The U.S. Air Force is making changes to waiver policies to increase recruitment. The waiver adjustments will focus on several health issues, which should result in a greater number of applicants being accepted into the military branch.
Applicants with asthma, food allergies, and various degrees of hearing loss will now be granted waivers to join the U.S. Air Force. These waivers have some limitations, most notably that such recruits will not be permitted for job opportunities with stricter medical restrictions, such as those in special warfare and aviation. The new waiver policy is reportedly expected to bring in up to 1,000 more annual recruits.
Recruits who have asthma will receive what is called an assignment limitation code at the beginning of their Air Force career, according to Air & Space Forces Magazine. This will ensure they are not placed in jobs or locations that could endanger a recruit’s health. Similar preventive processes will be applied to Air Force applicants who receive waivers for food allergies and hearing loss. This is especially true for recruits who require an EpiPen to treat any food allergy exposure.
“These people are still at risk, but it’s felt that the risk is acceptable,” said Col. Ian Gregory. “Thus far, we haven’t had too many problems with people who develop food allergies while on active duty, and they do deploy and carry an EpiPen.”
The move comes as the U.S. Air Force has struggled to hit recruiting numbers in recent years. After falling short by about 10% of its recruitment objectives in 2023 for the first time since 1999, the Air Force hit its goal in 2024. Next year, the Air Force announced aggressive plans to increase recruitment by 16%.
“It’s ambitious, but I believe it is executable,” said Brig. Gen. Christopher Amrhein.
The medical waivers were a strategic choice that presented an opportunity to maximize value on a return on investment in recruits, Air Force officials said. Asthma, food allergies, and hearing loss comprise a fair number of waiver requests with “low operational risk and additional medical support.”
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER
“We chose these three diagnoses because we wanted to get the most bang for our buck,” Gregory said.
The policy changes went into effect on Nov. 1, Air & Space Forces Magazine reported.
