What diseases are not allowed in the military?

Asked by: Dewitt Kuvalis  |  Last update: April 17, 2026
Score: 4.1/5 (4 votes)

Diseases that can disqualify you from the military include chronic conditions like diabetes, severe allergies, heart/lung issues (asthma after age 13), mental health disorders (psychosis, severe depression, bipolar, eating disorders), neurological conditions (epilepsy, multiple sclerosis), and some infectious diseases, though waivers are sometimes possible for less severe cases or after resolution. The Department of Defense (DoD) has specific standards, with conditions impacting physical/mental fitness or equipment use being major red flags.

What diseases disqualify you from the military?

Certain medical conditions — such as asthma, diabetes, severe allergies, certain types of mental health disorders and heart problems — can disqualify individuals from joining the military due to the physical and mental demands of service.

What disorders can you not have in the military?

Psychiatric and Personality Disorders

  • Any disorder or history of disorders with psychotic features.
  • History of impulse control and conduct disorders.
  • History of depression requiring medication, outpatient treatment or hospitalization.
  • History of anxiety requiring medication, outpatient treatment or hospitalization.

What STDs prevent you from joining the military?

For sti it states: “current or history of genital infection or ulceration, including, but not limited to herpes genitalis or condyloma acuminatum, if of sufficient severity to require frequent intervention or to interfere with normal function, is disqualifying.” also disqualifying is current untreated syphilis.

Who cannot be drafted?

Exemptions from the U.S. draft (Selective Service) generally include females, men on active military duty, those in service academies, certain non-immigrant visa holders, and men with severe, continuous physical or mental disabilities, though registration requirements vary, with categories like medical professionals or sole surviving sons having specific rules or deferments available. Deferments for factors like dependency (fathers, sole supporters) or religious conscientious objection have existed historically but are subject to change by Congress, with current exemptions focusing on non-service and severe inability.
 

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31 related questions found

Which son can't get drafted?

Section 6(o) of the Military Selective Service Act of 1948 exempted the sole surviving son of a family where one or more sons or daughters had been killed in action, died in the line of duty, or subsequently died of injuries or disease incurred while in military service, from being drafted either in peacetime or ...

Can I get drafted if I have anxiety?

Current or a history of anxiety disorders, including panic disorder, agoraphobia, social phobia, simple phobias, obsessive-compulsive disorder, acute reactions to stress, and posttraumatic disorder are disqualifying conditions.

Can I have HPV in the military?

Despite safety and efficacy data, vaccination against HPV is not mandatory for military service members. Active duty service women are more likely to test positive for HPV when compared to dependents, and veterans diagnosed with HPV-associated cancers have higher health care resource utilization and costs.

Does chlamydia stay on your medical record?

STDs Stay On Medical Records

When you get tested for STDs at a doctor's office and use insurance, the results are reported to your insurance company. The insurance company then has those results placed on your medical record. Some insurances will even raise your insurance rates if you test positive for STDs.

Do they test for STDs at basic training?

Although women entering training are universally screened for STIs, men are rarely tested. The rates of testing among symptomatic men who present with dysuria during BMT are unknown.

What are the 5 military discharges?

The main types of U.S. military discharges, from best to worst, are Honorable, General (Under Honorable Conditions), Other Than Honorable (OTH), Bad Conduct (BCD), and Dishonorable, with Uncharacterized (like Entry-Level Separation) sometimes listed separately as not reflecting on conduct; these characters of service determine eligibility for veteran benefits, with Honorable being the best and Dishonorable being the most severe. 

What are the 10 most disabling mental illnesses?

While "debilitating" varies, top contenders for most impairing mental illnesses often include Major Depression, Bipolar Disorder, Schizophrenia, Personality Disorders (like Borderline), Anxiety Disorders (OCD, PTSD), Eating Disorders, and Substance Use Disorders, with mood disorders often ranking highest for overall functional disability and mental illnesses collectively being a leading cause of global disability.
 

What disqualifies you at MEPS?

MEPS disqualifications (Military Entrance Processing Stations) prevent enlistment due to issues like medical conditions (asthma, diabetes, mental health disorders, certain injuries), substance abuse, criminal history (felonies, drug offenses), failure to meet height/weight, or legal issues like pending charges, but many are waivable with recruiter guidance and official waivers. Honesty with recruiters is crucial, as undisclosed issues can lead to fraudulent enlistment, but proper disclosure allows recruiters to assess if a waiver is possible, say sources from GoArmy.com and Military.com. 

What is the 4 2 2 rule in the Navy?

"4-2-2" in the Navy refers to a standard enlistment contract for new sailors since October 2020, requiring 4 years of Active Duty (AD), followed by up to 2 years in the Selected Reserve (SELRES), and then 2 years in the Individual Ready Reserve (IRR) to complete the total 8-year Military Service Obligation (MSO). This system ensures sailors transition from full-time service to part-time reserve duty, with the Navy determining if a sailor moves to SELRES based on their needs and time in service. 

What medically discharges you from the military?

Common reasons for medical discharge include: Injuries sustained during service (e.g., combat-related injuries, fractures). Chronic illnesses such as diabetes, heart conditions, or cancer. Mental health issues, including PTSD, severe anxiety, or depression.

What medications are not allowed in the military?

Medications that often disqualify you from the military are those for mental health (antidepressants, anxiety meds, ADHD meds like Adderall/Ritalin), strong narcotics (opioids), and those for chronic conditions like asthma, severe allergies, diabetes, or immunosuppressants, but waivers are often possible if you've been stable off the meds and can prove it with documentation showing long-term symptom-free performance. Medications for conditions like psychosis, impulse control disorders, or certain chronic illnesses are typically permanent disqualifiers, while others can be overcome with evidence of successful resolution or extended stability. 

What STD can lay dormant for years?

Chlamydia and Gonorrhea: These bacterial infections can remain asymptomatic for months or even years. Without testing, you may never know you're infected until complications arise, like pelvic inflammatory disease or infertility.

What STDs do you have to disclose?

STDs that the CDC keeps track of are:

  • chancroid.
  • chlamydia.
  • gonorrhea.
  • hepatitis B (acute or chronic)
  • HIV.
  • syphilis.

What can throw off a chlamydia test?

A false positive chlamydia test can happen due to sample contamination, lab errors, or test kit issues. Some bacteria, like Mycoplasma or Ureaplasma, can cross-react with the test, leading to inaccurate results. If someone recently had chlamydia and got treated, leftover bacterial DNA might still be detected.

Is it true that 80% of adults have HPV?

Yes, it's true that about 80% of adults will get an HPV infection at some point in their lives, making it extremely common, though most infections clear up on their own without causing health problems, notes The University of Kansas Health System, MD Anderson Cancer Center, and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Most people don't even know they have it because the immune system usually clears it, but some persistent infections with certain high-risk types can lead to cancers. 

What are the most common disqualifiers for the military?

Certain medical conditions — such as asthma, diabetes, severe allergies, certain types of mental health disorders and heart problems — can disqualify individuals from joining the military due to the physical and mental demands of service.

Who cannot join the US military?

US military disqualifications involve medical, moral (criminal history), and administrative issues, covering conditions like severe asthma, mental health disorders, major physical limitations, certain felonies (especially violent or sex-related), and drug/alcohol issues, though many medical and some criminal issues can be waived depending on severity and branch policy. Common disqualifiers include unhealed fractures, epilepsy, severe vision/hearing loss, history of psychosis, recent substance abuse, and serious felony convictions.
 

What does 4 F mean in the military?

4-F – Registrant not qualified for military service. 4-FM – Medical specialist not qualified for military service. 4-G – Sole surviving son – son or brothers in a family where the parent or sibling died as a result of US military service, or is in a captured or M.I.A.

What mental illnesses can you not have in the military?

Mental disorders that typically disqualify you from the military include psychotic disorders (schizophrenia, bipolar), severe mood/anxiety disorders requiring hospitalization or prolonged treatment (e.g., depression, anxiety), eating disorders, history of substance abuse, and severe learning disabilities/ADHD that impair function, though waivers are sometimes possible for milder or well-managed conditions. The core principle is disqualification for current/past conditions that suggest instability or inability to handle military stress, with exceptions for stability after treatment.