Apparently the best way to serve your country right now is by staying home — because if you’ve been infected with the coronavirus, you’re currently banned from joining the military.
A memo by the United States Military Entrance Processing Command, as shared on Twitter and reported by the Military Times, states the following: “During the medical history interview or examination, a history of COVID-19, confirmed by either a laboratory test or a clinician diagnosis, is permanently disqualifying …”
“During the screening process, a reported history of confirmed COVID-19 will be annotated ‘Considered disqualifying’“ pic.twitter.com/ZKx91AUbXo
— Free (@Nathaniel_Free) May 4, 2020
The Pentagon confirmed the memo’s existence to the Times.
The disqualification seems to apply only to potential recruits who have a confirmed COVID-19 diagnosis; like any conditions, waivers are available, but there are currently no guidelines concerning surviving coronavirus patients. “A review authority would have no justification to grant a waiver,” as the Times notes.
Although this seems unusually cruel, there are a few reasons the military might be taking a hardline here — clusters of infections have already popped up at entry training installations, and the science on COVID-19 is incomplete. As of now, no one is sure about possible permanent respiratory damage, flare-ups, immunity or a number of other unknowns. As of now over 1500 service members have tested positive for coronavirus.
Hopefully, as the science improves, recruits with prior coronavirus diagnoses will get a fair chance to join the military, as the “permanent” part of these disqualifications seems like an overreaction.
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