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Medical waiver experience at U.S. Air Force Special Operations Command, 1992-2003
Patrick R Storms1, Robert Michaelson, Walter Brehm
1U.S. Air Force School of Aerospace Medicine, Brooks City-Base, TX 78235, USA. patrick.storms@brooks.af.mil
Aviation, Space, and Environmental Medicine
|December 29, 2004
Summary
Military medical waivers are common, with 83.9% granted. Otorhinolaryngologic, musculoskeletal, and ophthalmologic conditions were most frequent reasons for waivers in Air Force Special Operations Command personnel.
Area of Science:
- Military Medicine
- Occupational Health
- Risk Management
Background:
- Military personnel face strict physical standards, with provisions for waivers based on capability.
- Understanding waiver trends at the Major Command (MAJCOM) level offers operational risk management insights.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the medical waiver experience within the Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC) between 1992 and 2003.
Main Methods:
- A retrospective review of AFSOC waiver data from 1992-2003.
- Analysis of diagnostic groups and occupations to determine waiver rates.
Main Results:
- 1042 individuals sought waivers for 1270 medical conditions.
- Combat controllers were the most frequent occupational group seeking waivers.
- Top diagnostic groups included otorhinolaryngologic (26.9%), musculoskeletal (17.6%), and ophthalmologic (10.9%).
- An 83.9% waiver grant rate was observed, higher than in other studies.
- Pilots and navigators had higher waiver likelihood, while aerial gunners had lower likelihood.
Conclusions:
- The top five diagnostic groups comprised 69% of waiver requests.
- The high overall waiver rate (83.9%) highlights the need for MAJCOM-specific data.
- This data can inform targeted operational risk management strategies.