May 12, 2020
Banning COVID-19 survivors from military service is a recruiting mess waiting to happen
A recent memo from Military Entrance and Processing Command (MEPCOM) added to previously issued start-stop guidance from the Department of Defense relating to COVID-19. Updated guidelines follow a 24-hour news cycle of confusion. The original memo stated all COVID-19 survivors were banned from serving, later clarified to state a confirmed history of COVID-19 hospitalization is a permanently disqualifying condition for entrance into the armed forces.
As the United States grapples with the realities of a pandemic world, this is an enormous change for medical requirements imposed on new military recruits. More than 5,000 service members have tested positive for coronavirus with mass screenings occurring at recruiting depots and bootcamp.
Read the full article in Task & Purpose.
More from CNAS
-
US waited too long to withdraw from Afghanistan
There was no good way for the United States to exit the failed war in Afghanistan....
By Paul Scharre
-
Military Analyst: U.S. Trained Afghan Forces For A Nation That Didn't Exist
NPR's Don Gonyea speaks with analyst Jason Dempsey about why, after years of U.S. military training and billions of dollars, the Afghan military has proven unable to stand up ...
By Dr. Jason Dempsey
-
Fierce fighting between Taliban and Afghan forces in Kandahar
Christopher Kolenda joins BBC to speak about the latest updates on the situation in Afghanistan Listen to the full conversation from the BBC....
By Christopher D. Kolenda
-
The Afghan government failed to earn the trust of its people
Retired US Army Col. Christopher Kolenda speaks to host Marco Werman about the need of Afghans to develop their own strategy moving forward. Listen to the full conversation f...
By Christopher D. Kolenda