Aside from its immediate effects on military recruitment, it now seems coronavirus could have an even longer-lasting impact on the number of Americans who join the service -- because COVID-19 is now a disqualifier.
"During the medical history interview or examination, a history of COVID-19, confirmed by either a laboratory test or clinician diagnosis, is permanently disqualifying," a USMEPCOM memo circulating on Twitter reads.
Pentagon spokesperson Jessica Maxwell confirmed to Military Times that the memo is authentic -- but the Pentagon did not respond to any additional queries regarding the content of the memo.
The top of the memo describes the disqualification measures as "interim guidance," suggesting that policies regarding a medical history of COVID-19 may be adjusted. In the meantime, however, a lack of understanding of the long-term effects of the virus will keep those who have survived it from joining any branch of the military, a Defense official told CNN.
As with all disqualifying conditions, individuals can apply for waivers for COVID-19 disqualifications. However, with all the unknowns associated with the virus, it's difficult to determine how these waiver applications will be handled.
Disqualifying those with a history of COVID-19 could significantly reduce the pool of individuals eligible for military service. A mid-April report showed that America has a "test-positivity rate" of 20 percent -- meaning one in five Americans tested for COVID-19 tests positive.
The various entry-level basic training operations led by each branch have been particularly hard hit by the virus. One of the Army's largest virus outbreaks was centered around its basic training headquarters in Fort Jackson, South Carolina. The Marine Corps saw more than two dozen of its recruits test positive at its training depot in San Diego.
COVID-19 hits Marine boot camp hard
And all this despite various screening, prevention, and pause measures implemented in response to the growing pandemic. In more than one case, recruits have successfully cleared a three-level health screening procedure just to later test positive once they have spent weeks training in open bay barracks among hundreds of other recruits.
COVID-19 prevention efforts at basic trainings are failing
That being said, the Department of Defense continues to hold up more strongly against the virus than the general population. This appears to be especially true for the active-duty component.
Military has higher recovery, lower death rates than general US population, data shows
As of May 1, the general United States population reported a recovery rate of 12.25 percent among its 1.11 million confirmed COVID-19 cases. As for deaths, 5.88 percent of those diagnosed with COVID-19 died from it. Rates within the Department of Defense are significantly different.
Across all of DoD, about a third of those diagnosed with COVID-19 have recovered. And one-third of one percent or .3 percent have died. Within the active-duty component, the fatality rate is far lower at .04 percent.
As of Wednesday, the DoD reported 7,604 total COVID-19 cases with 5,019 among its active-duty personnel and 27 deaths across the entire force.
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