Blind in one eye

[Kieran1981]

Hi, I have decided that the best path for me would be to join with the Navy, Army or RAF as a new direction, but I'm blind in my left eye, have been since birth. I don't want to be a soldier or anything, probably wouldn't be accepted anyway, but want to do something I.T based, something like that. Would any of the Armed Forces accept someone who is blind in one eye or is it a strict almost 20/20 vision policy? I'm 28 also, and I'm allowed to drive, although I have only been driving for 18 months now. Kieran

[Tab]

I don't think that you will stand a cat in hells chance of getting in. The Forces are excused from the act of employing handicap people.

[MSI64]

I have a feeling Kieran and Glad are the same person and possible a journalist looking for a story.

Both post talk about having a disability and trying to get in the Army, both dont want to be in the Army but want to teach IT

Could the Mods look into this as it sounds like fishing

If Im wrong then I post an apology

[Kieran1981]

Sorry but handicap is a bit of a severe word if you ask me lol. I'm not in a wheel chair! And to the second poster, I have not been on here before, I think it's just a coincidence if somebody has posted a similar topic before. I think I will just try and apply or find out before hand and hear from the horse's mouth if I can get in or not. RAF careers hotline didn't know, so I'll try ringing round during the week. This 'handicap' is out!

[MSI64]

Blind in one eye is a total bar to entry into the forces Thata a fact!

But if you want to go into your ACIO/AFCO they will show you the list of medical bars.

The conditions in the table below make a person permanently unsuitable, except where specifically time limited, for entry into the Armed Forces

Eye disease, e.g. glaucoma, keratoconus, retinitis pigmentosa. Double vision. Visual field defects. Corneal grafts or recurrent corneal ulcers. Cataract or cataract surgery. Detached retina. Vision only in one eye. Squint surgery in the previous six months. Laser eye surgery in the previous 12 months

Taken directly from the AFCO 5

LINK http://www.army.mod.uk/documents/genera ... orm5-U.pdf

[sportbilly42]

I don't think that you will stand a cat in hells chance of getting in. The Forces are excused from the act of employing handicap people.

Unless of course they became 'handicapped' in the course of their duty.... Used to be slung out on their ears (if they still had them) but these days lads who've lost limbs in combat etc are being retained. There are so many of them now unfortunately that the army is starting to run out of roles for them with meaningful career paths though.

But as for having a gammy leg or one eye before even starting the process of trying to get in......?! No Chance. Have you got 40/40 vision with your one remaining eye to compensate? Plenty of things you can still achieve in life with one eye.... (Prime Minister maybe?) but HM Forces is not one of them...

[Firstmate]

Hi, I have decided that the best path for me would be to join with the Navy, Army or RAF as a new direction, but I'm blind in my left eye, have been since birth. I don't want to be a soldier or anything, probably wouldn't be accepted anyway, but want to do something I.T based, something like that. Would any of the Armed Forces accept someone who is blind in one eye or is it a strict almost 20/20 vision policy? I'm 28 also, and I'm allowed to drive, although I have only been driving for 18 months now. Kieran

So you want to join the Army, but don't want to be a soldier.That's what people in the Army are , Soldiers. What are you on. In the Army you are a soldier first and then whatever job you do comes next.