Pentagon Reviews Medical Disqualification Standards for Recruits

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has ordered a comprehensive review of the medical standards for military enlistment, emphasizing the need for high and uncompromising physical and mental requirements to ensure readiness and mission effectiveness. The review, prompted by rising concerns about the fitness and preparedness of recruits, will assess which medical conditions should disqualify applicants or require waivers, particularly focusing on conditions like schizophrenia, heart failure, and chronic respiratory issues. Hegseth highlighted that individuals with such conditions are generally unlikely to complete training or their initial term of service, posing risks to themselves and others. The number of military recruits receiving waivers has increased from 12% in 2013 to 17% in 2022, partly due to a recent pilot program that relaxed standards for certain conditions. Pentagon officials have 30 days to evaluate the existing criteria and propose updates to better safeguard military readiness. The move is part of Hegseth’s broader push to tighten both medical and physical requirements across the armed forces.