DoD Directive 6130.3

Department of Defense

DIRECTIVE
NUMBER 6130.3
December 15, 2000
Certified Current as of November 24, 2003

ASD(HA)

SUBJECT: Physical Standards for Appointment, Enlistment, or Induction
References: (a) DoD Directive 6130.3, "Physical Standards for Appointment,
Enlistment, and Induction," May 2, 1994 (hereby canceled)
(b) Title 10, United States Code
(c) DoD Instruction 6130.4, "Criteria and Procedure Requirements for
Physical Standards for Appointment, Enlistment, and Induction,"
December 14, 2000
1. REISSUANCE AND PURPOSE
This Directive reissues reference (a) to update policy, responsibilities, and prescribed
procedures for physical standards for appointment, enlistment, or induction into the
United States Armed Forces in accordance with reference (b).
2. APPLICABILITY
This Directive applies to the Office of the Secretary of Defense and the Military
Departments including the Coast Guard when it is operating with the Navy or otherwise,
by agreement with the Secretary of Transportation, and the Merchant Marine Academy
by agreement with the Secretary of Commerce.

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DODD 6130.3, December 15, 2000

3. POLICY
It is DoD policy:
3.1. To utilize common physical standards for the acquisition of personnel for the
Armed Forces; eliminate inconsistencies and inequities based on race, sex, or location
of examination in the application of these standards by the Armed Forces.
3.2. To precisely define any medical condition that causes a personnel action, such
as separation, medical waiver, or assignment limitation, by using the International
Classification of Disease (ICD) codes in all records of such action; and annotate
qualification decisions by standard medical terminology, rather than ICD codes.
3.3. To ensure that individuals under consideration for appointment, enlistment, or
induction into the United States Armed Forces are, as follows:
3.3.1. Free of contagious diseases that probably will endanger the health of
other personnel.
3.3.2. Free of medical conditions or physical defects that may require
excessive time lost from duty for necessary treatment or hospitalization or probably
will result in separation from the Service for medical unfitness.
3.3.3. Medically capable of satisfactorily completing required training.
3.3.4. Medically adaptable to the military environment without the necessity
of geographical area limitations.
3.3.5. Medically capable of performing duties without aggravation of existing
physical defects or medical conditions.
4. RESPONSIBILITIES
4.1. The Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs (ASD(HA)), under the
authority, direction, and control of the Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and
Readiness, shall:
4.1.1. Issue DoD Instruction 6130.4 (reference (c)) and review, approve, and
issue technical modifications to the standards contained therein.

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DODD 6130.3, December 15, 2000

4.1.2. Implement the standards in DoD Instruction 6130.4 (reference (c))
throughout the DoD Medical Examination Review Board (DoDMERB).
4.1.3. Eliminate inconsistencies and inequities based on race, sex, or
examination location in the application of the standards in DoD Instruction 6130.4
(reference (c)).
4.2. The Assistant Secretary of Defense for Force Management Policy
(ASD(FMP)), under the authority, direction, and control of the Under Secretary of
Defense for Personnel and Readiness, shall:
4.2.1. Implement the standards in DoD Instruction 6130.4 (reference (c))
throughout the U.S. Military Entrance Processing Command (USMEPCOM).
4.2.2. Eliminate inconsistencies and inequities based on race, sex, or
examination location in the application of the standards in DoD Instruction 6130.4
(reference (c)) by the Armed Forces.
4.3. The Secretaries of the Military Departments shall:
4.3.1. Prescribe regulations consistent with the policy in section 3., above, and
the procedures established in DoD Instruction 6130.4 (reference (c)).
4.3.2. Ensure uniformity of application and implementation of this Directive
and DoD Instruction 6130.4 (reference (c)).
5. EFFECTIVE DATE
This Directive is effective immediately.

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