hello everyone my name is nathan and i thought i would post this because i cannot seem to get any answers anywhere. just to give you a background, im leaving for bmt for cct in a month Aug 30th. physically im more prepared then i would say most. but mentally i have some things on my mind. At meps i took the color blind test and failed by 2, i asked if i could take it agian and they let me, i passed. everything else is 100 percent medically. but me being me im worried about this class 3 flight physical. i understand that i will be taking this in bmt. Now if i go down there and fail the color test is it over? or is there an alternative? or will i have another chance? is there only one color vision test? now here is another question, people say there is not a cure out. but according to the universiy of florida there is lasik color cone surgery that cures mild red green color blindness. and there is also contacts/glasses that guarantees 100 percent passing on the isharia test. heres the link. www.colormax.org/ btw i call and talked to the doctor and they are 8500 a pair!! i dont think the military knows about this. will they honor this? thanks for any imput or answers

also if you are aloud to where glasses for vision to be corrected to 20/20 why cant you where glasses to correct color vision? makes no since.

Have you gone to see any civilian doctors for a test? The docs/tests at MEPS aren't always the most reliable. I'd go and do a couple color vision tests at an eye doc. Then you will know for sure if you have any reason to be worried.

The civilian test may or may not let you know if you should be worried, but the bottom line is you must have normal color vision at the class III flight physical...questions about "why" the Air Force does something or not are mute...the fact is they are policies...worry about what you can effect.

ok now will they honor these glasses/contacts? that doctor is the only one in the world that has them. regardless im going in there to do my best period. but it should be considered waived because it can be fixed with simply glasses.

You are considering wrong. What I have read is "all color defectives are being disqualified from military flying training." Seems this policy stems from "increasing color demands in modern operational environments and accidents connected to a color defective cause".



AND

Please note the determining of operational abililities means the color defective problem in your case doesn't impair ability to do core tasks and skills of performing CCT duties.

yukon thank you for your input. i really dont think ill fail the test, but with glasses that correct this a lasik color cone surgery, something is going to get changed in the near future. And waivers will more then likely be given out for color deficiency.

also yukon, where did you get the information from your quote?

You have no idea what it takes to change a medical AFI in the Air Force...so don't hold your breath on any waiver.

The same publication I got the following waiver consideration quote. The current USAF Waiver guide that provides guidance for waivers on trained personnel and where specifically stated applicants for training. You are an applicant for training.

well looks like i better be superman on steroids to show them they absolutely need me. ive taken the falant before and passed every time at my university. but i should be alright. i appreciate the the input yukon.

I have minor color blindness as in I cant pass the PIP but I can pass a Falant no problem. I take it with the new standards this would be ok for AF? For The SEALs or SF my eyes are apparently fine

No it is not ok for the Air Force:

Flying Class IA/II/III: Must possess normal color vision as demonstrated by passing the approved PIP I and PIP II.

The Farnsworth lantern test (FALANT) is not authorized.

What does the quote Yukon left mean refer to then.

For FC II and FC III, if the aviator identifies less than 10 out of 14 plates on the standard PIP, then an Aeromedical Consultation Service (ACS) evaluation is needed for categorization of type and degree of color deficiency. The FALANT is no longer utilized by the USAF as a selection test, however, it may be utilized by the ACS and waiver authorities to help determine a trained color defective’s stability and operational abilities.

"Trained" is the key word. "Trained" in the Air Force means someone that is already doing the job for which the physical is required (pilot, CCT, PJ, etc.). You coming in to the Air Force as a new enlistee do not meet that definition, ergo, the FALANT caveat in Yukon's quote does not apply.

So if I cant pass the pip there is no chance I can get a waiver or a shot at pj/cct?

As Yukon posted:

IV. Waiver Considerations.
Waivers for flying training will not be recommended for any category of color deficiency.

No one on this forum is the waiver authority for color vision...no one can answer with "absolute" certaintly regarding your question...but it is HIGHLY unlikely you will get a waiver because the AFI specifically states waivers will not be recommended.

It has been a while since i have been on here and i must say it has been a very bumpy road. Started off that i barley passed the cv test at meps and now i was worried about the class 3. long story short, i went to bmt managed to get warhawk took the class 3 physical and failed the color vision test. i didnt know i failed intil i was about a week and a half graduation. They came and told me and i went to meet up with a lady that pretty much told me i was DQ'ed and that they would try get me approved with a waiver. By thise time i was 5 days from graduation, everyone got there orders and i didnt. They called me back in and explained it was a no go, the most dissapointing news ive ever had in my life so far. I was honestly planning on getting out but i couldnt see myself give up. They convinced me to stay and they changed my contract from 6 to 4 so that i could crosstrain faster, and that i would have a better chance with a waiver in the future so no im in sheetmetal. Now i need help. next year ill be attempting to crosstrain back into my dream job, honestly ill take any of the spec ops jobs for that matter. i need help with my waiver, i know im going to explain that it is my absolute desire to do cct and also explain how benificial ill be to the air force. Should i do research or talk to certain individuals? I honestly dont think the surgeon general will schedule a meeting with me. Ive scored a 100 on the last 3 pt tests ive had. Any help with this will be greatly appriciated.
thank, lancaster

The color vision waiver process is pretty much go/no-go. An interview to persuade will not accomplish much as it is the eye medical examination findings that "will" determine the decision.

It is dissimilar to for example pursuing a waiver resulting from a physical injury where successful demonstration performance can persuade a medical waiver (typically most successful already holding AFSC, otherwise qualified to perform the duties and have experience performing the duties).

Another option to look into might be SOWT. I remember having a conversation with one at ATC who said that he didn't need to pass the color portion of the eye test. And he wears glasses to meet the 20/20 requirement as well so maybe their vision rules are a little less strict for some reason. But I don't know this for a fact and am not medical nor in a position to get you a waiver. Just trying to give you more options if this is something you really want to do.

According to the latest Battlefield Airmen brief and the SOWT CFETP, normal color vision, as defined in AFI 48-123, is required for the SOWT AFSC.

To all potential applicants, if I might share my experience with Flight Medicine at Andrews AFB:

"Waivers will not be given to anyone for color vision defects."

This of course excludes folks already trained in the flying programs whose vision may have deteriorated over time. They may still be eligible under the D15 or FALANT.

Simply put, if you can't pass the PIP1 and PIP2 (both of them), do not expect to fly or jump for the Air Force at this time. Maybe someday the standard will change, but as of now, big blue doesn't feel the need to accept applicants with this defect.

Been a while but finally managed to pass the new CCT color test during my class 3. on my way to combat control very soon. Its been to damn long.....