DAF updates waiver policies for asthma, hearing loss, food allergies
Published Dec. 23, 2024
JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-RANDOLPH, Texas (AFNS) --
The Air Force Accessions Center announced the expansion of medical waiver considerations for multiple medical conditions, which opens up the opportunity for military service to an additional 600 applicants annually, Nov. 1.
The Department of the Air Force holds strict medical accession standards but can grant waivers in specific cases. The new policy expands previous guidance in several areas, including asthma, hearing loss and food allergies.
“We are constantly evaluating how we can bring in the best talent while ensuring our members can serve effectively and safely,” said Brig. Gen. Christopher Amrhein, AFAC commander. “By expanding waiver criteria for manageable health conditions, we can access a wider pool of qualified applicants without compromising mission readiness.”
The new waiver policy will allow for the recruitment of individuals with clinically diagnosed asthma, provided they do not require daily preventive medication, and their rescue inhaler use is kept to a minimum. This marks a significant change from the previous standard, which disqualified all individuals with a positive asthma diagnosis and did not consider the severity of the diagnosis, according to Col. David Gregory, director of the Accession Medial Waiver division at AFAC.
https://www.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/4015908/daf-updates-waiver-policies-for-asthma-hearing-loss-food-allergies/
