Combatant Command Medical Entry Standards

Abstract

Introduction The medical entry standards for the United States Central Command (USCENTCOM) restrict individuals with various medical conditions from entering the deployed environment. The impact of this program is unknown. Materials and Methods The total number of army personnel deployed to USCENTCOM, the number of individuals with a medical entry waiver adjudicated by United States Army Central (USARCENT), and the evacuation number for each population were compared for calendar year 2023 (CY2023). Results A total estimated population of 20,519 U.S. Army personnel were deployed to USCENTCOM. A population of 1,918 received a medical entry waiver due to a disqualifying medical condition. The evacuation rate for the general population was 2.4% compared to the 1.4% evacuation rate of the population with a medical entry waiver (P = .0027). Conclusion The medical entry standards, as written and adjudicated in 2023, resulted in a relatively reduced evacuation rate for individuals with otherwise prohibited medical conditions compared to the general deployed population.