Posted on 05/06/2020 10:03:11 PM PDT by amorphous
Coronavirus survivors will be barred from entering the military unless they are granted a waiver from the branch they are seeking to join, a defense official told Fox News, as the agency continues to figure out how to train America's fighting force in the midst of a global pandemic.
“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 ...,” reads a memo from the U.S. Military Entrance Processing Command (MEPCOM) found circulating online.
Specific guidance was sent to staff on how to deal with COVID-19 cases, beginning with an initial screening at 65 Military Entry Processing (MEPS) stations.
(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...
Do future warriors need to mask up?
This is where it starts
Transgender OK. AIDS Ok. Covid? Get lost.
Really dumb. 1/3 of the country have likely already had it and not known.
Waivers are available for everything - recruiters just put them up on ‘Mission Day’, aka the last day of the month.
Read this earlier this evening. Very surprising that they’re making this a permanent disqualification. Seeing their reference to lung damage, potential reinfection, etc. I guess this might make sense. More evidence that this is simply not a flu.
“It doesn’t say those who had it. It’s those who were hospitalized, which pretty much consists mostly 50 year olds...”
***********************************
I thought it just said “confirmed” was considered disqualifying and didn’t mentioned needing being hospitalized.
I suspect this will be revisited once more experience with the COVID-19’s after effects is gained.
I firmly believe this is a stopgap memo to try to keep basic training battalions from being overwhelmed if the covid infections got more serious.
It is stupid and will be rescinded... though it will not be rescinded because it’s stupid because that would go against hundreds of years of military tradition of embracing and defending dumb policies.
It will be rescinded because eventually recruiters will miss mission if they enforce it. It was probably crafted months ago but just published now. It will stay on the books for now because the job market is garbage, we’re between wars, and the military believes it can afford to play these games.
What is the date on the memo? Sounds like an early memo.
Sounds more like a temporary measure until more is known about the disease and about antibodies to it. Meanwhile, if there is a need for warm bodies there will be a waiver.
LOL
The military times said anyone who had had a positive diagnosis of COVID-19 is permanently barred from joining.
OK
It doesn’t say what they say it says. It clearly states “interim” which is “temporarily, until you hear otherwise, while we work on this issue further”.
I certainly would hope that they don’t allow those previously hospitalized for it in. Those people are supposed to have fibrosis and other damage in their lungs, some possibly damage else where. If those people don’t become money wasted until they have to drop out then if they finish their tour they are going to claim that service aggravated that condition and now they need to be listed as disabled.
The VA sucks now, imagine 10 years from now with many more people in the system and all the additional cost to taxpayers.
Instead of waiting a few days for this to pan out in the news, talk shows and social media, I’ll go ahead and call this BS now.
It looks like the concepts of herd immunity and having armed forces are in conflict.
You can bet this is much worse than the flu, if our military medical command is putting out this kind of guidance.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.