More persons with conditions such as asthma, hearing loss and food allergies may be allowed to serve in the Air Force and Space Force, under a new policy change. The service’s accessions center believes the move could open the door for an additional 600 applicants per year.
“We are constantly evaluating how we can bring in the best talent while ensuring our members can serve effectively and safely,” said Brig. Gen. Christopher Amrhein, commander of Air Force Accessions Command. “By expanding waiver criteria for manageable conditions, we can access a wider pool of qualified applicants without compromising mission readiness.”
Under the change, asthmatics can serve as long as they do not need to use their medication daily and inhaler use is kept to a minimum. Those with hearing loss in one ear can serve as long as the other year meets “standards of mild hearing impairment.” Persons with food allergies will be allowed in as long as they have not experienced any incidences of “anaphylaxis or serious systemic reaction.”
“Any adjustment to medical waiver practices comes with some level of cost for the DAF [Department of the Air Force], said Col. David Gregory, who heads the accession waver division of the department’s accessions command. “After analyzing the available data on these conditions, the cost was felt to be acceptable to accommodate more applicants who are otherwise qualified to join the Air and Space Forces in specific career fields.”
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