DoD Eases Path for Recruits with Certain Medical Conditions
Photo by: U.S. Army/Angela Turner
Thu, 11/14/2024 - 08:22
The Pentagon has lifted its restrictions on more than 50 medical conditions that used to disqualify a potential recruit from joining the military.
The effort has helped thousands of previously disqualified young people join the military as the services, including the Army, contend with a tough recruiting environment.
Established in 2022, the Medical Accession Records Pilot aims to address changes in the health landscape among young people by shortening the “any history of” timeframes for several conditions that required waivers, such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD.
With nearly 77% of 17- to 24-year-olds disqualified for military service without some type of waiver, the pilot “has been helpful to expand” the recruiting market, Katie Helland, DoD director of military accession policy, said in a news conference with reporters.
https://www.ausa.org/news/dod-eases-path-recruits-certain-medical-conditions