medical history and conducts a brief examination, and where vision and hearing tests, HIV and drug testing, height and weight (BMI) measurement, and an orthopedic/neurological examination are conducted. Here candidates are classified as medically qualified, disqualified with a condition that may be considered for a waiver, or permanently disqualified with a condition viewed as nonwaivable. Third, disqualified candidates seeking a waiver apply to Service-specific waiver authorities, and a review is conducted. Finally, additional medical evaluation may be done in basic and advanced individual training, as well as in operational units.

Conclusion: To adequately assess the impact of medical standards on applicant flow and disqualification rates, information about screening that takes place before the military entrance processing station physical is required.

There are no DoD-wide physical fitness standards for entry into the Services. The assumption is that a medically qualified recruit can develop the needed level of physical fitness over the course of basic combat training. There are Service-specific initiatives aimed at addressing physical fitness prior to accession. For example, the Air Force has implemented a short strength test administered at the MEPS, and the Army and the Marine Corps have programs addressing fitness while recruits are in the delayed entry program (DEP). Currently, however, fitness is viewed primarily a training issue, rather than an accession standards issue.

Studies show that technology is increasing the physical demands of some jobs and decreasing the demands of others. This leads to the question of whether it is feasible or advisable to set differing physical and medical standards for different military occupational specialties (MOSs). With limited exceptions, there is little research detailing the physical requirements of individual MOSs. However, the crucial feature underlying the question of setting lower standards for some MOSs than for others is the DoD policy decision that every uniformed Service member be combat-ready. This implies a common set of requirements for combat tasks regardless of one’s primary MOS. While part of the charge to the commit-