colour blindeness frustration in Raf application

HI,
I went to my local afco the other day to start my application process for general engineering in the raf.
I knew i was colour blind so i choose this career option as the website for the raf says:

"If you are colour blind, you will not be able to join the RAF as Aircrew, Flight Operations, an Intelligence Officer or a Controller. Neither will you be able to join as a Firefighter, Weapon Technician, Aircraft Technician (Mechanical) or Aircraft Technician (Avionics). It’s only by testing you for colour blindness that we can decide whether you can join in your preferred branch or trade."

i decided to go to my options the day before afco to get more info about my colour blindness, after looking at a couple of circles wit dots and not being able to spot a couple of numbers the optition wrote down on the piece of paper "strong deuteranopia"

so i gave the corpral a copy of what the optitions gave me and he forwarded it onto there medical department and said its betst to see what they say before we go any further with the application...

anyhow i had a call form the corpral this morning and he said that im cp4 which meens i cant do any jobs in the raf apart from, chef, catering, personal support and supplier.... this is a very big disapointment as none of them jobs really appel to me.

the thing is it all seems like guess work, how can they tell me that i cant apply for the jobs i want to do with just some randome word that the optition wrote down after about 30seconds of looking at dots in a couple of circles. the annoying thing is that i have been doing engineering for a few years now on cars and boats and colour blindness has never effected me, i can see the differnce between the red and green nav lights on aircraft too. i wish i hadnt have said anythign the corpral at afco now and done the proper RAF colour test.

Does anybody know weather i might still be able to convince them to let me apply for engineering and do the proper colour test to find out to raf standards???

also has anybody else had simmular problems.

any help much appreicated,
Many thanks

Reply 1

LouisVuitton43

but from the optition... you are colour blind :confused:

Reply 2

jdw1589

the truoble is tho is that colour blindness car vary apparently

Reply 3

sypher1985

Well if you doubt the capability/results of the optician who tested you, then the best thing you can do is go get a second opinion from another optician.

Reply 4

threeportdrift

Careers Forum Helper

There are different kinds of colour blindness and engineers are allowed to have one type, but not another. I'm afraid it is a significant problem for anyone wanting a career in engineering, there are similar rules in some types of civilian engineering, electrical I think is one. You fell into the 'it's only by testing you' category.

The strong deuteranopia means you can't see distinguish different shades of red and green, although you can tell the difference between red and green. People with normal vision can see many shades of red and shades of green, you can only see a few. The spot test you took is a universal standard, not one just dreamed up by the AFCO or the RAF. You might want to go back to an optician and find out exactly what form your colour blindness takes and then you can decide what areas of engineering are open to you. There are other careers that require perfect colour vision, and probably the optician, or Google can give you further advice.

Reply 5

Wzz

Simple facts; the optician's report you're working from says you are CP4. CP4 means you can't do the jobs you want to. If you believe you're not CP4, go to another optician and ask him to test your level of colour blindness. You can't really comment that it was just "30 seconds of looking at dots" as you're not an optician, so you can't tell us how much observation is required to judge colour blindness!

The golden rule is to be accurate and tell the truth about medical conditions, and let the experts decide. If you decide to get "more information" before you apply, well, it's never going to go well, is it? Either the optician says "yes, you're fine," and you have to do the RAF's tests anyway, or the optician says "no, you're no good" and you lose the chance to try the RAF's test.

For anyone else thinking of applying, wait until you see RAF medics.

Reply 6

Metromartin

At 18 I tried to get into the RAF and also failed the medical due to being colour blind. They said I could only be a cook!! FFS!

At the time I was gutted, couple of my close friends got in and had a great time moving around the UK, good money for their age etc, going out in new places etc at least they invited me along etc.

but I managed to find a good job who are helping me with my uni work too and I really enjoy the job so tbh I'm now kinda of please it happened!

Does suck being colour blind sometimes, I bought a pink shirt the other day thinking it was white, untill my friend told me haha!!

Reply 7

username421348

Engineers need to have a decent grasp of the English language as well you know...

Supply is quite a varied trade, have you heard of TSW? They do the `hot refuelling` of helicopters both on exercise and in theatre - exciting stuff!

Reply 8

ProStacker

Unfortunately, that aspect of the Logistics (Supply) Trade would probably be unavailable to the OP. You can't (normally) work in fuels if you are CP4 - being that you operate on aircraft, airfields and with colour-coded equipment.

Reply 9

CSmiley91

Just for future reference for anyone else who is colour blind and is thinking of applying for the RAF, particularly as a Logistics officer.

I'm colour blind and had originally applied for pilot, but obviously couldn't be one. I was however able to apply for Logistics Officer and whilst I'm not sure of my CP (I need further testing before I start IOT to determine which CP I am) I have been accepted and I'm currently being sponsored through uni as a Logistics Officer.

Therefore, if you are colour blind, I would still definitely apply and not give up an ambition that you may have to join the RAF, in whatever officer role you are able to.

Reply 10

Whangarei

Colour blindness testing is a total shambles. I was catagorised as CP 4 by the Ishihara test in 1965 and served 22 years as an Airframe Technician: now I wouldn't be accepted. On leaving I applied to be an MoD Airframe Technician. I was refused as colour blind. I casually mentioned this to a corporal in the medical centre. She booked me on a weekly visit to the RAF Hospital at Wroughton. The did the Wright Holmes Lantern Test: passed cloured safe CP3 and was accepted by MoD,. For 22 years I could not drive on the airfield, with the exception of when it was necessary to move the aircraft sewage truck in Salalah and I was given a certificate (colour safe) without further testing). After the test at Wroughton I obtained a Private Pilots Medical Certificate. I flew 40 hours 19 of which were solo. The CAA does not accept the Holmes Wright Lantern Test for the top end Commercial Pilots, who probably never need to look through the windscreen, with all of the technology they have. I could have flown a light aircraft with no radio and relied on lamp signals. I never needed to do that but could have done.Now I am hearing of friends sons being refused Engineering Apprenticeships etc. with the same Ishihara Test. Will will somebody sort this crap out before it ruins more peoples lives.