Okay okay, very funny guys! Although I am growing tired of all my friends asking me which color this is and that is, after telling them of my new found "disability."
I am utilizing the search function but there a lot of mixed results, as everyone's situation is different. In any case, if anyone has first hand experience on the issue and can offer advice, it will be most welcome.
And please excuse my previous ignorance, I mean to say that I am "Color-Deficient" and not color-blind, as I can see colors just fine. I just can't pass that %*#& plate test.
(For reference to any one searching for this in the future, the plate test mostly measures color deficiency by using
confusion lines. Just because you fail the plate test does not mean you are colorblind, and that is why they have you do the Farnsworth Lantern (FALANT) test as well... Although they pass the lights through a filter so it will also mess with people who have color deficiency/blindness)
After I failed my FALANT, but otherwise passed everything else at MEPS, my recruiter scheduled me to take the DLAB so I can try to get into the Cypto-Linguist rating... but damn it I don't want to give up hope on the nuke field. I just took my DLAB and am awaiting its results, but I'm not confident I passed (I belong in a field with Math and Science!!!)
After giving up hope, I regained it after read this post.
I failed many, many, many, many times on those color tests. with the lantern test, I literally went through it until i happened to guess right
They almost de nuked me because Im color deficient and cant pass the color-dot test. Had to fight, kick, and scream to get in. Still had issues after getting in. Hopefully everything goes smoother for you then myself! Good luck!
My recruiter seems bent on giving me some other rating.
How would I go about getting a waiver or a retest? Talk to a different recrutier? Contact my MEPS station? I am not above kicking/screaming in order to get this job
On my Plate test I got 13/14 wrong... and the first plate is a gimme. But on the FALANT, I missed an average of 5 out of however many total.
Does anyone know what a passing score is on the FALANT test?
Actually it was pretty funny at MEPS, the guy giving me the FALANT was telling me the right answers for the ones I got wrong, so when I did the test again for the second and third times, I got some wrong that I had correct originally because I second guessed myself with all the answers he was giving me
It was like he was rooting for me to pass.
In regards to corrective eyewear I will answer the question for any future searchers:
I WOULD ADVISE ANYONE
NOT TO PAY FOR COLORBLIND CORRECTIVE CONTACTS/GLASSES. Technically at MEPS, they have to let you use glasses (cb corrective or otherwise) during the colorblind test because then you would have to get a waiver for any prescription glass wearers. However at Bootcamp, they only let you wear Navy issued glasses, at which point you will be screwed (reclassified or medical DQ).
So my only option left is getting a waiver. Again, there are some conflicting posts on the subject.
These posts say it is waiverable
I am color blind. I got a waiver for "color deficiency" since I can see red.
Exactly, Color deficient is waiverable....a diagnosis of "Colorblind"....is an automatic disqualifier... I just dont want there to be any confusion by someone reading this later on.
I fail that test most of the time too. About 25% of men have trouble telling the red dots among the green ones. I think there is a waiver for this as long as you are not totally color blind (which is extremely rare).
While this individual says otherwise
Well, there is no waiver for color deficiency in the nuke program. I verified it with the Recruiters H.Q. in Tennessee.
Now my recruiter tells me to sign as a corpsman, go through boot camp and when I am assign to a ship, I will take another color test there with non-military-issue color corrective glasses, pass and be reassigned to nuke.
He also posts:
"(2) Defective color vision........... Testing will be conducted with the Farnsworth Lantern (FALANT). Waiver will be considered for submarine qualified personnel who can demonstrate a functional ability to discern color associated with their work environment;"
Is this true? I have mild color deficiency. Is waiver available?
I was planning on volunteering for SUB duty. I always wanted to be an astronaut when I was a kid, and submarines seemed like the next best thing. Anyone know anything about this?
I apologize if this is too long, but I wanted to include as much as possible for anyone doing future searches.
Here are my main questions for the TL:DR crowd
How many are you allowed to miss on the FALANT and still pass? (if someone says 4 im going to lose my mind)
How would I go about asking for a waiver for color deficiency with an unknowledgeable recruiter?