# Coronavirus survivors banned from joining the military **URL:** \ **Category:** The Quarantine Zone\ **Tags:** covid-quarantine\ **Created:** [May 7, 2020, 2:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-survivors-banned-from-joining-the-military/853305 "2020-05-07T02:51:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Duckster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duckster/32/1244_2.png) [@Duckster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duckster)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2020, 2:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-survivors-banned-from-joining-the-military/853305/1 "2020-05-07T02:51:07Z")
> [@](#): > > As the Defense Department negotiates its way through the coronavirus pandemic and its fallout,[military entrance processing stations](https://www.militarytimes.com/news/your-military/2020/03/20/recruit-processing-stations-still-packed-as-pentagon-urges-social-distancing/) are working with new guidance when it comes to bringing [COVID-19](https://www.militarytimes.com/news/coronavirus/) survivors into the services. A past [COVID-19](https://www.marinecorpstimes.com/news/coronavirus/2020/05/05/the-citadel-is-staging-poolees-for-observation-due-to-covid-19-before-shipping-to-boot-camp/) diagnosis is a no-go for processing, according to a recently released MEPCOM memo circulating on Twitter. “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. [Coronavirus survivors banned from joining the military](https://www.militarytimes.com/news/your-military/2020/05/06/coronavirus-survivors-banned-from-joining-the-military/) So when do military academy graduates take their formal oath? If it’s after graduation, what if they test positive before taking the oath? ---
**Author:** ![Translucent\_Daydream](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/translucent_daydream/32/16170_2.png) [@Translucent\_Daydream](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Translucent_Daydream)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2020, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-survivors-banned-from-joining-the-military/853305/2 "2020-05-08T16:52:45Z")
If we get to the herd immunity that all the protesters want, won’t 70% or more of people by disqualified for service? ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2020, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-survivors-banned-from-joining-the-military/853305/3 "2020-05-08T17:15:26Z")
> [@Translucent\_Daydream](#): > > If we get to the herd immunity that all the protesters want, won’t 70% or more of people by disqualified for service? Yeah, lets cut the military big time, we cannot afford it anyway. ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2020, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-survivors-banned-from-joining-the-military/853305/4 "2020-05-08T17:22:58Z")
Hope none of the West Point graduates being forced to return for the graduation ceremony to placate trump catch it during this pointless exercise. ---
**Author:** ![Irishman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b487fb/32.png) [@Irishman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Irishman)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2020, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-survivors-banned-from-joining-the-military/853305/5 "2020-05-08T17:23:27Z")
An updated article says they changed it to covid19 patients who were hospitalized. The article brings up legitimate concerns about the extent of possible pregnant lung or heart damage without questioning the lack of any screening criteria that are otherwise used for those type of conditions. This is potentially a short term policy that could be reversed later after more long term data about the virus and is effects are known. Still, it seems harsh and a rush to judgement. ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2020, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-survivors-banned-from-joining-the-military/853305/6 "2020-05-08T17:47:22Z")
> [@Irishman](#): > > The article brings up legitimate concerns about the extent of possible pregnant lung or heart damage As well it should! ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2020, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-survivors-banned-from-joining-the-military/853305/7 "2020-05-08T18:35:53Z")
> [@Irishman](#): > > An updated article says they changed it to covid19 patients who were hospitalized. > > The article brings up legitimate concerns about the extent of possible pregnant lung or heart damage without questioning the lack of any screening criteria that are otherwise used for those type of conditions. > > This is potentially a short term policy that could be reversed later after more long term data about the virus and is effects are known. > > Still, it seems harsh and a rush to judgement. It is not a rush to judgement. Just the opposite. It slows everything down. Just like just about everything In the military there is a waiver. This will cause people who want to join who were hospitalized to get further checks to get a waiver. It’s not surprising. A history of asthma can keep you out. There are many preexisting conditions that will keep you out or require additional medical clearances to let you join. ---
**Author:** ![Chessic\_Sense](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7c8e57/32.png) [@Chessic\_Sense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chessic_Sense)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2020, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-survivors-banned-from-joining-the-military/853305/8 "2020-05-08T19:06:42Z")
There’s a neverending list of things that will disqualify you for military service. Pretty much anything that can cause permanent bodily damage will keep you out. This isn’t all that surprising. Suppose in some future war, we really need more people. You know what we’d do? Change the standard. When the military can be selective, it is. When it can’t, it isn’t. ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2020, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-survivors-banned-from-joining-the-military/853305/9 "2020-05-08T19:50:39Z")
> [@Irishman](#): > > An updated article says they changed it to covid19 patients who were hospitalized. > > The article brings up legitimate concerns about the extent of possible pregnant lung or heart damage without questioning the lack of any screening criteria that are otherwise used for those type of conditions. > > This is potentially a short term policy that could be reversed later after more long term data about the virus and is effects are known. > > Still, it seems harsh and a rush to judgement. Not really… as a friend and former USMC Colonel explained it to me… Uncle Sam wants to ensure that people joining are at tip-top condition, since they’re on the hook for subsequent care for that person for decades. So if you have say… a banged up knee like I did, they’re going to disqualify you because they don’t want to risk reinjury, rehab and the consequent loss of readiness as well as the cost, if they can avoid it by just inducting someone else without a bad knee. Same thing for a LOT of other conditions, actually. With all the potential long-term effects of COVID-19, this recent letter is just an extension of the existing policy. ---
**Author:** ![DSeid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dseid/32/20194_2.png) [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2020, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-survivors-banned-from-joining-the-military/853305/10 "2020-05-08T20:23:48Z")
Given that within the demographics of likely recruits the number _hospitalized_ for COVID-19 is likely low this seems to not be the idiocy it seemed at first blush. Whether COVID-19 of severity to require hospitalization in a low risk demographic _causes_ permanent damage is not the only item. Perhaps causation goes the other way - they got that sick because they have some factor that puts them at risk to get sicker with viral illnesses. Either way. If it was indeed that any past SARS-CoV-2 infection, no matter how insignificant the illness, was disqualifying, that would have been beyond dumb. It isn’t like they aren’t already having issues finding enough appropriate recruits, what between [obesity, lack of education, and drug abuse or criminal history disqualifiers](https://www.militarytimes.com/opinion/commentary/2018/07/18/commentary-heres-why-fighting-youth-obesity-is-a-matter-of-national-security/). With or without antibodies, those with past mild COVID-19 represent the likely lowest risk for getting sick with it in the future. Given that crowded conditions are a given, you’d rather have a whole group _exclusively_ of them. Out of curiosity - does past hospitalization with influenza disqualify? By the same logic as above it really should. Young adults getting hospitalized with influenza is rare and may represent a predisposition to getting iller with other triggers. FWIW they are already [walking back](https://www.npr.org/sections/coronavirus-live-updates/2020/05/07/851925815/pentagon-issues-guidance-banning-recruits-previously-hospitalized-with-covid-19) even from that. > [@](#): > > “It hasn’t been rigorously thought out and reviewed by the service secretaries — the chiefs — or the secretary of defense,” Milley said in an interview with Morning Edition recorded Thursday. “We’ll have to, with the doctors, take a very, very hard look at the medical standards of recruits and how COVID — or if you’ve been infected by COVID — how that applies.” > > “But that has not been approved,” he added. “That got out there by accident, as sometimes documents do.” … ---
**Author:** ![VOW](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/vow/32/3043_2.png) [@VOW](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VOW)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2020, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-survivors-banned-from-joining-the-military/853305/12 "2020-05-08T22:42:30Z")
I’m sure the past COVID-19 infection is a temporary disqualification. Right now, it is not known if a previous infection with COVID-19 gives permanent immunity. It SHOULD, but at this time, there is the question if you can indeed suffer another incident of COVID-19. If a person has recovered from COVID-19, can he or she become an asymptomatic carrier? There are too many questions about this new disease. Hopefully, we will find the answers. ~VOW