title: The association between US Army enlistment waivers and subsequent behavioral and social health outcomes and attrition from service.
abstract: Soldiers granted enlistment waivers for medical concerns, misconduct, or positive alcohol/drug tests may or may not be associated with an increased likelihood of negative behavioral outcomes. Soldiers in the population examined (n = 8,943) who were granted enlistment waivers from 2003 to 2008 were significantly more likely to subsequently be screened for alcohol/substance abuse, test positive for illicit substances, or receive an Army separation for behavioral misconduct. These associations were highest among Soldiers granted waivers for nonlawful alcohol/drug violations. Soldiers granted waivers for felony offenses and serious nontraffic violations were significantly less likely to separate from the Army compared with Soldiers not granted enlistment waivers.
authors.affiliation: U.S. Army Institute of Public Health, Behavioral and Social Health Outcomes Program, 5158 Blackhawk Road, Building E-1570, Gunpowder, MD 21010, USA.
authors.forename: M Shayne
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Gallaway
authors.forename: Michael R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Bell
authors.forename: Christine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lagana-Riordan
authors.forename: David S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Fink
authors.forename: Charles E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Meyer
authors.forename: Amy M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Millikan
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D008889:Military Personnel / Q000523:psychology*; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult