November 26, 2012

U.S. Navy Revises Policy on HIV-Positive Sailors Overseas

The U.S. Department of the Navy has revised its policy on HIV-positive sailors to allow them to be stationed at U.S. military installations overseas, OutServe reports. Despite the change, which was made quietly in August, advocates remain concerned that a lack of nondiscrimination policies for HIV-positive personnel will allow commanding officers to continue denying overseas deployments. The rest of the U.S. military still prohibits service members with HIV from being stationed outside the country.

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Previous Comments:

Murph, Port Townsend, 2012-11-27 12:48:26
This is more emotional for some of us than people may realize. I was removed from my ship - rather abruptly - in 1986, when HIV testing first began, under the old policy. However, the concern about COs denying deployment strikes me as misplaced. Assignments are made by detailers, not COs, and it is not up to a CO to leave members of their command behind when the unit deploys. I suspect that discrimination, while it will undoubtedly continue, will take other forms than "denying deployment."

ArmyGuy, Columbus, 2012-11-27 08:55:36
As an AD Army Soldier, I think this policy should change to allow Soldiers to serve overseas only under the condition that they are doing good health wise and treatment can be provided in the overseas country. If you are on meds and have no other issues there is no reason why we can't serve overseas.