HIV/AIDS in the Military (CRS Report for Congress)
| Release Date |
Revised March 21, 2023 |
| Report Number |
IF11238 |
| Report Type |
In Focus |
| Authors |
Bryce H. P. Mendez |
| Source Agency |
Congressional Research Service |
| Older Revisions |
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Summary:
In various chapters of Title 10, U.S. Code, Congress has
codified a number of broad authorities for the Department
of Defense (DOD) to establish certain accession and
retention standards for servicemembers. These authorities
allow DOD to create standards and set minimum thresholds
in areas such as educational aptitude, physical fitness, and
medical fitness that must be met for an individual to enter
or remain in military service.
DOD policies establish the medical fitness standards
required to enter, or be retained in, the Armed Forces. In
certain instances, applicants or current servicemembers may
develop, present with, or have a history of a medical
condition or physical defect that would be disqualifying for
entry into or continued military service.
There are approximately 434 disqualifying medical
conditions, including human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)
infection. While DOD policy prohibits the accession of any
applicant who tests positive for HIV, current
servicemembers who become infected may continue to
serve.
