ALCOAST 006/23 - JAN 2023 INTERIM COAST GUARD SPECIFIC POLICY FOR MEDICAL STANDARDS FOR MILITARY SERVICE

R 051616Z JAN 23 MID600052571122U
FM COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC
TO ALCOAST
BT
UNCLAS
ALCOAST 006/23
SSIC 6110
SUBJ: INTERIM COAST GUARD SPECIFIC POLICY FOR MEDICAL STANDARDS
FOR MILITARY SERVICE
A. COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC 162140Z JUN 22/ALCOAST 223/22
B. Medical Standards for Military Service: Retention,
DoDI 6130.03, Vol. 2
C. Coast Guard Medical Manual, COMDTINST M6000.1F
D. Medical Standards for Military Service: Appointment,
Enlistment, or Induction, DoDI 6130.03, Vol. 1
E. Military Separations, COMDTINST M1000.4
1. This ALCOAST provides interim Coast Guard-specific policy for
medical standards for military service and promulgates supplementary
policy to REFs (A) and (B).
2. REF (A) replaced previous Coast Guard-specific guidance within
REF (C) with REFs (B) and (D) to achieve greater parity with the
Department of Defense services and to allow the Coast Guard to
access and retain the maximum number of personnel who can perform
the duties of their prospective or actual office, grade, rank, or
rating. REFs (B) and (D) apply to the Coast Guard in their entirety.
3. Per Paragraph 2.6 of REF (B), the Commandant is responsible for
providing guidance necessary to implement Service-specific medical
standards, as required to refer Service members to the Disability
Evaluation System or administrative separation, as appropriate.
Paragraph 1.2.d of REF (B) authorizes the Services to establish
more selective medical standards for military retention based on
the Service member's office, grade, rank, or rating as defined in
DoDI 1332.18, as long as such standards are objectively applied
and are not inconsistent with applicable policies.
4. The Deputy Commandants for Operations and for Mission Support
will charter an Integrated Planning Team (IPT) to recommend any
additional Service-specific medical policy needed. In the interim,
the following policy is in effect:
Normal color vision is required for accession into the CG for
programs leading to a commission. Normal color vision requires that
the member pass 10/14 Pseudoisochromatic Plates (PIP I) or pass the
Optec-900 test. Waiver Authorities may consider waivers on a
case-by-case basis. For commissioned officers, Waiver Authorities
other than PSC-OPM shall coordinate waiver decisions with PSC-OPM
for PSC-OPM's awareness. The IPT will consider whether the Coast
Guard will adopt different color vision standards for different
officer specialties.
5. Retention standards, as found in REF (B), as well as the
standards promulgated in this policy, shall be applied to:
a. CG military personnel who are currently serving, active or
reserve, or who have had a break in service of less than 24 months
and are pursuing a CG warrant or commission.
b. Current Uniformed Service personnel undergoing an interservice
transfer to the CG, including those pursuing a CG warrant or
commission.
c. Former Uniformed Service personnel seeking accession into the
CG after a break in service of less than 24 months, including those
who are pursuing a CG warrant or commission.
6. POC: CAPT Shane Steiner, Chief, Operational Medicine, COMDT
(CG-1121), (202) 475-5256, Shane.C.Steiner@uscg.mil.
7. VADM Paul F. Thomas, Deputy Commandant for Mission Support
(DCMS), sends.
8. Internet release is authorized.