What would medical issues would make one unfit to join the US military?

Question

When going to the physical what things would disqualify one for the military? For example, HIV/AIDS, poor vision, drugs.....what about things like torn cartilage in knee? What about poor bone structure, HPV, obesity, bulimia, other eating disorders.....etc.? Anything else that you may think of.... Thank you for your answers!

Answer 1

Aside from many of the jobs in the military that require total physical abilities, many of the military occupations are sit-down on your butt most of the day type jobs. Character and personality requirements are the real issues at hand in terms of who should and should not be serving in the military, or the Presidency for that matter. Common sense is what is lacking in Bush and many of the Right-Wing nuts.

Answer 2

Everything um,...... unhealthy!

They want people in top physical condition. Some stuff is waivable but for the most part, you have to be "healthy".

Answer 3

The link below is to the medical standards. Study Chapter Two. There are over 200 conditions which can disqualify you.  

Answer 4

Let's break it down:

These things are a bar to enlistment:  HIV, AIDS, asthma, heart conditions like arrythmia, cerebral palsy, multiple sclerosis, muscular dystrophy, all forms of cancer (even if it's in remission) and any physical condition that would prevent you from being able to perform any and all required duties.  Obesity counts if you don't meet the weight requirements, but if you lose enough weight you can get in.  Oh, forgot pregnancy -- you can't enlist if you're pregnant.

Torn cartilege in the knee, poor bone structure, HPV, bulimia, and other eating disorders may be a bar to enlistment.  The doctors have to evaluate you and determine if you're medically qualified for duty.  If the doctors say you're OK, you're in.  If not, you're out of luck.

Poor vision is not a bar to enlistment because they can give you glasses or contacts (maybe even do LASIK surgery), but it may prevent you from getting certain jobs.  For example, Air Force fighter pilots must have perfect 20/20 vision uncorrected.  You can also get into the military if you have other vision problems like color-blindness or depth perception problems, but again, those conditions may prevent you from getting certain jobs.

Drug use is not an automatic bar to enlistment.  If you tried marijuana, you're OK.  If you smoked marijuana more than a couple of times, or if you used any other drugs, you may be barred from enlistment -- depends on the branch of service you're trying to get into.  If you're an alcoholic, that's a bar.  Mental disorders like bipolar disorder and schizophrenia are also a bar to enlistment, but depression is not an automatic bar.  Again, you'd have to be evaulated by doctors.