HIV/AIDS in the Military
Abstract
Chapters 31 and 33 of Title 10, U.S. Code, provide broad authority to the Department of Defense (DOD) to establish certain accession and retention standards for servicemembers. These standards set minimum thresholds in areas such as educational aptitude, physical fitness, and medical fitness that must be met for an individual to enter military service. DOD policies establish the medical fitness standards required to enter, or be retained, in the Armed Forces. In certain instances, applicants or current servicemembers may develop, present with, or have a history of a medical condition or physical defect that would be disqualifying for entry into or continued military service. There are approximately 434 disqualifying medical conditions, including a human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. While DOD policy prohibits the accession of any applicant who tests positive for HIV, current servicemembers who become infected may continue to serve.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- May 31, 2019
- Accession Number
- AD1169642
Entities
People
- Bryce H. Mendez
Organizations
- Library of Congress