Expert: Rod Powers - 12/29/2006

Question
Hi Rod,
Thanks for the response. I did go to the site you suggested but did not see any info on the vision requirements. Is there something specific I should click on?
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The text above is a follow-up to ...

-----Question-----
My son is interested or should I say obsessed with joining the marines. He wears eyeglasses- uncorrected his vision is 20/400 and corrected 20/20. My question is will this prevent him from joining the marines. In 1965 my father attempted to join but was turned away for the exact same reason. (Him and my son have identical vision) This will be heartbreaking for my son as right now his whole life revolves around joining. He is 17 and would like to sign up in June. If he is rejected by the DoDMERB can it be waived? Any information will be very helpful as there doesn't seem to be a lot of information out there and his Recruiter keeps telling him not to worry but I fear he is only concerned with meeting his number of recruits.
Thank you
-----Answer-----
Hi Dawn,

See http://usmilitary.about.com/od/joiningthemilitary/l/bleyes2.htm. It should be fine (depending on his refractive error), as long as it's correctable to 20/20.

Hope this helps!

Rod Powers
http://usmilitary.about.com


Answer
Hi Dawn,

Um...Check it again ( http://usmilitary.about.com/od/joiningthemilitary/l/bleyes2.htm).

It says that the following is disqualifying:

a. Distant visual acuity of any degree that does not correct with spectacle lenses to at least one of the following (367):

(1) 20/40 in one eye and 20/70 in the other eye.

(2) 20/30 in one eye and 20/100 in the other eye.

(3) 20/20 in one eye and 20/400 in the other eye.

b. Near visual acuity (367) of any degree that does not correct to 20/40 in the better eye.

Becaise your son's vision corrects to 20/20, it shouldn't be a problem.

Hope this helps!

Rod Powers
http://usmilitary.about.com