The only consistent thing about the science here is that it’s political science.
U.S. service members who are HIV-positive cannot be discharged or barred from becoming an officer solely because they’re infected with the virus, a federal judge in Virginia ruled. Advocates say it’s one of the strongest rulings in years for people living with HIV.
Officers who are infected with a virus can’t be discharged or barred, but officers who merely refuse to get vaccinated against a virus they don’t have, can be.
An attorney for the airmen argued during a 2019 hearing that the odds of transmitting HIV in combat are infinitesimal and should not limit their deployment or lead to their discharge.
As opposed to the risk of personnel who don’t even have it transmitting COVID?
The political science is clear. Bad people must be punished, not because of the science, but because of their views.
mortimer says
Total absurdity.Law schools are teaching neo-Marxism. The end justifies the means. This ruling should be overturned.
A military officer should be personally, physically and mentally unblemished. Officers need every bit of their personal resources to lead when the country is in a crisis or war. Officers must be ‘fit to lead’ … if not, give them a desk job.
Keith O says
And what happens when the HIV turns into full blown AIDS? Will the infected troopie still be able to serve or will her simply become a burden on the system?
And banning someone because they don’t have a virus is simply insane.
Infidel says
This top military brass needs to be fired. I have a lurking suspicion that if we fought a war w/ anybody today, we’d fare about as badly as the Russians are faring in Ukraine
Bruce Stanton says
What the ‘woke’ judge doesn’t seem to realize is that the military relies on ‘walking’ blood banks. That is in a mass casualty situation, ambulatory service members may be called upon to donate blood to an injured member that requires a blood transfusion.
I suppose we can separate the HIV positive members from the healthy members by tattooing the letters HIV on the foreheads of those members so infected.
James Lincoln says
Bruce Stanton,
Yes, the military does rely on a walking blood bank. HIV-positive military members cannot be a part of that walking blood bank – even if their viral loads are undetectable.
Also, an HIV-positive servicemember can quickly become a biohazard to others when wounded on the battlefield.
Re: Covid:
Otherwise young and healthy military members who choose to remain unvaccinated against Covid really pose no threat to anyone else and should be able to be forward-deployed as readily as a military member who has received the vaccine.
somehistory says
The world has turned upside down and evil is in ascendency.
gravenimage says
Military Can Fire Unvaccinated, But Not HIV Positive Officers
The only consistent thing about the science here is that it’s political science.
……………
Certainly this is *politicized* “science”.
OLD GUY says
Stupidity rules, How sad that our military officers are so willing to bend to the political B.S.