My CSM wants me to be a door gunner for our deployment, but I've told him I'm colorblind. Is there a way around it for my flight physical?

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 25 Aug 2017 09:35:47 -0400

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 25 at 2017 9:57 AM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 25 Aug 2017 09:57:41 -0400

I may not know enough about this but what does being colorblind have to do with being a door gunner? If your condition didn't keep you from enlisting, why would it keep you from this?

*Oh, and why would not want such an awesome job? Personally, I would lean toward NOT disclosing a condition that would prevent me from being a door gunner. But to each his own.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 25 at 2017 10:01 AM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 25 Aug 2017 10:01:44 -0400

I know color blindness can keep you out of some MOS's like 92F and 92L but not sure why it would affect you being a door gunner???

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 25 at 2017 10:10 AM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 25 Aug 2017 10:10:15 -0400

Seeing how your MOS if flight ops, you won't be doing anything else that is remotely close to being a Door Gunner. wether it's for a 60, or a 47 I'd take it. Trust me I'm a 15R, and I'm highly jealous I can't become a door gunner. Trust me take it.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 25 at 2017 10:13 AM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 25 Aug 2017 10:13:29 -0400

AR 40-501, 4-12 Vision, (5)(a)(b)
"(5) Color vision. (See ATB, Color Vision Testing and APL, Color Vision Abnormalities.)
(a) Five or more errors in reading the 14 test plates of the Pseudoisochromatic Plate (PIP) Set; or
(b) Any error in reading the nine test light pairs of the Farnsworth Lantern (FALANT) or the OPTEC 900 Color Vision Tester.

And then there's this.
https://www.tamc.amedd.army.mil/offices/Ophthalmology/docs/Army%20Aviation%20Refractive%20Surgery%20Policy.pdf

WAIVERS/ETP/DQ: Failing both PIP series and FALANT is disqualifying. AMS is required as follows:
Initial Flight Applicants: Exception to policy is normally not granted and may be reviewed on a case-by-case basis via Mini-ACAP and/or ACAP after the complete evaluation as outlined below. Flight Surgeons (to include 2F/2P applicants): Waivers are routinely granted for aeromedical practitioners given the complete evaluation below.
Rated and Non-Rated Aircrew (to include 2/3/4 applicants): Non-rated aircrew will normally be waived with a restriction to flying with an individual with “normal” color vision after the complete evaluation outlined below. Waiver for discovery of or a change in color vision in rated aircrew is usually granted if not due to ocular pathology and with complete information below. Aviators will carry the restriction of flying with an individual with “normal” color vision.

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Response by Jordan Gaudard made Aug 25 at 2017 12:50 PM

Jordan Gaudard — Fri, 25 Aug 2017 12:50:08 -0400

We can switch if you like, I'd gladly take a deployment AND be a door gunner. You wanna spend all day doing paperwork?

Response by Cpl Thomas Kifer made Aug 25 at 2017 1:57 PM

Cpl Thomas Kifer — Fri, 25 Aug 2017 13:57:58 -0400

This is by no means a field I'm familiar with, but I had a friend in force recon that could tell the difference from real and fake foliage nearly 100% of the time. He could track anything. So can someone help me understand why a door gunner would have a problem. I am at RP to learn.

Response by SGT Michael Olsen made Aug 25 at 2017 2:40 PM

SGT Michael Olsen — Fri, 25 Aug 2017 14:40:54 -0400

I was a door gunner in 08-09 and sorry to say that if you're color blind the chances of you passing your flight physical are slim.

Response by MAJ Albert McCaig made Aug 27 at 2017 12:29 PM

MAJ Albert McCaig — Sun, 27 Aug 2017 12:29:17 -0400

I'm color blind. I found that most of us have fantastic night vision. I could actually read a map on most non-overcast nights; I could see trip wires on trails, and I didn't need any artificial light to go between positions. But, flying? No way. I was good at sneaking around in the dirt and the dark, though, because of color blind.

Response by SP5 Peter Keane made Aug 27 at 2017 4:44 PM

SP5 Peter Keane — Sun, 27 Aug 2017 16:44:27 -0400

Ah, for the good ol' days when any 11B could be a doorgunner.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 27 at 2017 8:14 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 27 Aug 2017 20:14:12 -0400

If a CSM hand pick you out of however many hundreds of Soldiers under his command, you should take that as a compliment....... That means he has a lot of confidence in your abilities to light targets up from the sky........