Upon return, a diagnosis will be marked as permanently disqualifying for accession. A diagnosis of the COVID-19 coronavirus may keep prospective recruits out of the U.S. military, according to a memo from U.S. Military Entrance Processing Command making the rounds on Twitter.. U.S. Military Entrance Processing Command issued the missive to recruit processing stations saying a history of COVID-19, confirmed by a laboratory test or a clinician diagnosis, is permanently . All of the U.S. military services have now begun disciplinary actions and discharges for troops who have refused to get the mandated coronavirus vaccine . A defense official confirmed to CNN that the Pentagon is considering the ban on recruiting COVID-19 survivors. This time of coronavirus disease 2019 is no different. Elizabeth, 49, knows she is . By LOLITA C. BALDOR August 9, 2021. THE HILL 1625 K STREET, NW SUITE 900 WASHINGTON DC 20006 | 202-628-8500 TEL | 202-628-8503 FAX. 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With U.S. forces stationed or deployed around the world, good military and diplomatic relations with foreign governments is critical. When most people think about the military and the coronavirus, they think of stories such as the hospital ship, USNS Comfort, deploying to New York City, or the National Guard helping with test sites, or the Army Corps of Engineers erecting temporary hospitals this past spring to handle an overload of sick patients. Join half a million readers enjoying Newsweek's free newsletters. Advertisement. Nathalie Grogan and Emma Moore. As the United States grapples with the realities of a pandemic world, this is an enormous change for medical requirements imposed on new military recruits. A man whose father died of the virus last fall uses an Excel. Indeed, during the 1918Spanish flu, the combatants kept quiet about the virus spread for fear of discouraging their troopsand encouraging their enemies. Due to underlying structural barriers, a blanket ban on previously hospitalized COVID-19 survivors regardless of their current health status will disproportionately affect minorities and low-income individuals. But exemption approvals are rare. In memos distributed to all troops, top Pentagon leaders said the vaccine is a necessary step to maintain . The updated guidance says that only those who were hospitalized following a COVID-19 diagnosis will be barred from enlisting. Her fever spiked to 103 degrees, she had bad chills and it felt like "something was sitting on my . ), Next Generation National Security Fellows, The Shawn Brimley Next Generation National Security Leaders Fellowship, Joseph S. 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By Donovan added that he had explained the policy earlier on Thursday morning to Senate Armed Services Committee members worried about the ban and its effects on recruiting. The response to the coronavirus pandemic presents the Biden administration with its first defining challenge. As the Defense Department negotiates its way through the coronavirus pandemic and its fallout, military entrance processing stations are working with new guidance when it comes to bringing. The dangers increase with the . U.S. Military Entrance Processing Command issued a memo this week detailing new procedures for applicants during the coronavirus pandemic. The memo, first reported by the Military Times, says that during the prescreen process, an applicant's reported history of confirmed COVID-19 "will be annotated as 'Considered Disqualifying. Trained Afghan Forces For A Nation That Didn't Exist, Fierce fighting between Taliban and Afghan forces in Kandahar, The Afghan government failed to earn the trust of its people. If the soldiers continue to refuse the vaccine, the consequences could be even more dire. A past case of coronavirus would be "permanently disqualifying," according to a U.S . Any infectious disease, we want to make sure theyre not infectious at the time. Of course, these are just a few examples of the effects of the coronavirus pandemic on U.S. military forces. That was then changed to potentiallybarring the enlistee if they had beenhospitalized due to the illness. More than 5,000 service members have tested positive for coronavirus with mass screenings occurring at recruiting depots and bootcamp. DoD may have calculated most military recruits are aged 18-25, at lesser risk for severe cases of COVID-19, and those with mild cases could be immune, increasing the immunity level of the overall force. Donovan added that he had spent part of the morning on a call with Senate Armed Services Committee members concerned about the ban, after multiple lawmakers voiced concerns about the effects it would have on recruiting. And I think theyre almost done with that now, he said. "We're not giving up on anybody until the separation paperwork is signed and completed.". No Reserve soldiers have a medical exemption. 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. Please enter valid email address to continue. Top editors give you the stories you want delivered right to your inbox each weekday. The Japanesedefense ministeralso expressed concerns about the handling of the outbreak, which put stress on the U.S.-Japanese alliance. The thoughts expressed are those of the author. I never realized: Airbnb hosts warn of scam taking advantage of Watch live: White House monkeypox response team holds briefing, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. Though more than20,000service members have reportedly contracted coronavirus so far, the number is likely higher due to the seemingly high percentage of asymptomatic carriers of the virus. Hannah Gaber, USA TODAY. >>> Whats the best way for America to reopen and return to business? 2020 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. The memo initially said that a confirmed history of COVID-19 from a lab test or clinical diagnosis would be "permanently disqualifying." Are there any long-term, lasting effects? Stephen Lopez, a 69-year-old from Pleasantville, New York, needed at-home oxygen even after he was discharged but is now recovering well. Registration on or use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Service. Christopher D. Kolenda. Plasma is the liquid portion of blood that carries blood components throughout the body . Anyone who has been diagnosed with COVID-19 will have to wait until 28 days after diagnosis to report to MEPS. For example, this summer, theU.S. The memo is authentic, Pentagon spokeswoman Jessica Maxwell confirmed to Military Times. Soldiers will be allowed to come on duty and earn their pay in order to be vaccinated or to take part in separation procedures. Sign up for notifications from Insider! Everyone Practices Cancel Culture | Opinion, Deplatforming Free Speech is Dangerous | Opinion. The Department of Defense medical waivers are usually . DoD may calculate that the sheer number of unemployment claims in March will offset limiting the pool of eligible recruits by leading to a significant spike in interest. The Pentagon is considering banning new recruits from joining the military if they have been hospitalized for the coronavirus unless they get a waiver from the service they want to sign . The Defense Department has rescinded a policy that banned recruits from enlisting in the military if they have been hospitalized for coronavirus, the Pentagon's head of manpower . Despite the Pentagon's vaccine . The COVID-19 vaccines have not been on the Department of Defense's mandatory list. DoD seems to be mitigating potential downstream negative health effects or attrition among those previously hospitalized due to COVID-19, calculating a blanket ban is the best course of action (although it is not currently a cause for separation from service). For example, aspikein coronavirus cases to nearly 15o at U.S. bases onOkinawa,Japan, has caused concern among local authorities, who are anxious about the spread of the virus into the population. The ban may also result from limited research on COVID-19, as there's still much that's unknown about the virus, the permanence and assessment of its damage on the lungs and body, whether the. However, changing standards to limit the pool of eligible recruits in ways that piggyback of structural inequities ultimately damages the force. As of May 7, the U.S. has. Listen to the full conversation from the BBC. By The Army, the largest military service, has granted just one permanent medical exemption and no religious exemptions for the coronavirus vaccine, officials said. WASHINGTON The Defense Department has begun barring the enlistment of would-be military recruits who have been hospitalized for the coronavirus, unless they get a special medical waiver. "On the third day of being on oxygen, I sent a message to my fianc. Part-time soldiers with a pending medical or religious exemption for the vaccine may continue to train with their units and collect pay and benefits. And now its changed again. As the United States grapples with the realities of a pandemic world, this is an enormous change for medical requirements imposed on new military recruits. 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For instance, there is some indication that organ damage results from severe cases. Even ambitious expectations of vaccine development, testing, and production project it will take 18 months or longer. On paper, the only thing an unvaccinated Guard soldier is qualified for now is state active-duty orders, a comparatively rare tool for a governor to activate their Guard for short-term emergencies such as hurricane relief and responding to domestic disturbances. People already in the military who are hospitalized with COVID-19 will not automatically be disqualified from further service, the official said. Reserve soldiers fall exclusively under the federal government, possibly making it easier to separate them from service. Though weary and exhausted, coronavirus survivors are heading back home to their families and are trying to get on with their lives. A defense official confirmed to CNN that the Pentagon is considering the ban on recruiting COVID-19 survivors. While Guardsmen technically serve under their respective governors during their typical weekend duties, those weekends are federally funded. which first reported on the new policy, that the memo is authentic. Recruits can apply for waivers for all permanently disqualifying conditions, but without further guidance for exceptions dealing with COVID-19, a review authority would not have justification to grant a waiver, Military Times notes. One coronavirus survivor manages her medical bills in color-coded folders: green, red and tan for different types of documents. Along with low-income individuals whose public-facing jobs risk exposure, minorities are overrepresented in the essential workforce.. The need for a strong and healthy force is grounded in operational readiness and cannot be dismissed. Only six Guard soldiers across all states and territories have permanent medical exemptions for the vaccine, out of 53 who requested one, according to Army data. Do Democrats need a past superstar to hold the White House in 2024? The average age of survivors is now into the 80s and because of COVID-19 lectures from hibakusha at the local museum have fallen by 90 per cent. Listen to the full conversation f View All Reports Related: What Does the Guard Do with 40,000 Unvaccinated Soldiers? The culture secretary praised the response from social media and technology companies in banning misinformation about coronavirus. The U.S. military is banning enlistment for anyone who was been hospitalized forCOVID-19, a Pentagon official told CBS News' David Martin. This spring, the aircraft carrierUSS Theodore Roosevelthad a coronavirus outbreak aboard ship that sickened more than 1,000 sailors of nearly 5,000 crew members. Although COVID-19 is the newest extreme strain in a family of related viruses, there is a good deal of information health experts and the military do not know about the long-term effects of this strain. COVID long-haulers are killing themselves as symptoms become too painful to bear but support groups offer relief. In January COVID Survivors for Change held a training in how to effectively lobby legislators and followed it up with a lobby day in March to push for the Covid relief bill Congress was . The memo prompted howls of disbelief on social media. Updated guidelines follow a 24-hour news cycle of confusion. Naval Academyaltered plebe summera required summer training programfor the class of 2024. THE HILL 1625 K STREET, NW SUITE 900 WASHINGTON DC 20006 | 202-628-8500 TEL | 202-628-8503 FAX. Military Times says recruits can apply for waivers for all permanently disqualifying conditions, including surviving COVID-19. Copyright 2023 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. Read about the most current guidance here. As the coronavirus rages on throughout parts of the United . that the Pentagon is considering the ban on recruiting COVID-19 survivors. The United Nations Secretary-General Antnio Guterres said that the million coronavirus deaths were mind-numbing. The memo stated that all 65 Military Entrance Processing Stations (MEPS) across the country will medically evaluate all potential recruits, who will be required to have their temperature taken and complete a screening survey. Senior Research Fellow, Center for National Defense. Stay up to date with what you want to know. Peter researches and develops Heritages policy on weapons of mass destruction and counter proliferation. Those five days were days of restlessness, sorrow and depression.". The new policy does not apply to individuals who are already members of the military and have contracted the coronavirus, such as the hundreds of sailors aboard the US Navy aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt who fell ill, sidelining the carrier in Guam. During the screening process, a reported history of confirmed COVID-19 will be annotated Considered disqualifying pic.twitter.com/ZKx91AUbXo. By the day's end, I told my boss I had to leave . A memo released by the United States Military Entrance Processing Command that is circulating on Twitter states that a history of COVID-19 confirmed by a laboratory test or clinical diagnosis is permanently disqualifying., During the screening process, a reported history of confirmed COVID-19 will be annotated Considered disqualifying pic.twitter.com/ZKx91AUbXo. Getty Images. But the fact is that the virus is having an effect on the military, too, creating challenges for national defense. CNN . May 7, 2020 / 3:48 PM If soldiers, sailors, airmen, or Marines are ill with coronavirus, the flu, or something else, it can hurt their ability to fight if needed. There is also new guidance for examining an applicant's history with the disease during the screening process. But the interim guidance has now been pulled and the department has returned to its previous process and guidelines for ushering recruits into the military,Matthew Donovan, the under secretary of Defense for personnel and readiness, told reporters at the Pentagon. Indeed, as Americans, these tough times will likely improve the resilience of both our militaryand the nation. The Hill reached out to the Pentagon for comment. The defense establishment needs not only to procure and manufacture weapons systems, but repair and maintain them to keep them in service for our troops and our nation. The Effect of Coronavirus on the U.S. Military, Biden Proposal Puts Climate Agenda Above Americas Defense, Russias New START Breach Means U.S. Nuclear Weapons Modernization Is a Must. "We're going to give every soldier every opportunity to get vaccinated and continue their military career," Lt. Gen. Jon Jensen, director of the Army Guard, told Military.com in an emailed statement. A recent memo from Military Entrance and Processing Command (MEPCOM) added to previously issued start-stop guidance from the Department of Defense relating to COVID-19. Newsweek reached out to the Department of Defense for further information. Covid-19 is something Yoga never wants to experience again and still fears, so when vaccination opened to his age group, he signed up right away and he has now had two jabs. 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A Pentagon official said this is "interim guidance" that will remain at least until more is known about the damage that the virus does to the lungs. Army officials have stopped short of outlining a clear plan on removing part-time soldiers, particularly Guardsmen, from service for continuing to refuse the vaccine. It adds that during the medical history interview or examination part of their application, "a history of COVID-19 confirmed by either a laboratory test or clinician diagnosis, is permanently disqualifying.". It is unclear if DoD plans to revise the guidance once more information is known about COVID-19. US military will no longer ban COVID-19 survivors from serving US military will no longer ban COVID-19 survivors from serving A US military vehicle drives in a patrol in Syria's.