Expert: John L - 8/4/2009

Question
My son wants to join the air national guard, he is a college
graduate (may 09) He wants the job of air tactical command.
He took the asvap and scored high enough to do that job, at the
meps test he passed everything with flying colors... except
he failed the vision test for color blindness. He can see every
color and every variation of color with no problem. He just
cannot pass that dot test. He was told to go to his eye dr.
He was given a more specif test D-15 Farnsworth, he passed it
twice no problem. His recruiter told him the air force excepts
no other test but the one administered at meps. But she said
he could possibly get a waiver from the surgeon general. Well
they turned him down. He is extremely upset. Is there anything
else he can do? Can he take a job that doesn't require the
color vision and then later change to a different job once they
see what he can do. He honestly has no problem with colors (even
red/green which is the mild form he has) Why do other branches
of the military except waivers and allow you to do a much wider
area of jobs then the air force? He was told he basically could
be a mechanic, which is not what he wants. Is there any other
help you would know about? His recruiter said he can only do the
mechanics job, but he has to tell her right away, because she
can't wait much longer. Well this is his future and I want him
to be sure about what he wants, not to just quick take this job
because there is no other choice. Thank-you for any insight you
can give.

Answer
Some jobs are available for thse with color issues. the job selection is slim, but theree are jobs.  I do not know which ones in air force, but the other branches do have them.  have him do his research with other recruiters to see what they can offer.  There is R/G color blind and non color color blind,  R/G has more jobs in the army than color blind.