Colorblind test at civilian eye doctor?

Question

I am red/green colorblind, which will disqualify me from a combat arms job in the Army. The Army has said that if I bring in a sheet signed by a civilian doctor saying that I passed the colorblindess test then I can get infantrymen (11B) MOS. Do the tinted glasses that claim they can help red/green color deficiency work? Will a doctor allow me to wear these glasses while taking the test so I can pass? 10pts to the most helpful answer.

Answer 1

You're totally red/green color blind, or you just can't pass the color chart test? I think you can actually fail the color test, (the flippy book with the psychedelic numbers) but if you can distinguish red from green you can still pass. You can get a waiver for almost anything. It's much harder to get in the military with a waiver, once you're in virtually anything can be waived. Link below is for the reg, read over it, shoot me an email if you have any questions...

Update: page 24, paragraph 2-13-f. It basically says that failure of the color vision test is not an automatic disqualifying condition. It appears that failure may limit which MOS you can be medically qualified for enlisting.


http://www.army.mil/usapa/epubs/pdf/r40_501.pdf

Answer 2

The glasses are not allowed, the doctors at MEPS do not allow contact lenses or "special" glasses at all. Get the letter from a civilian doctor, the MEPS eye exam is like being "herded" around. They do not really care if you pass or fail their test, and the Military at MEPS only cares what the paperwork says. Check with your recruiter, and get tested at a Civilian eye doctor you feel comfortable with. The red green test is bull, I was in the marines doing a supply MOS that directly transfered over to the Army Reserves, I did the Job 4 years in the USMC, and 4 years in the Army Reserve no problems. Now I came back to Active Duty Army and they say since I cant pass the red green I can't do the job anymore. It's BS, get around it any way you can.

Answer 3

I don't honestly know about the glasses that are supposed to remedy color blindness. Have you gone to a civilian eye doctor to have a color blindness test taken? That, to me would be the best way to go.

Answer 4

Even if the civilian passes you, you have to take a test at MEPS. without glasses.

Answer 5

For your own safety, I think you should forget the military. Here is an interesting paper for you to read but here is the main quote:

"Types of Assistive Devices for Color Perception Impairment

"Normal" color perception can never be given or restored to people having impaired color perception or total color blindness. At best, specific tools can be given to many such people, for specific functional purposes, i.e. (1) distinguishing red, amber and green traffic signals for safer driving, (2) distinguishing color coded wires or parts when performing factory assembly work, or (3) being able to continue working as an illustrator or painter by correctly matching colors. Briefly described below are different types of assistive devices which may be used, as detailed later in this paper. "

http://www.abledata.com/abledata_docs/Color_Blind.htm

Also look at this link:

http://www.colorhelper.com/colorblind-students.php
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Color_blindness

Answer 6

You are asking a doctor to falsify government documents and lie about your condition.

No doctor in his right mind is going to risk his practice so that you can join the Army. There are also reasons for needing people that aren't color blind in certain jobs.

Try the Navy. I know for a fact (well ok when I was in) that there were jobs that you could do being color blind.