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Suggested Citation: "Appendix B Analysis of Waivers for Disqualifying Conditions." National Research Council. 2006. Assessing Fitness for Military Enlistment: Physical, Medical, and Mental Health Standards. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/11511.

Appendix B
Analysis of Waivers for Disqualifying Conditions

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Suggested Citation: "Appendix B Analysis of Waivers for Disqualifying Conditions." National Research Council. 2006. Assessing Fitness for Military Enlistment: Physical, Medical, and Mental Health Standards. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/11511.

TABLE B-1 Active Accessions and Cumulative Attrition Rates by Waiver Type, All Services

	FY 2000
	Accessions	12 Months	24 Months	36 Months
No waiver
Women	29,386	20	28	34
Men	119,282	14	21	26
Total	148,668	15	22	27
Drugs
Women	180	31	42	48
Men	2,168	17	27	34
Total	2,348	18	28	35
Weight
Women	420	20	27	31
Men	3,081	17	22	27
Total	3,501	17	23	27
Disease
Women	1,079	25	31	38
Men	4,651	16	22	27
Total	5,730	18	24	29
Dependents
Women	477	25	33	40
Men	1,312	17	24	28
Total	1,789	19	26	31
Mental
Women	295	15	23	29
Men	1,202	16	22	27
Total	1,497	16	22	28
Law violations
Women	878	19	28	34
Men	8,289	17	26	32
Total	9,167	17	26	32
Other
Women	595	22	30	36
Men	3,777	22	31	37
Total	4,372	22	31	37
All accessions
Women	33,619	20	28	34
Men	145,214	15	22	27
Total	178,833	16	23	28

Page 217 Cite Bookmark

Suggested Citation: "Appendix B Analysis of Waivers for Disqualifying Conditions." National Research Council. 2006. Assessing Fitness for Military Enlistment: Physical, Medical, and Mental Health Standards. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/11511.

FY 2001
Accessions	12 Months	24 Months	36 Months
29,940	19	27	34
125,831	13	20	25
155,771	14	22	27
253	27	38	46
2,604	16	30	37
2,857	17	31	38
315	20	28	32
2,619	16	21	25
2,934	17	22	26
1,034	21	32	39
4,331	14	21	26
5,365	16	23	28
501	22	31	36
1,188	14	19	23
1,689	16	23	27
271	15	24	28
1,182	14	20	25
1,453	14	21	25
831	18	27	33
8,481	14	23	29
9,312	14	24	30
273	20	27	34
2,168	20	30	37
2,441	20	30	37
33,653	19	28
149,323	14	21	26
182,976	15	22	27

Page 218 Cite Bookmark

Suggested Citation: "Appendix B Analysis of Waivers for Disqualifying Conditions." National Research Council. 2006. Assessing Fitness for Military Enlistment: Physical, Medical, and Mental Health Standards. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/11511.

	FY 2002
	Accessions	12 Months	24 Months
No waiver
Women	28,115	18	26
Men	127,167	13	19
Total	155,282	14	20
Drugs
Women	210	29	43
Men	2,364	17	28
Total	2,574	18	29
Weight
Women	214	20	24
Men	2,445	17	21
Total	2,659	18	21
Disease
Women	885	22	32
Men	3,924	15	21
Total	4,809	16	23
Dependents
Women	308	18	27
Men	1,062	14	17
Total	1,370	15	21
Mental
Women	246	23	33
Men	773	13	18
Total	1,019	15	22
Law violations
Women	893	18	26
Men	9,832	13	21
Total	10,725	14	22
Other
Women	330	23	26
Men	1,788	17	27
Total	2,118	18	0
All accessions
Women	31,354	19	27
Men	150,156	13	19
Total	181,510	14	21

Page 219 Cite Bookmark

Suggested Citation: "Appendix B Analysis of Waivers for Disqualifying Conditions." National Research Council. 2006. Assessing Fitness for Military Enlistment: Physical, Medical, and Mental Health Standards. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/11511.

FY 2003
Accessions	12 Months
27,678	20
125,006	12
152,684	14
140	31
1,817	16
1,957	17
211	18
2,056	13
2,267	14
1,007	22
4,734	15
5,741	16
251	18
923	11
1,174	12
177	27
281	17
458	21
850	18
8,580	14
9,430	14
251	25
1,827	16
2,078	17
30,676	20
145,732	13
176,408	14

Page 220 Cite Bookmark

Suggested Citation: "Appendix B Analysis of Waivers for Disqualifying Conditions." National Research Council. 2006. Assessing Fitness for Military Enlistment: Physical, Medical, and Mental Health Standards. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/11511.

TABLE B-2 Accessions and Cumulative Attrition Rates by Waiver Type, FY 2000 and FY 2001 Combined

	Air Force
	Accessions	12 Months	24 Months	36 Months
No waiver
Women	14,633	11	17	21
Men	42,005	10	14	17
Total	56,638	10	14	18
Drugs
Women	4	^a	^a	^a
Men	39	15	23	26
Total	43	16	26	28
Weight
Women	140	9	15	18
Men	215	14	17	20
Total	355	12	16	19
Disease
Women	471	18	22	27
Men	1,367	10	13	17
Total	1,838	12	15	19
Dependents
Women	291	15	22	27
Men	537	9	12	14
Total	828	11	15	19
Mental
Women	421	14	20	26
Men	1,710	14	20	25
Total	2,131	14	20	25
Law violations
Women	593	14	19	25
Men	3,765	11	17	21
Total	4,358	11	17	21
Other
Women	37	19	24	35
Men	88	14	16	18
Total	125	15	18	23
All accessions
Women	16,714	12	17	22
Men	50,000	10	14	18
Total	66,714	10	15	19

Page 221 Cite Bookmark

Suggested Citation: "Appendix B Analysis of Waivers for Disqualifying Conditions." National Research Council. 2006. Assessing Fitness for Military Enlistment: Physical, Medical, and Mental Health Standards. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/11511.

Army
Accessions	12 Months	24 Months	36 Months
25,636	24	36	44
93,959	14	22	28
119,595	16	25	32
210	30	45	55
1,917	13	31	42
2,127	14	32	43
80	30	38	44
256	17	24	31
336	20	27	34
1,124	27	38	47
4,861	16	23	28
5,985	18	26	32
255	23	33	39
146	14	19	23
401	20	28	33
55	18	42	47
84	21	26	35
139	20	32	40
468	19	34	42
5,407	12	24	31
5,875	13	24	32
4	^a	^a	^a
50	20	22	28
54	20	22	30
28,026	25	36	44
107,482	14	23	29
135,508	16	25	32

Page 222 Cite Bookmark

Suggested Citation: "Appendix B Analysis of Waivers for Disqualifying Conditions." National Research Council. 2006. Assessing Fitness for Military Enlistment: Physical, Medical, and Mental Health Standards. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/11511.

	Marine Corps
	Accessions	12 Months	24 Months	36 Months
No waiver
Women	3,540	23	29	33
Men	45,542	15	20	24
Total	49,082	16	21	25
Drugs
Women	68	35	41	43
Men	1,635	18	25	29
Total	1,703	19	26	30
Weight
Women	327	23	32	35
Men	4,813	17	22	26
Total	5,140	17	22	27
Disease
Women	83	24	30	35
Men	954	18	22	26
Total	1,037	19	22	27
Dependents
Women	15	^a	^a	^a
Men	583	17	24	28
Total	598	18	24	28
Mental
Women	69	14	25	25
Men	400	13	18	23
Total	469	13	19	23
Law violations
Women	55	22	27	35
Men	1,439	16	22	26
Total	1,494	17	23	26
Other
Women	58	29	38	43
Men	484	19	27	31
Total	542	20	28	33
All accessions
Women	4,240	23	30	34
Men	56,139	16	21	25
Total	60,379	16	21	25

Page 223 Cite Bookmark

Suggested Citation: "Appendix B Analysis of Waivers for Disqualifying Conditions." National Research Council. 2006. Assessing Fitness for Military Enlistment: Physical, Medical, and Mental Health Standards. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/11511.

Navy
Accessions	12 Months	24 Months	36 Months
15,517	18	24	29
63,607	15	23	27
79,124	16	23	28
151	24	31	38
1,181	19	30	36
1,332	20	30	36
188	20	25	29
416	15	23	26
604	16	23	27
435	19	24	29
1,800	18	24	28
2,235	18	24	28
417	30	39	45
1,234	18	25	30
1,651	21	29	34
21	^a	^a	^a
190	22	34	40
211	22	34	40
593	22	32	36
6,159	20	31	37
6,752	20	31	37
769	21	28	35
5,323	22	32	38
6,092	22	31	38
18,292	19	25	30
80,916	16	24	29
99,208	17	24	29

Page 224 Cite Bookmark

Suggested Citation: "Appendix B Analysis of Waivers for Disqualifying Conditions." National Research Council. 2006. Assessing Fitness for Military Enlistment: Physical, Medical, and Mental Health Standards. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/11511.

	DoD
	Accessions	12 Months	24 Months	36 Months
No waiver
Women	59,326	20	28	34
Men	245,113	14	21	25
Total	304,439	15	22	27
Drugs
Women	433	29	40	47
Men	4,772	16	29	36
Total	5,205	17	30	37
Weight
Women	735	20	28	31
Men	5,700	17	22	26
Total	v6,435	17	22	27
Disease
Women	2,113	23	31	38
Men	8,982	15	22	26
Total	11,095	17	23	28
Dependents
Women	978	24	32	38
Men	2,500	15	22	26
Total	3,478	18	25	29
Mental
Women	566	15	24	29
Men	2,384	15	21	26
Total	2,950	15	21	27
Law violations
Women	1,709	19	28	34
Men	16,770	15	25	31
Total	18,479	16	25	31
Other
Women	868	21	29	35
Men	5,945	22	31	37
Total	6,813	22	31	37
All accessions
Women	67,272	20	28	31
Men	294,537	14	21	26
Total	361,809	15	22	28
^aLess than 25 accessions.

Page 225 Cite Bookmark

Suggested Citation: "Appendix B Analysis of Waivers for Disqualifying Conditions." National Research Council. 2006. Assessing Fitness for Military Enlistment: Physical, Medical, and Mental Health Standards. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/11511.

TABLE B-3 FOLLOWS

Page 226 Cite Bookmark

Suggested Citation: "Appendix B Analysis of Waivers for Disqualifying Conditions." National Research Council. 2006. Assessing Fitness for Military Enlistment: Physical, Medical, and Mental Health Standards. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/11511.

TABLE B-3 Medical Failures and Waivers, May 1, 2003 to April 30, 2005, Active Forces (most frequent medical failures, ranked by frequency; excludes cases with 2+ failures)

Medical Status		Accessions
Name	Code	No Waiver	Waiver
No failure	—	213,614
All other^a	88		7,528
Weight	54		7,524
Marijuana^b	50M		1,727
Psychiatric	40		1,468
Lower extremity	34		1,858
Lungs/chest	28		1,402
Hearing	71		1,032
Vision	62		1,172
Upper extremity	33		1,500
Skin	38		1,115
Totals		213,614	26,326
Total accessions
Total not accessed
Total applicants
NOTE: MEPS Integrated Resource System Medical Failures. ^aAll other medical fail codes with N < 2000. ^bPositive test at physical. SOURCE: MIRS Summary Tabulations, Two-Year Revised Data.

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Suggested Citation: "Appendix B Analysis of Waivers for Disqualifying Conditions." National Research Council. 2006. Assessing Fitness for Military Enlistment: Physical, Medical, and Mental Health Standards. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/11511.

Not Accessed		Total Applicants
No Failure	Failure	No Failure	Failure	% Waived	% Occurrence
145,468		359,082
	13,276		20,804	36	29.7
	8,788		16,312	46	23.3
	7,069		8,796	20	12.6
	2,835		4,303	34	6.1
	2,200		4,058	46	5.8
	2,298		3,700	38	5.3
	2,605		3,637	28	5.2
	1,696		2,868	41	4.1
	1,340		2,840	53	4.1
	1,601		2,716	41	3.9
					100.0
145,468	43,708	359,082	70,034	38
			239,940
			189,176
			429,116

Page 228 Cite Bookmark

Suggested Citation: "Appendix B Analysis of Waivers for Disqualifying Conditions." National Research Council. 2006. Assessing Fitness for Military Enlistment: Physical, Medical, and Mental Health Standards. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/11511.

TABLE B-4 Medical Failures and Waivers By Gender, Race, and Service

Medical Status		Accessions
Name	Code	No Waiver	Waiver
Women
No failure	—	33,215
Weight	54		2,055
All other^a	88		1,394
Marijuana^b	50M		105
Vision	62		242
Psychiatric	40		150
Lungs/chest	28		168
Lower extremity	34		226
Skin	38		176
Hearing	71		80
Upper extremity	33		100
Totals		33,215	4,696
Men
No failure	—	180,399
All other^a	88		6,134
Weight	54		5,469
Marijuana^b	50M		1,622
Psychiatric	40		1,318
Lower extremity	34		1,632
Hearing	71		952
Lungs/chest	28		1,234
Upper extremity	33		1,400
Skin	38		939
Vision	62		930
Totals		180,399	21,630
Black
No failure	—	31,357
All other^a	88		995
Weight	54		974
Marijuana^b	50M		331
Lungs/chest	28		211
Lower extremity	34		228
Vision	62		150
Hearing	71		101
Skin	38		144
Psychiatric	40		92
Upper extremity	33		106
Totals		31,357	3,332

Page 229 Cite Bookmark

Suggested Citation: "Appendix B Analysis of Waivers for Disqualifying Conditions." National Research Council. 2006. Assessing Fitness for Military Enlistment: Physical, Medical, and Mental Health Standards. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/11511.

Not Accessed		Total Applicants
No Failure	Failure No	Failure	Failure	% Waived	% Occurrence
29,185		62,400
	3,147		5,202	40	37.0
	3,192		4,586	30	32.6
	614		719	15	5.1
	444		686	35	4.9
	461		611	25	4.3
	405		573	29	4.1
	312		538	42	3.8
	352		528	33	3.8
	313		393	20	2.8
	116		216	46	1.5
					100.0
29,185	9,356	62,400	14,052	33
116,283		296,682
	10,084		16,218	38	29.0
	5,641		11,110	49	19.8
	6,455		8,077	20	14.4
	2,374		3,692	36	6.6
	1,888		3,520	46	6.3
	2,292		3,244	29	5.8
	1,893		3,127	39	5.6
	1,224		2,624	53	4.7
	1,249		2,188	43	3.9
	1,252		2,182	43	3.9
					100.0
116,283	34,352	296,682	55,982	39
21,227		52,584
	2,023		3,018	33	30.2
	1,314		2,288	43	22.9
	1,491		1,822	18	18.2
	409		620	34	6.2
	278		506	45	5.1
	267		417	36	4.2
	297		398	25	4.0
	237		381	38	3.8
	226		318	29	3.2
	114		220	48	2.2
					100.0
21,227	6,656	52,584	9,988	33

Page 230 Cite Bookmark

Suggested Citation: "Appendix B Analysis of Waivers for Disqualifying Conditions." National Research Council. 2006. Assessing Fitness for Military Enlistment: Physical, Medical, and Mental Health Standards. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/11511.

Medical Status		Accessions
Name	Code	No Waiver	Waiver
White
No failure	—	154,339
All other^a	88		5,657
Weight	54		5,489
Marijuana^b	50M		1,223
Psychiatric	40		1,271
Lower extremity	34		1,481
Hearing	71		781
Lungs/chest	28		1,018
Upper extremity	33		1,240
Vision	62		848
Skin	38		817
Totals		154,339	19,825
Other
No failure	—	15,236
All other^a	88		465
Weight	54		598
Marijuana^b	50M		93
Hearing	71		90
Psychiatric	40		62
Lungs/chest	28		82
Vision	62		81
Lower extremity	34		75
Skin	38		69
Upper extremity	33		81
Totals		15,236	1,696
Air Force
No failure	—	36,145
All other^a	88		1,079
Weight	54		826
Psychiatric	40		267
Lower extremity	34		259
Lungs/chest	28		145
Vision	62		154
Upper extremity	33		215
Marijuana^b	50M
Skin	38		139
Hearing	71		60
Totals		36,145	3,144

Page 231 Cite Bookmark

Suggested Citation: "Appendix B Analysis of Waivers for Disqualifying Conditions." National Research Council. 2006. Assessing Fitness for Military Enlistment: Physical, Medical, and Mental Health Standards. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/11511.

Not Accessed		Total Applicants
No Failure	Failure	No Failure	Failure	% Waived	% Occurrence
101,603		255,942
	9,073		14,730	38	29.7
	5,872		11,361	48	22.9
	4,623		5,846	21	11.8
	2,170		3,441	37	6.9
	1,615		3,096	48	6.2
	1,779		2,560	31	5.2
	1,502		2,520	40	5.1
	1,052		2,292	54	4.6
	1,084		1,932	44	3.9
	1,079		1,896	43	3.8
					100.0
101,603	29,849	255,942	49,674	40
12,855		28,091
	1,341		1,806	26	29.0
	1,043		1,641	36	26.3
	652		745	12	11.9
	313		403	22	6.5
	284		346	18	5.5
	252		334	25	5.4
	191		272	30	4.4
	191		266	28	4.3
	162		231	30	3.7
	110		191	42	3.1
					100.0
12,855	4,539	28,091	6235	27
23,801		59,946
	1,942		3,021	36	35.9
	862		1,688	49	20.1
	320		587	45	7.0
	325		584	44	6.9
	341		486	30	5.8
	292		446	35	5.3
	218		433	50	5.1
	410		410	0	4.9
	264		403	34	4.8
	296		356	17	4.2
					100.0
23,801	5,270	59,946	8,414	37

Page 232 Cite Bookmark

Suggested Citation: "Appendix B Analysis of Waivers for Disqualifying Conditions." National Research Council. 2006. Assessing Fitness for Military Enlistment: Physical, Medical, and Mental Health Standards. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/11511.

Medical Status		Accessions
Name	Code	No Waiver	Waiver
Army
No failure	—	93,986
All other^a	88		3,759
Weight	54		4,105
Marijuana^b	50M		575
Psychiatric	40		677
Lower extremity	34		919
Hearing	71		692
Lungs/chest	28		652
Upper extremity	33		755
Vision	62		609
Skin	38		532
Totals		93,986	13,275
Marine Corps
No failure	—	39,469
All other^a	88		1,291
Weight	54		1,201
Marijuana^b	50M		605
Psychiatric	40		325
Lungs/chest	28		295
Lower extremity	34		331
Hearing	71		147
Upper extremity	33		262
Skin	38		201
Vision	62		190
Totals		39,469	4,848
Navy
No failure	—	44,014
All other^a	88		1,399
Weight	54		1,392
Marijuana^b	50M		547
Lungs/chest	28		310
Lower extremity	34		349
Psychiatric	40		199
Hearing	71		133
Vision	62		219
Skin	38		243
Upper extremity	33		268
Totals		44,014	5,059
^aAll other medical fail codes with N < 2000. ^bPositive test at physical. SOURCE: MIRS Summary Tabulations, Two-Year Revised Data.

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Suggested Citation: "Appendix B Analysis of Waivers for Disqualifying Conditions." National Research Council. 2006. Assessing Fitness for Military Enlistment: Physical, Medical, and Mental Health Standards. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/11511.

Not Accessed		Total Applicants
No Failure	Failure	No Failure	Failure	% Waived	% Occurrence
48,895		142,881
	5,888		9,647	39	29.1
	4,254		8,359	49	25.3
	3,409		3,984	14	12.0
	1,362		2,039	33	6.2
	971		1,890	49	5.7
	1,174		1,866	37	5.6
	939		1,591	41	4.8
	542		1,297	58	3.9
	656		1,265	48	3.8
	632		1,164	46	3.5
					100.0
48,895	19,827	142,881	33,102	40
30,008		69,477
	2,182		3,473	37	28.0
	1,249		2,450	49	19.7
	1,569		2,174	28	17.5
	501		826	39	6.7
	430		725	41	5.8
	373		704	47	5.7
	483		630	23	5.1
	246		508	52	4.1
	263		464	43	3.7
	269		459	41	3.7
					100.0
30,008	7,565	69,477	12,413	39
42,764		86,778
	3,264		4,663	30	29.0
	2,423		3,815	36	23.7
	1,681		2,228	25	13.8
	588		898	35	5.6
	531		880	40	5.5
	652		851	23	5.3
	652		785	17	4.9
	479		698	31	4.3
	442		685	35	4.3
	334		602	45	3.7
					100.0
42,764	11,046	86,778	16,105	31