The U.S. military prioritizes the health and readiness of its personnel. The Army implements specific policies concerning sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) to maintain service members’ well-being. These policies aim to prevent infection spread and mitigate their impact on health and mission capabilities.
Military Health and Readiness
Maintaining service members’ health is integral to military readiness. Sexually transmitted infections can significantly affect individual health, impeding a service member’s ability to perform duties and deploy. Untreated STDs can result in serious medical consequences, impacting a service member’s availability for duty.
Mandatory and Routine Screening
The Army conducts STD screenings under various circumstances. Upon entry into military service, all prospective members undergo mandatory HIV testing. Other common STDs, including gonorrhea, chlamydia, and syphilis, are also screened at the Medical Entrance Processing Station (MEPS).
Throughout a service member’s career, HIV testing is routinely conducted every two years. Additionally, annual chlamydia screening is recommended for female service members up to 26 years of age. While these specific tests are routine, comprehensive periodic screening for all STDs is not universally mandated for all service members, often depending on risk factors or individual requests.
Screenings may also be conducted in relation to deployments. HIV testing is typically performed before deployment. While routine pre- and post-deployment testing for other STIs is not consistently mandatory across all branches or deployments, service members are encouraged to get tested if they believe they have been exposed. Furthermore, testing is readily available when a service member experiences symptoms or is identified through contact tracing.
Specific STDs Screened
The military health system primarily screens for several common sexually transmitted infections. These include Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis. Screening for hepatitis B and C may also occur, particularly during annual wellness visits for female service members up to 26 years of age. The Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine is also available and encouraged for prevention.
Chlamydia is frequently reported among military personnel, often showing no symptoms, which makes screening important for early detection and treatment. These infections are prioritized because they can lead to severe health issues if left unaddressed, impacting both individual well-being and military readiness. Regular screening helps to identify asymptomatic cases, preventing further transmission within the community.
Managing Positive Results
When a service member tests positive for an STD, specific procedures are followed to ensure appropriate care and public health management. Medical treatment is readily available through the military healthcare system, providing necessary medications like antibiotics for bacterial infections such as chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis. While viral infections like HIV or herpes are not curable, the military offers management and preventative measures to limit their spread.
Confidentiality is maintained for health information, aligning with HIPAA compliance, though the military’s need for fitness-for-duty information means medical records may be accessible to authorized personnel. Certain STDs are considered reportable diseases, necessitating notification to public health authorities and internal military tracking systems. This reporting facilitates contact tracing, where military health professionals identify and notify sexual partners to encourage testing and treatment, thereby preventing further spread.
A positive diagnosis and subsequent treatment can influence a service member’s duty status or deployment eligibility. Untreated infections can affect an individual’s ability to perform their duties, leading to temporary duty restrictions until treatment is completed. However, with advancements in treatment, service members who are HIV-positive can generally continue their service. The focus remains on treating the infection and returning the service member to full duty status.