Revising Medical Fitness Policies Could Provide Additional Quality Recruits at Less Cost Than Enlistment Incentives
FPCD-82-13
Published: Apr 07, 1982. Publicly Released: Apr 07, 1982.
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Highlights
GAO reviewed the entry medical fitness policies of the armed services.
Recommendations
Recommendations for Executive Action
| Agency Affected | Recommendation | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Department of Defense | The Secretary of Defense should direct the Army, as Executive Agent for DOD-wide regulations on entry medical fitness standards, to develop and implement on a trial basis: (1) less restrictive entry medical fitness standards for quality applicants; and (2) a corrective medical treatment program for quality recruits who currently would be disqualified from military service for readily correctable medical conditions and physical defects. |
DOD did not concur with the recommendation. GAO believes that the recommendation was valid at the time of the report but, in view of improved recruiting results, the recommendation is being dropped. If recruiting becomes a problem again, GAO will followup on this issue.
|
| Department of Defense | The Secretary of Defense should report to Congress, as part of the fiscal year 1984 DOD budget presentation, on the costs and benefits of the two trial programs to increase the number of quality recruits and the desirability of extending the test to the other services. This should include documented data on time lost from duty and health care, using both military and civilian facilities in the event that the Army chooses to contract out medical treatment. |
The fiscal year 1984 budget presentation to Congress has already taken place. There is no benefit to any further followup.
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Topics
Eligibility criteriaHealth care servicesMedical examinationsMilitary cost controlMilitary enlistmentMilitary personnelMilitary recruitingPersonnel managementStandards evaluationMilitary forces