HIV - No Problem for the Military

This week, the Secretary of Defense updated the Department’s policies on Human Immunodeficiency Virus-positive personnel serving within the Armed Forces in view of significant advances in the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of HIV.

"Under the Department’s updated policies, individuals who have been identified as HIV-positive, are asymptomatic, and who have a clinically confirmed undetectable viral load will have no restrictions applied to their deployability or to their ability to commission while a Service member solely on the basis of their HIV-positive status. Nor will such individuals be discharged or separated solely on the basis of their HIV-positive status."

In stark contrast, in February, "The United States Army announced that it will immediately begin separating Soldiers from the service who refuse to be vaccinated against COVID-19."

"Under a directive issued by Secretary of the Army Christine Wormuth, commanders are to initiate involuntary administrative separation proceedings against any Soldier who has refused the COVID-19 vaccination order and does not have an approved or pending exemption request."

Military members with HIV, the virus that causes AIDS are able to serve in the military and not be separated from other military members, however, service members who refuse the covid vaccine are to be separated from other military members and will not be eligible for involuntary separation pay and may be subject to recoupment of any unearned special or incentive pays.