Clearing the path: Food allergy considerations for military applicants

Military and civilian allergists can be consulted for their expertise in food allergy to guide medical evaluations for military service applicants. Military accession (acceptance) standards with regard to food allergy can be daunting, with added complexity when considering service-specific broadening of guidelines and waiver tolerance. The allergist plays a critical role in evaluating patients with food-related concerns who are interested in military service.

The purpose of this short communication is to aid in understanding of current military medical standards and diagnostic protocols related to food allergies in recruitment and enlistment, identification of food reactions that may impact candidacy for military accession, and provide strategies to address the food-related condition and help navigate the military medical evaluation process.

We conducted a thorough review of current applicable military standard guidelines for accession pertinent to food allergies. Through review of Department of Defense medical standard guidelines as well as some service-specific initiatives to expand accessions, allergists can systematically steer through the evaluation process to support military applicants, clearing the path for accession.

We provide case-based recommendations to guide allergists in the evaluation of patients with possible food allergy who are interested in application for military service.

Through appropriate use of published medical standards and evidence-based practice with strategic stepwise evaluation, the allergist can help clear the path for military applicants in the accessions process.