Expert: Aaron Shifferly - 10/28/2009

Question
First i would like to thank you for your service to our country and second i would like to know if my color-deficiency would disqualify me from joining an ROTC unit or becoming an officer in general and if so could i get a waiver.  I was tested as a child and found to be slightly color deficient, however, i can easily distinguish between red and green. My hope was to someday join an airborne unit as an officer but now i am afraid that will never happen.  Any opinion or information you have on the subject would be helpful and appreciated. I understand its not exactly your job to know about this, but i figured if anyone could give me good information it would be you. Thanks again for your service and hope to here from you soon.

Answer
You will just have to have the doctors re-assess your color deficiency as a prelude to obtaining an ROTC scholarship. This is part of a pre-commissioning physical that is required anyways. They will then make a determination and go from there. I don't think you'll have an issue.. just keep trying.