Eye Waiver Appointments

<p>My vision is pretty bad, when compared to people I know...which doesn't do much help for people on here... I don't know the exact acuity--but i know i have astigmatism and i'm usually around the bottom when it comes to those eye charts @ the doctor's office.....i guess that would mean i'm somewhat nearsighted...sorry that prob isn't much help to you guys..i'd suggest calling the Medical people over @ USNA Admissions...i have the number around here somewhere if anyone wants it.</p>

<p>if this is any help--my prescription is L: -3.00, -1.25, 090 R: -2.27, -0.75, 100</p>

<p>Thanks MJ and e11,</p>

<p>MJ your vision is very similar to my daughters. her vision is correctable to 20/20. Everyone we have talked with, staff at USNA and our Blue/Gold officer is very positive. Her grades/scores are awesome and she had a great summer session. It would be terrible to wash that all away due to her eyes. But not knowing for sure is tough. Thanks and let me know if you hear anything.</p>

<p>Hang in there. We too are waiting and that's exactly why I started this thread, i.e. to find out when waiver appointments start coming in.....</p>

<p>Keep us in the loop.</p>

<p>Dknightfam</p>

<p>Will do DK.............Thanks</p>

<p>Dknightfam,
Our son needed a medical waiver for asthma, not vision. (For those of you out there w/the asthma issue-there is hope!) Dodmerb declared him waiverable (after lot of documentation, etc) January 3rd and NROTC and Merchant Marines granted the waiver immediately. Though our son had LOA from USNA, they didn't grant the waiver until Feb 13th. We found out 1st through the Dodmerb website and then later it was verified by a phone call from our MOC.
Anyway, a brief synopsis of our situation. From what I've gathered in our quest for "waiver" information, you just really never know how long it will take or when they will review/grant your waiver. As thrilled as we are around here now (as well as mom being more than a bit anxious :) ), I really feel for those who are still waiting to hear something. It's difficult, to say the least. Hang in there!</p>

<p>Similar situation here - we needed a DQ waiver for a previous knee surgery and the "Waiver granted" statement unexpectedly showed up on DODMERB's website on Monday, followed by a USNA letter today. Thank god that I have been reading this forum, as seeing a "thin letter" in the mailbox from USNA would have killed us! Luckly thru the forum we knew that some of y'all had gotten waiver confirmation letters in "thin envelopes" so we didn't panic :)</p>

<p>We still need the eye waiver (correctable) and we don't have a LOA to lean on, but we're hopeful that since USNA took the time to give him the waiver this "early" in the review process that he is being seriously considered. Back to the waiting game, but at least now the DQ monkey is off of our backs!</p>

<p>Congrats again.</p>

<p>Dknightfam</p>

<p>Not to be a kill-joy but here is a tail that did not go the way we hoped. Son did NASS and loved it, CVW...loved it more, had LOA, and vision over "the limit". He was 6+ diopters but not over 7 - I believe. Anyway.... letter came from Rempt's office ...waiver denied because he could not enter the fleet as an unrestricted line officer. To say we are disappointed is an understatement! We have been trusting the Lord to open this seemingly impossible door.... we got our answer. But it is still tuff to take.</p>

<p>If anyone has any concrete suggestions, I would love to hear them.</p>

<p>To the others in waiting on vision/medical waivers... I truly hope it works out for you. Go NAVY!!</p>

<p>phi313 - Thanks for your honesty and transparency. I can't imagine the disappointment. We are still in the waiting mode. I'm sure your faith will carry you through and your son will land well. Thanks for reporting back and not disappearing.</p>

<p>We, too, were trusting that the right doors open for our son whether it be the Academy, ROTC, etc. We were also trying to prepare ourselves for the closing of the doors we/he badly wanted to see open and to accept that another path had been chosen for him, at least at that particular time. It is definitely one thing to say that, though, and entirely something different to actually achieve that's for certain. We are very, very sorry about your news!</p>

<p>phi313....Have you talked to an ROTC person about this? Is this an option that has different guidelines? It's possible. Also it might be possible, but expensive to have a PRK surgery. NOT a lasik, but a PRK. You might talk to someone at USNA med and simply ask if your son got the PRK surgery and spent a year at a local college and reapplied would he still be admissible???</p>

<p>The other thing is to go talk to a knowledgeable military-background opthamologist who has done eye surgeries and ask them about this medical restriction.</p>

<p>Probably you are not going to get anywhere for the Class of 2011, but maybe there are options that currently aren't being considered.</p>

<p>^^^^^
Navy ROTC offers a lot more career options than the Naval Academy. For example ROTC midshipmen can be commissioned as Restricted Line Officers and they can also be commissioned in the staff corps. Specific opportunities include: Supply Corps, Civil Engineer Corps, Nurse Corps, Medical Service Corps, Naval Inteligence, Cryptology, Oceanography, Engineering Duty, Aviation Engineering Duty, and Public Affairs. The only way to get into the aforementioned fields through the academy is to become NPQ (Not Physically Qualified) for commissioning in the Unrestricted Line.</p>

<p>Great American,
Can you answer a question for me, Are female candidates at the USNA unrestricted line officers or restricted line officers? I guess my question is; is their classification different? And would that in turn have an impact on an eye waiver? Maybe I am fishing too much here, but if a woman is not going to be put in the same combat situation as a man do they need the same vision acuity.</p>

<p>Next, it was my understaning that vision surgery was not allowed prior to entrance into the academy, or academy testing.</p>

<p>Thanks to all involved here, I am incredibly proud of all of you and I have not yet had the pleasure of meeting you. You want to serve our country and are simply asking for the chance. God Bless You!</p>

<p>^^^^^
Since 1994, women have had the same career opportunities as the men. The women can thank the Tailhook Association and Admiral Kelso for being afforded the same status as men.</p>

<p>With the exception of Submarine duty and Special Warfare, women are eligible for any Unrestricted Line or USMC billet. However, there are some limits on women in the Marine Corps Ground option.</p>

<p>
[quote]
And would that in turn have an impact on an eye waiver? Maybe I am fishing too much here, but if a woman is not going to be put in the same combat situation as a man do they need the same vision acuity.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>Vision standards are the same for both men and women.</p>

<p>
[quote]
Next, it was my understaning that vision surgery was not allowed prior to entrance into the academy, or academy testing.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>All surgical or mechanical procedures (e.g. PRK, LASIK, orthokeratology, intra-corneal ring implants, etc.) performed to correct visual acuity are disqualifying. Requests for waivers are not normally considered. The Naval Academy’s eligibility criteria for refractive surgery are very rigidly limited. Some warfare service selections may not be possible following refractive surgery.</p>

<p>Thanks for the information. That definately clears up some questions.</p>

<p>Even prior to 1994 women were commissioned as unrestricted line officers. I, for example, was comissioned an 1105 (although I filled a restricted line billet, Aviation maintenance officer aka 1520). Unrestricted in this context means eligible for command of a ship, squadron, etc. Restricted Line Officers may not command a ship or sub, but can command bases.</p>

<p>"The first three digits of your designator identify the general category within which you perform, and the fourth digit indicates your official status. For example, a designator of 1100 identifies a line officer of the Regular Navy whose permanent grade is ensign or above, while a designator of 1105 identifies a line officer of the Naval Reserve."
BUPERS manual
<a href="http://buperscd.technology.navy.mil/bup_updt/508/OfficerClassification/i/PT_A.htm%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://buperscd.technology.navy.mil/bup_updt/508/OfficerClassification/i/PT_A.htm&lt;/a> </p>

<p>Fascinating, huh? Scroll down a bit to part A to see descriptions of the billet designator codes.</p>

<p>Back then, all us OCS pukes were reservists even though we were active duty, hence 1105 instead of 1100. Z, did USNA grads commission as reservists or reg?</p>

<p>81 were regulars. (1100 here).</p>

<p>Forthe past few years ( 90's mostly), USNA and NROTC grads were both commissioned as USNR. But with the last Defense Budget ,that policy was changed so now USNA AND NROTC grads are both commissioned as USN not USNR. I think the USNA's date of rank is still earlier than NROTC though</p>

<p>Most USNA classes have been commissioned in the regular Navy. Academy graduates were commissioned as reservists in recent years. The policy changed back to commissions in the regular Navy with the Class of 2006. As I recall, Senator John Glen was responsible for tacking a provision onto a Defense Appropriations bill requiring that academy graduates be commissioned in the reserves. That requirement has since been changed in a subsequent Defense bill.</p>

<p>I may be off, but my understanding is that the former provision that USNA grads be commissioned prior to NROTC is no longer the case ... YES? NO?</p>

<p>Also, can someone explain what the nuance of the USNR vs. USN is?</p>

<p>^^^^^
Officers commissioned as USNR need to augment to the regular Navy if they are career oriented. Augmentation is an administrative process that is administrated by BUPERS (Bureau of Naval Personnel).</p>