bye bye waiver. I personally think there's something wrong with the test because so many people I know failed it but later when tested again, different test, they pass with flying colors. Try and see if you can get a waiver.

Rob

Do you know if there is a specific depth perception test I should ask for in the civilian world or does it not really matter?

I went to the eye doctor in the Sams Club and told them I needed a depth perception test done. He checked my eyes then gave me a book and asked me what I saw. After that he gave me another book to test color blindness. It only cost me about $20. Things may be different now but thats what I did.

Rob

I went ot a civilian doctor today and got my depth perception checked. He wrote me a note saying that I have 20 seconds of arc with a Randot Stereo Test and that my results are normal.

As a side note, he told me that the test that MEPS uses throws a lot of people off because it tries to simulate, through lenses, what 20 feet is. He said a lot of peoples' eyes get confused with the lens.

Anyway, I have a note so I guess I'm gonna try and get it into my military medical records and work on getting some sort of waiver. I'm not trying to get waived of having depth perception, as it is certainly needed for CCT, I guess I'm just trying to have the civilian results trump the MEPS results until I would have a more thourogh eye exam for the class III flight physical. I feel comfortable passing the depth perception exam so long as it isn't the one that MEPS gives.

Glad to hear the good news. Now the fun part.... Keep us posted.

Thanks, crew, although I'm not too sure what you mean by the fun part -- pipeline or getting the waiver?

I already talked to my recruiter and he said he doesn't know what to do with my civilian eye test. He said he's never heard of using a civilian depth perception waiver and is not sure what to do. I didn't know aht to tell him besides that I didn't need a depth perception waiver, per se, I just need a waiver to use my civilian depth perception results as opposed to the MEPS tests. I have depth perception, it's just not recognized through the MEPS test. What do ya'll suggest I tell him? Should I ask to talk to his commander or somethimg? I don't think he's trying to be unhelpful, I just think he's not sure what to do.

Have him send it up to MEPS for a Medical Read. They may be able to send it to the S/G's office for a review. If they can't do anything take the test results to basic and fight to get in.

My comment was directed at your attept at getting a waiver. Getting a waiver is similar to herding cats. It can be done, but it will take much persistance on your part. Stay on top of it and keep a copy of every piece of paperwork you submit. Also, take the advice from the members here. They know far more than I do. Goodluck

-Andy

Ask for contact information and if you can do some of the leg work yourself in obtaining the waiver. If that doesn't work ask him if you can run it up the chain of command. Remember the squeaky wheel gets the grease, so make your name and face known to your recruiter and his NCOIC regularly and don't give up until they put the nails in your pine box and throw the dirt in on you.

Scoter, the same thing happend to me. I went to meps, took the test, and failed. I knew I didn't have bad depth perception. So I had a civilial doc check me out and write a letter saying that I had good d/p. I gave the letter to my recuiter who then sent it to meps. Meps checked it out and decided to give me another shot (even though my recruiter said I wouldn't get another shot). I went up to meps and as I looked into that stupid machine again, I saw the same dang thing. All the cirles were the same distance away! After guessing a few times, the doc told me this, "remember those 3D pictures in the mall that you have to stare at forever to see the picture. Same thing here, you have to let your eyes relax." Instead of focusing on the circles, I gazed into the center of the test, let my eyes relax and the circles stuck out like a ***** in sweat pants! Good Luck!