Several years ago, I joined the Air National Guard after a long break in service. However, I had to apply for medical waivers before I was able to join the military. This article and podcast show you how the medical waiver process works, how to research which medical conditions are eligible for waivers and which are not, and how to apply for medical waivers to join the military.
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Joining the military is not like joining any other organization. The application process to join the military is unlike almost any other job application process. Before you can join the military, you need to fill out a host of forms and documents, including your health history and a background check. Today, we’re going to focus on your health history.
Whether you are applying to the military for the first time or you are thinking about going back in after a break in service , you need to fill out a medical prescreen form called the 2807-2 Medical Prescreen of Medical History Report ( PDF ) before you can apply to take a military physical. There are many reasons for this, but the big one is to save everyone a lot of time and money. The military has strict health requirements to ensure those joining the military are physically fit for service.
The form has instructions printed on it. That said, you want to take your time when filling it out. It is very in-depth, and you want to ensure it is accurate before you submit it to your recruiter. Your recruiter will then submit your 2807-2 and other information to MEPS, the Military Entrance Processing Station . This is the command that processes all military entrance physicals.
If you mark “yes” on anything in section two, you must submit supporting information. It is highly recommended you submit supporting documentation from a medical professional stating your condition and that you are fit for service. Failure to do so will increase the chances your 2807-2 is kicked back to you with a medical disqualification. You may still get medically disqualified, but including the information will help smooth the process when applying for a medical waiver.
Please don’t lie on your military application . It’s a federal offense and can lead to major problems if discovered. And if you somehow slip through the cracks and are later caught, you could be dishonorably discharged . It’s just not worth it!
MEPS will either accept or decline your prescreen request. If it is accepted, you will be able to process through MEPS, where you will take a physical that you will either pass or fail. If your 2807-2 is declined or you fail your physical at MEPS, you will receive either a Temporary Disqualification or a Permanent Disqualification. Don’t let those terms scare you away.
A Temporary Disqualification means the physical condition is temporary, and you cannot process through MEPS because of the medical condition. This could be something as simple as a broken finger. They can’t allow you to join the military with a broken bone. But it is classified as a temporary condition because it will heal. A TDQ will delay your request to process for a military physical until your condition has healed and you can prove the condition no longer affects you.
A Permanent Disqualification is for a medical condition that is permanent. A surgery is a permanent condition because it cannot be undone. A surgery doesn’t necessarily mean you cannot serve, it just means MEPS cannot process your 2807-2 without additional information. There are other reasons for a PQD, and each situation will be unique. Some issues are eligible for a medical waiver, while others are not.
If you fail your MEPS physical or your Medical Prescreen Form (2807-2) is kicked back with a medical disqualification, then you may, or may not, have the option to apply for a waiver, depending on the reason(s) for your PDQ(s).
Once your 2807-2 has been rejected by MEPS and you have been given a PDQ, you can start the process of applying for a medical waiver (if your condition is waiverable). Not all medical conditions are eligible for a medical waiver.
To get a head start on the waiver process, you should get familiar with the DODI (Department of Defense Instruction for Medical Standards for Appointment, Enlistment or Induction in the Military Services), also known as the DoDI 6130.03 (PDF) . This is the official document used by MEPS doctors to determine medical eligibility for military applicants.
If you received a PDQ, it should include a PULHES code or PULHES factor, which is a standardized medical code used to rate your physical condition(s). You can use these codes to look up your condition(s) in the DODI to see if the condition(s) are waiverable.
This is where you need to step up and do some research. Most recruiters don’t have the time to hold your hand through the application process. Spending time on your end will make it easier for your recruiter to work with you to help you get a waiver. Every recruiter is different, and most are willing to work with you if you are willing to work with them. And helping them with their job shows you are dedicated and motivated to join the military.
I wish I could tell you that all you had to do to get a waiver approved was fill out a form, tell the military you are a hard worker and get a couple character references. Unfortunately, that isn’t the case.
The military has some very firm standards for which types of medical waivers they will and will not approve. The decision is completely out of your hands, and in many cases, you cannot appeal the decision.
I won’t try to list all the medical conditions for which you cannot receive a waiver, because it is extensive. Some common maladies include having a history of asthma , ADD (if taking certain medications), diabetes, drug dependency, severe nut allergies (especially peanuts), problems with certain organs, certain skin conditions and more. The best thing to do is download a copy of the DODI mentioned above, and research your medical conditions.
Again: There are some conditions for which there are no waivers.
Once you get your 2807-2 back from MEPS and you look through the TDQ(s) or PDQ(s) they gave you, you will need to prepare your case for a medical waiver. Basically, you will need to get a doctor or medical specialist to review each item for which you received a TDQ or PDQ. The doctor will need to write a note on his or her letterhead with the date, your medical history for that condition, your current condition and whether or not you are physically capable of serving in the military, based on his or her assessment.
You will need to pay for the medical examinations out of your pocket. The military will not cover this expense.
Once you have these letters, you will need to submit them and a new 2807-2 to your recruiter. Your recruiter will then start the waiver process by sending the forms and supplemental information to the Surgeon General’s Office for your branch of service. The Surgeon General’s Bureau may or may not request additional information.
I had to get medical waivers to join the Air National Guard – the waivers were required because I had two knee surgeries while I was on active duty. Because I had a history of surgery, I needed to get a physical from an orthopedic surgeon who looked at my health history, gave me an exam and stated I was physically fit to serve again. The process for me to join the ANG took about six months from start to finish. It went like this:
This process can take months, depending on the complexity of your case, your medical conditions, how long it takes to get your medical exams and letters, how busy MEPS and the SG’s office are and other factors. (The summer is the worst time because this is when MEPS processes thousands of recent high school and college graduates.)
You either get a medical waiver or you don’t. You can’t appeal. The Surgeon General’s office is the appeal . If they deny you the opportunity to serve, then that is the final answer. Writing to your member of Congress or senator won’t enhance your chances of joining the service. It just won’t happen.
Depending on your medical condition, there may be other options you can try. Each branch of the military — including the Guard and Reserves — has a different Surgeon General’s Office. If you have a borderline case, you may consider joining another branch of service. You might even consider a career in the Guard or Reserves instead of joining on active duty.
But be careful not to waste everyone’s time. If your condition is not waiverable, don’t go through the application process again. The only time it is worth going through this process again is if you have medical conditions that are waiverable, but for one reason or another, the branch you applied to decided not to accept you at this time.
There are reasons this can happen. For example, if some branches of the military aren’t having trouble meeting their quotas, they may not need to take someone with a history of health conditions. All things being equal, they will take the person who doesn’t require waivers. (it’s faster, easier, and cheaper to get this person into uniform, and historically, they are more likely to finish training).
But some other branches may be having a more difficult time meeting their quotas, or they may be more open to putting prospective troops through the waiver process. So you may have luck applying to a different branch of the service or applying to the Guard or Reserves. In fact, I have heard it can be easier to join the Guard and Reserves if you need medical waivers. Again, it’s only worth pursuing this avenue if your medical condition(s) are waiverable.
Final note: Please do not try to apply to more than one branch of the military at the same time. It will cause red flags in the system and may prevent you from being able to join. Exhaust all options with your first application before trying to apply to a different branch of the military. Best of luck!
Ryan Guina is The Military Wallet’s founder. He is a writer, small business owner, and entrepreneur. He served over six years on active duty in the USAF and is a current member of the Tennessee Air National Guard.
Ryan started The Military Wallet in 2007 after separating from active duty military service and has been writing about financial, small business, and military benefits topics since then.
Featured In: Ryan’s writing has been featured in the following publications: Forbes, Military.com, US News & World Report, Yahoo Finance, Reserve & National Guard Magazine (print and online editions), Military Influencer Magazine, Cash Money Life, The Military Guide, USAA, Go Banking Rates, and many other publications.
Comments on this thread are now closed. There are over 150 comments and questions on this page. Unfortunately, I am unable to answer further questions on this topic. This guide was written based on my personal experiences when requesting a medical waiver to join the military. I have done my best to outline the military medical waiver process to the best of my ability. However, I do not work for MEPS, and I am not a medical professional. I have no further insight into the process other than what has been laid out in the article above. So I cannot answer questions about specific medical conditions or hazard any guesses regarding whether or not a waiver will be granted. My Recommendations: – Please read through this article carefully and take notes (or print it out!).
– Work closely with your medical professional to get the required documentation.
– Work closely with your recruiter and the MEPS office to ensure they have the required paperwork.
– Keep your recruiter in the loop if anything changes or you have additional paperwork or forms. Address all questions through your recruiter – he/she is your link to MEPS. I will be happy to make any required changes to this article for accuracy or policy changes. If you discover any, please use my Contact Form. But please, do not use the Contact Form to ask specific questions about your waiver application. The best person to ask is your recruiter. Thank you for understanding, and I wish you the best in your journey to joining the military!
I am prior service. ARMY 11b. Airborne. I have stretched ears; I had stretched ears when I was in the ARMY. My military record is perfectly clean. Not a single article 15. Not a single negative counseling. I want to re-enlist. My physical condition exceeds requirements. How can I request a waiver for my ears? There must be a way.
Hello, I have my PULHES codes but when I did a search in the DODI 6130.03, it didn’t pull up any of the codes. I”m trying to find out if these conditions are waiverable or not but am having a hard time doing that. If I google the code, it tells me what it is/stands for and I can find it in the instruction, but but not whether or not it’s waiverable, only that it is disqualifying. Now, MEPS has PDQ’d me for these codes, but per your article, that doesn’t mean that the conditions aren’t waiverable. Any ideas on where I can look the codes up to find out if a waiver is even a possibility? Thanks so much!
Hello Micheline, Thank you for contacting me. I recommend working with your recruiter to get this question answered. They should be able to contact MEPS and help you get a better idea of whether or not it is waiverable, and if so, what documentation or tests are needed. I hope this points you in the right direction!
