Coronavirus survivors banned from joining the military
S E E D E D C O N T E N T
If an applicant fails screening, according to the memo, they won't be tested, but they can return in 14 days if they're symptom-free. Anyone who has been diagnosed with COVID-19 will have to wait until 28 days after diagnosis to report to MEPS.
Upon return, a diagnosis will be marked as "permanently disqualifying" for accession. Recruits can apply for waivers for all permanently disqualifying conditions, including surviving COVID-19. However, without any further guidance for exceptions dealing with COVID-19, a review authority would have no justification to grant a waiver.
Maxwell declined to explain why a coronavirus diagnosis would be permanently disqualifying, compared to other viral, non-chronic illnesses that do not preclude military service.
However, given the limited research on COVID-19, there are likely a few factors that military medical professionals are trying to hash out when it comes to recruiting survivors: Whether respiratory damage from the virus is long-lasting or permanent, and whether that can be assessed; the likelihood of recurring flare-ups, even if someone has had two consecutive negative tests; and the possibility that one bout of COVID-19 might not provide full immunity for the future, and could potentially leave someone at a higher risk to contract it again, perhaps with worse complications.
Pentagon working on guidance for garrison commanders in states lifting coronavirus stay-at-home ordersWith some states easing restrictions on local businesses and outdoor gathering spots, military installations will have to balance safety of forces with civilian moves.
Meghann Myers and Karen Jowers May 5
The move comes as the services prepare for a surge of post-graduation recruits during the summer and fall high season.
In recent weeks, new trainees have been 100-percent tested for COVID-19 before starting training. So far, clusters have been discovered at Fort Jackson, South Carolina, and Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego, the Army and Marine Corps' biggest initial entry training installations.
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Well, this is certainly an interesting development...
At the rate we are going due to self entitled selfish aholes, it may be years before we get enough people to consider enlisting.
We may run out of people they could accept.
We may have to resort to a draft
Well this flies in the face of this virus not being that bad crowd.
If the military thinks people could have lasting health problems...
How does this affect the West pointers who were denied participation in their graduation ceremony due to positive Covid or mandatory quarantine?
Apparently the military needs to get it's act together, ( not surprised here )
And, who is running our military? Donald Trump is...
This is a poor decision which will leave our troops vulnerable to biological attacks with Covid-19.