These pages list medical conditions which are disqualifying for entry into the United States Armed Forces. The information is derived from Army Regulation 40-501, Chapter 2. Military Entrance Processing Station (MEPS) Regulation 40-1, paragraph 5-1b(1) directs the use of Army Regulation 40-501, Chapter 2 for medical qualifications for all branches of the Armed Forces (including the Coast Guard). The information in Army Regulation 40-501, is derived directly from Department of Defense (DOD) Directive 6130.3, Physical Standards for Appointment,Enlistment, and Induction, and DOD Instruction 6130.4,Criteria and Procedure Requirements for Physical Standards for Appointment, Enlistment, or Induction in the Armed Forces.
The purpose of DOD medical standards is to ensure that medically qualified personnel, accepted into the armed forces of the United States are:
(1) Free of contagious diseases that would likely endanger the health of other personnel.
(2) Free of medical conditions or physical defects that would require excessive time lost from duty for necessary treatment or hospitalization or would likely result in separation from the Army for medical unfitness.
(3) Medically capable of satisfactorily completing required training.
(4) Medically adaptable to the military environment without the necessity of geographical area limitations.
(5) Medically capable of performing duties without aggravation of existing physical defects or medical conditions.
Disqualifying Medical Conditions
Abdominal Organs and Gastrointestinal System
Blood and BloodForming Tissue Diseases
Disorders with psychotic features
Endocrine and Metabolic Disorders
Miscellaneous Conditions of the Extremities
Neurotic, Anxiety, Mood, Somatoform, Dissociative, or Factitious Disorders
Personality, Conduct, and Behavior Disorders
General and Miscellaneous Conditions and Defects
Genitalia and Reproductive Organs
The standards listed on these pages are overall DOD medical standards. Each of the military services, however, have the authority to waive these standards, should they choose to do so. If an applicant is disqualified by MEPS, based on the above standards, the MEPS medical doctor makes a recommendation as to whether or not a waiver should be considered. The doctor bases this recommendation on the following criteria, using his/her professional medical judgement:
1. Is the condition progressive?
2. Is the condition subject to aggravation by military service?
3. Will the condition preclude satisfactory completion of prescribed training and subsequent military duty?
4. Will the condition constitute an undue hazard to the examine or to others, particularly under combat conditions?
If a waiver is required, it is initiated and processed by the service you are trying to join, not the MEPS. Whether or not a waiver will be approved, and how long it takes for approval/disapproval varies greatly. Each and every waiver is considered individually.
Medical Waiver Approval Authorities:
Army (Active and Reserve)
Commander DSN: 536-0531
U.S. Army Recruiting Command
ATTN: RCRO-PP-C
Room 42
1307 Third Avenue
Fort Knox, KY 40121
Army National Guard
Army National Guard Bureau
ATTN: NGB-ARP-H
111 S. George Mason Drive
Alexandria, VA 22204-1382
Note:Waivers are processed through the above address, but are actually approved/disapproved by the particular State National Guard approval authority.
Air Force (Active Duty)
HQ AETC/SGPS
63 Main Circle, Ste 3
Randolph AFB, TX 78150-4959
Air Force (Reserves)
Air Force Reserve Waiver Authority
HQ AFRC/SGPA
135 Page Rd
Robins AFB, GA 31098-1601
Air National Guard
Air National Guard Waiver Authority
3500 Setchet Ave.
Andrews AFB, MD 20762-5157
Navy (Active and Reserves)
Chief, Bureau of Medicine and Surgery
ATTN: MED-CODE 25
2300 E Street NW
Washington, DC 20372-5300
Note: The Bureau of Medicine and Surgery (BUMED) will review waiver requests and forward their recommendation to Chief, Naval Recruiting Command (CNRC) for final decision.
Marine Corps (Active and Reserves)
Chief, Bureau of Medicine and Surgery
ATTN: MED-CODE 25
2300 E Street NW
Washington, DC 20372-5300
Note:BUMED reviews the medical waiver request and forwards the recommendation to the office of the Commandant of the USMC for decision.
Coast Guard
Commander (MPC-SEP-1)
Military Personnel Command
ATTN: Medical Waivers
U.S. Coast Guard Headquarters
2100 Second Street, S.W.
Washington, DC 20593
