Data on each applicant are entered into the MEPCOM Integrated Resource System (MIRS). These data include biographical information, medical profile, disqualification coding by parts of the body, and waiver approvals. They can be used to describe the distribution of recruits across medical disqualification codes and corresponding International Classification of Diseases (ICD-9) codes. In addition, the percentage of applicants receiving waivers in each disqualification code can be obtained. However, there is no easy or routine mechanism for linking these data to injury and attrition in training or in the first term of service. In addition, as noted above, there is no information available about applicants who are turned away at the recruiting station without having been seen at the MEPS.

Physical Profile Serial System The military services have developed a medical profile system to relate body systems to military jobs. This system, dubbed PULHES, constitutes the minimum medical standards for military jobs. PULHES evaluates jobs in terms of the following six body systems:

1. P—Physical capacity or stamina. This factor, general physical capacity, normally includes conditions of the heart; respiratory system; gastrointestinal system; genitourinary system; nervous system; allergic, endocrine, metabolic, and nutritional diseases; diseases of the blood and blood forming tissues; dental conditions; diseases of the breast; and other organic defects and diseases that do not fall under other specific factors of the system.

2. U—Upper extremities. This factor concerns the hands, arms, shoulder girdle, and upper spine (cervical, thoracic, and upper lumbar) with regard to strength, range of motion, and general efficiency.

3. L—Lower extremities. This factor concerns the feet, legs, pelvic girdle, lower back musculature, and lower spine (lower lumbar and sacral) with regard to strength, range of motion, and general efficiency.

4. H—Hearing and ears. This factor concerns auditory acuity and disease and defects of the ear.

5. E—Eyes. This factor concerns visual acuity and diseases and defects of the eye.

6. S—Psychiatric. This factor concerns personality, emotional stability, and psychiatric diseases.

Numbers 1 through 4 are used to reflect levels of functional capacity. The basic purpose of the physical profile is to provide an index to overall functional capacity; that is, the functional capacity of a particular organ or system of the body is evaluated in determining the numerical designation