Military branches broaden exemptions for asthma, allergies, hearing impairments to boost recruit numbers

Loosening the Reins: The Air Force has stepped up its game by broadening the threshold for asthma, food allergies, and hearing loss waivers, a move expected to rake in an extra 600 to 1,000 recruits annually. However, these recruits will not be under the radar, as they'll steer clear of demanding career paths such as aviation and special warfare due to their sensitive conditions.

Col. Ian Gregory, head of the Air Force Recruiting Service's Accessions Medical Waiver Division, admits they've been on a mission to expand their waiver allowances since the Air Force fell short of its recruiting targets in 2020. Asthma, food allergies, and hearing loss were identified as prime areas with a high number of waiver petitions and minimal operational risk, coupled with additional medical support.

"We chose these three diagnoses because we wanted to get the most bang for our buck," Gregory candidly shared.

Alex Wagner, Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for manpower and reserve affairs (SAF/MR), gave the green light to the changes on August 29th, with the modifications taking effect on November 1st.

Breathing Easy: Asthma

Before the shakeup, any positive test for asthma on a breathing test equated to an immediate disqualification. Now, if an applicant's airways remain in relatively good shape and they seldom need a rescue inhaler, they're good to go—so long as they steer clear of career fields that could exacerbate their condition, like firefighting.

When it comes to retention, the tables turn. Historically, if an airman or guardant developed asthma post-service, a medical evaluation board (MEB) decided whether they stayed or went. However, they could not serve in hard-to-reach locations where medical aid might be a challenge. With the new rule, airmen with asthma will receive an assignment limitation code from the get-go to manage risks.

"Since this is a significant modification to the personnel system, we required SAF/MR's approval," Gregory explained.

Severe Ingredients: Food Allergies

The Air Force has long disqualified candidates with food allergies, regardless of their severity. This was due to concerns that harsh deployment conditions could aggravate food allergies, with unpredictable consequences for both the individual and the mission.

Going forward, applicants at risk of severe reactions like anaphylaxis remain disqualified. However, milder symptoms like nausea, rashes, or itching might net them a waiver, even if they need to carry an EpiPen on duty to treat accidental exposure.

"While these people continue to carry risks, the Air Force deems the risk acceptable," Gregory stated.

Tuning In: Hearing Loss

The Air Force previously allowed recruits with mild hearing loss, but now moderate hearing loss will also be tolerated—if it affects only one ear and isn't caused by a dangerous condition like a tumor. However, these recruits will avoid noisy jobs like the flightline or explosive ordnance disposal.

These modifications could be a life-changer for many potential airmen and guardants, who have shared their frustrations over the Air Force's previously confusing and opaque medical review process. If more can serve, the Department of the Air Force will witness a significant boost in its competitive hunt for talent, especially since a fifth of its applicants already require a medical waiver to join.

Based on fiscal 2022 data, the Air Force Recruiting Service estimates approximately 600 more individuals can join annually under the new waiver tolerances: about 330 with asthma, 170 with hearing loss, and 85 with food allergies. However, a surge in asthma applicants in fiscal 2023 and 2024 suggests the new tolerances might attract 800 to 1,000 more people.

The Accessions Medical Waiver Division undertook a thorough analysis of the records of previous Airmen and Guardians with similar conditions before recommending the waiver expansions. They analyzed factors such as the amount of medical care required, MEB frequency, and the likelihood of early departures from deployment. However, there's room for improvement in tracking the performance of these waiver recipients.

"We're currently developing a system to track waiver recipients' progress over time," Gregory mentioned.

The influx of waiver requests is also raising concerns over workload. The department processed 7,000 more waiver requests in fiscal 2024 than 2023 and is receiving even more at the start of fiscal 2025 compared to last year. With just about 40 people in the waiver division and not all of them involved in processing waivers, Gregory warns they may need additional staff if the number of waivers keeps climbing. Artificial intelligence could potentially help lighten their workload by summarizing medical records to facilitate quicker decision-making.

"We're actively exploring AI-based solutions for this," Gregory concluded.

The Air Force's new waiver allowances align with the Space Force, also expanding their threshold for asthma, food allergies, and hearing loss waivers.
Aviation and space warfare careers may still require a clean medical bill of health due to their demanding nature.
The Asthma diagnosis was chosen for its high number of waiver petitions and minimal operational risk, with additional medical support available.
Airmen and guardians diagnosed with asthma post-service can now expect an assignment limitation code from the start to manage risks.
The Air Force will continue to disqualify candidates with severe food allergies, but milder symptoms may now receive a waiver.
Applicants with moderate hearing loss in one ear, not caused by a dangerous condition, may now be recruited, excluding noisy jobs.
Air Force Recruiting Service expects around 600-1,000 additional recruits annually under the new waiver tolerances.
The new waiver rules aim to improve the Air Force's competitive talent acquisition in the defense, business, technology, and lifestyle sectors.
Policymakers and military leaders must consider the impact of these changes on the general-news, politics, crime-and-justice, and sports spheres.
The Air Force Recruiting Service is developing a system to track waiver recipients' progress over time, ensuring they maintain military readiness.
The increased number of waiver requests raises concerns about workload and the division's ability to handle the influx, with potential solutions involving AI-based solutions.
Positive changes in the military medical review process will impact the health-and-wellness, fitness-and-exercise, and mental-health of future recruits, with a new emphasis on overall well-being and mental resilience in the face of modern warfare and challenges in space-and-astronomy.