Change to Air Force Color Vision Policy

[stuckindayton]

27 minutes ago, Gideon said:

I took it at Wright-Patt.

If you PM me your info I should be able to get you your scores.

[Gideon]

PM sent.

[DoublerDoud]

On 10/8/2020 at 3:19 PM, stuckindayton said:

There have been some ETPs and even some waivers granted for people who are below on only one eye by a very small margin, but I can't give you any rhyme or reason who gets them and who doesn't.  While they have happened, I think it was the exception, not the rule.

Sir, 

Are you able to give any additional information on this. Have the regs changed at all stating that waivers can be approved for those who are not prior rated? I have tried in the past to get one as I have since passsed the CCT with no luck. Thanks in advance for any information. 

[stuckindayton]

3 minutes ago, DoublerDoud said:

Sir, 

Are you able to give any additional information on this. Have the regs changed at all stating that waivers can be approved for those who are not prior rated? I have tried in the past to get one as I have since passsed the CCT with no luck. Thanks in advance for any information. 

I PM'd you.

[DeltaSierra3637]

Hello,

I am currently contracting with the Marines and have always had issues regarding my red cone. I fail the PIP test consistently falling below a passing score by a small margin. I scored a 95 on all cones with the exception of the red which was a 40 on my CCT. My OSO recommended I reclass to an Air Intel Contract and attempt a lateral transfer with an in-service waiver. Has anyone heard of waivers such as this or should I just move on. I've wasted a good year and a half trying to get around this issue with no luck. 

 

Appreciate any advice,

 

Mike

[GHawk]

On 10/8/2020 at 2:19 PM, stuckindayton said:

There have been some ETPs and even some waivers granted for people who are below on only one eye by a very small margin, but I can't give you any rhyme or reason who gets them and who doesn't.  While they have happened, I think it was the exception, not the rule.

Just got disqualified with this exact situation and this post gave me a glimmer of hope. Any trends in these being approved/denied as of late? Thanks for all the info you provide! 

Edited July 9, 2021 by GHawk

[stuckindayton]

12 hours ago, GHawk said:

Just got disqualified with this exact situation and this post gave me a glimmer of hope. Any trends in these being approved/denied as of late? Thanks for all the info you provide! 

GHawk,

I'm sorry I don't really have an answer.  I left Wright-Patt last fall and don't have any privy to recent events.  I will say that many of these "exceptions" are based on who is sitting in the decision making seat so they do change with personnel changes.  All I do know for sure is that there have been very borderline cases where an applicant was given the thumbs up.

[CavGuy]

I was told Wright Pat is now getting rid of the CCT all together, going to a test called the "CCTV" or something like that. This supposedly comes from ACS itself since so many people fail the CCT. 

[stuckindayton]

15 hours ago, CavGuy said:

I was told Wright Pat is now getting rid of the CCT all together, going to a test called the "CCTV" or something like that. This supposedly comes from ACS itself since so many people fail the CCT. 

It may be possible.  I don't know, but it would surprise me.  The two devices agree with each about 98-99% of the time so changing wouldn't affect the pass/fail rate to any meaningful extent.  I'll ask the folks at ACS and let you know what I hear.

[stuckindayton]

No planned changes to the color test per my ACS sources.  There is a push to convert all of the testing to a computerized device called an AVT (Automated Vision Test), but that's still only a discussion and there are no solid plans to do so.

[CavGuy]

Ok, that makes sense, thank you for clarifying. 

[human_boy]

PM sent

[TonyC]

Tried to send a DM "Stuckindayton" but said you can't get Messages.

 

 

[stuckindayton]

5 hours ago, TonyC said:

Tried to send a DM "Stuckindayton" but said you can't get Messages.

 

 

Sorry, my box was full.  Try again.

[Nate B]

Can anyone tell me if they’re still using the version of the CCT with the letters? I passed that with good scores except green (55 in each eye), but I’ve heard they may have switched to the directional C test? How would you guys say that compares to the letter version? I plan on giving flight med a ring tomorrow and seeing if they’d be willing to come let me try the new test a time or two so I’m not going to WP totally in the dark  

If I end up getting a 50 in an eye, are they medical personnel amenable to a retest? I’ve just been picked up with a pilot slot in the AD board and am awaiting MFS dates (certified FC1 Jan 2019, never got around to applying). Thanks for any information! 

[CavGuy]

On 7/17/2022 at 11:00 AM, Nate B said:

Can anyone tell me if they’re still using the version of the CCT with the letters? I passed that with good scores except green (55 in each eye), but I’ve heard they may have switched to the directional C test? How would you guys say that compares to the letter version? I plan on giving flight med a ring tomorrow and seeing if they’d be willing to come let me try the new test a time or two so I’m not going to WP totally in the dark  

If I end up getting a 50 in an eye, are they medical personnel amenable to a retest? I’ve just been picked up with a pilot slot in the AD board and am awaiting MFS dates (certified FC1 Jan 2019, never got around to applying). Thanks for any information! 

I could never pass the letter version of the CCT. The Landolt version with the C's is easier for me and I can pass it on a good day with rested eyes and a lot of focus. Wright Pat will not let you retake the CCT, at least not back in 2021. You will go through a battery of other color vision tests if you fail the CCT. YMMV. 

[Nate B]

2 hours ago, CavGuy said:

I could never pass the letter version of the CCT. The Landolt version with the C's is easier for me and I can pass it on a good day with rested eyes and a lot of focus. Wright Pat will not let you retake the CCT, at least not back in 2021. You will go through a battery of other color vision tests if you fail the CCT. YMMV. 

Awesome to hear, thank you. Still no dates for MFS but when it happens I’ll post experience in the IFC1 thread. 

[Shammyshake]

Hey sir, I know it’s been a while since you’ve posted in this thread. I have a quick question that I’m looking for some clarity on, I went down to WPAFB in November of 24 and failed the CCT. I took a few years ago on the old standard and passed and so I put in for an appeal, went down to the local base’s optometry clinic and passed and my lowest score was a 55-55 in left eye red all others were over 60-60. WP came back and said you can only take this test once in your career and said start the reclass process. Is there anything else I can do in order to try and fight that decision, especially if I passed the second time around 6 months later? They also said you can “study” and become familiar with the test but being color deficient I don’t believe you can find anything similar enough to study for this test. Thanks in advance!

[uhhello]

I think the new test is bullshit.  FAA changes are going to be interesting. 

[bpep887]

On 3/7/2025 at 4:07 PM, Shammyshake said:

Hey sir, I know it’s been a while since you’ve posted in this thread. I have a quick question that I’m looking for some clarity on, I went down to WPAFB in November of 24 and failed the CCT. I took a few years ago on the old standard and passed and so I put in for an appeal, went down to the local base’s optometry clinic and passed and my lowest score was a 55-55 in left eye red all others were over 60-60. WP came back and said you can only take this test once in your career and said start the reclass process. Is there anything else I can do in order to try and fight that decision, especially if I passed the second time around 6 months later? They also said you can “study” and become familiar with the test but being color deficient I don’t believe you can find anything similar enough to study for this test. Thanks in advance!

I had a similar-ish situation to yours, so I'll tell you how it went for me. I failed the CCT in one eye while in ROTC (50 in one eye, 70 in the other). Lost my pilot slot, had to reclass. Fast forward a couple years of AD and I go through the long and painful process to get a Medical Exception to Policy, requires your MAJCOM/CC signature and a few other things so it's a long process. All went smoothly until they told me I had to get an updated FC1 physical because it had been too long since my original one at WPAFB. Went there and everything was fine until the CCT. I was taking this test at my local base and people generally do better on the CCT at other bases that aren't WPAFB. For whatever reason, I did worse and failed in both eyes. However, CCT results at USAFA and WPAFB are the only results the USAF considers  "real". So what they told you about only being able to take the test once isn't necessarily true. I flew to WPAFB for a one day TDY, solely to retake the CCT and the other color exams. I fully passed in both eyes this time. So there is absolutely some truth in being able to become familiar with the test / get a good nights sleep and have some caffeine before the test (The flight doc thinks this may have helped me pass). After that, I no longer needed to go on the Exception to Policy board and they simply signed off on my FC1. Still had to recompete for my UPT slot, but that's a separate process. Long story short, you may have to reclass for now, but I wouldn't give up if I were you. When you failed the CCT at WPAFB, did you fail in one eye or both?

Edited March 19 by bpep887