Does colorblindness affect military enlistment opportunities?

I'm colorblind and thinking about joining the military after high school. I've heard it might limit some roles. Can someone provide insights on how colorblindness might affect my enlistment options and processes?

Color blindness can indeed impact your military enlistment options, but it certainly doesn't disqualify you from service. Each branch of the military—the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, Coast Guard, and Space Force—has different requirements and waivers when it comes to color blindness, and the extent of the impact depends on the severity of your condition and the specific branch and role you're interested in.

For instance, some roles in the military, such as special operations and certain flight-related jobs, require normal color perception due to the nature of the work. These roles often involve interpreting color-coded information or making quick decisions based on color.

On the other hand, many roles do not require perfect color vision. For example, several combat and non-combat roles might be available to you even with color blindness. In the Army, roles like infantry, artillery, and several others are available to individuals with color vision deficiencies.

When you go through the Medical Evaluation Board (MEB) during the enlistment process, they will likely conduct a color vision test. If you fail this test but still want to pursue roles that require normal color vision, the military branch might grant a medical waiver, depending on the importance of color vision for the role and the extent of your color blindness.

In sum, while color blindness might restrict your options to some degree, there are many roles in the military that you could pursue. It's important to speak with a recruiter and understand the limitations and possible waivers for your specific condition in the branch you're interested in.