My husband and brother-in-law are both blind in one eye. They both would also like to join the military. Last my husband knew, he couldn't join because of his eye. He's heard they've lowered some standards. Just wondering if he'd have a chance.
2007-09-08 16:52:54 · 12 answers · asked by Jamie 2 in Politics & Government ➔ Military
The worst vision permissable in any one eye is 20/400, with the use of corrective lenses. But, in such a case, the other eye has to correct to 20/20. So, a person who is blind in one eye is considered to have vision so poor that it cannot be corrected by lenses to at least 20/400. Regretably, if you're blind in one eye, you are disqualfied for enlistment or appointment in the armed forces. Vision waivers are not given. Waivers are given for excessive refractive error needed to get vision within limits. That is not the case here.
2007-09-08 18:13:34 · answer #1 · answered by desertviking_00 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I'm afraid not.
Last I checked, neither the US, British or Australian militaries accepted anyone who was either missing or blind in one eye.
It's got to do with the effect blindness in one eye has on depth perception - without the benefit of binocular depth cues, this makes judging distance difficult.
They may relax the medical restrictions here within the near future due to manpower shortages, but not at the moment, I'm afraid.
2007-09-08 17:43:14 · answer #2 · answered by Gotta have more explosions! 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I don't think that they would be allowed to join because you have to be able to see out of both eyes. They did lower their standards a little. They started excepting people who have felonies into the military.
2007-09-08 16:59:09 · answer #3 · answered by Stumped 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You can try, but don't count on it. If your husband or brother-in-law do get into their selected branch, they won't be given any jobs that require depth-perception because depth-perception requires two eyes.
Having said that, there are jobs that don't need depth-perception, so I don't think you're out of luck just yet. Your best bet is to talk to a recruiter.
2007-09-08 17:42:08 · answer #4 · answered by St. Bastard 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
My husband is a recruiter and he said no they will not take them if they are legally blind, if they wear glasses they have to have 20/20 with the glasses. Tell them thanks and to continue to support our troops and there are many other things that they can do like volunteer at a VA home, sadly our vets do not get the support they need. God Bless
2007-09-08 17:33:03 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
I doubt that very much. You do need both eyes to function in the military.
2007-09-09 06:41:32 · answer #6 · answered by robert43041 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The Army may be desperate for people, but I'm sorry, your husband and brother-in-law will still not be able to join.
Check AR 40-501, Standards of Medical Fitness
http://www.army.mil/usapa/epubs/pdf/r40_501.pdf
2007-09-08 17:09:31 · answer #7 · answered by Justin Miller 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
my friend is blind in one eye, he was in the marines and got out then lost his sight, they asked him a few months ago if he would come back(i assume for a desk job) but he said no.
2007-09-08 17:01:05 · answer #8 · answered by applebeer 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sorry to say, but they are 50% blind, and no benefit to the military, a soldier needs two eyes, while glasses can correct defective vision, with one eye you can only see half as much as a person with two eyes, so 50% more chance of not spoting danger and 50% more chance of getting yourself or your comrades killed.
2007-09-09 02:58:39 · answer #9 · answered by conranger1 7 · 1⤊ 4⤋
Unfortunately, no. If the eye or vision was lost while serving they would be able to stay in.
2007-09-09 00:57:51 · answer #10 · answered by guns155mm 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋