Coronavirus: US Military Won't Recruit People Who Have Tested Positive For COVID-19

As per a recent proposal in a memo released by the Military Entrance Processing Command (MEPCOM), they have shared that the military will no longer be recruiting those candidates who test or have tested positive for COVID-19. Being a former victim of coronavirus now means that permanent disqualification from the military, no matter even if you have recovered.

Pentagon also confirmed the contents of the memo, which have been going viral online and garnering negative comments for sidelining deserving candidates just because they had a disease once. Pentagon described the guidelines mentioned in the memo as “interim guidance.”

"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," the memo reads.

The memo begins with laying down guidelines for how to deal with possible and confirmed coronavirus cases in applicants. For starters, any applicants at any of the 65 nationwide Military Entrance Processing Stations (MEPS) will be evaluated for coronavirus infection. If they turn out to be positive, they will observe self-isolation for 14 days and can return to MEPS after that. Those who test positive through a lab test or clinical diagnosis can return after 28 days to the MEPS 28.

But in both scenarios, their return would be futile as their application will be marked as "permanently disqualifying," and as reported by the Military Times, applicants can’t even request a waiver of the memo as "a review authority would have no justification to grant a waiver.” This rule also applies to all those who have survived COVID-19.

Understandably, the ban has caused quite an uproar among the masses seeing that applicants who have had viral, non-chronic illnesses in the past are allowed to enter the military. One can argue that given the fact that so little is known about the virus and how permanent is the damage caused by it, the military is just being cautious.

This memo also puts a question mark on the 6,500 cases of in the U.S. military itself as to whether, after they recover, they will be called back or not.