SERVICE IN THE MILITARY AND BRACES DON’T ALWAYS MIX
Whether you’re looking to join the service or are continuing your current career, it’s important to know how your dental care affects you in the military. While you should always consult your primary care team and orthodontist, there are guidelines everyone should be aware of when it comes to the military and braces. With particular importance for recruits, as kids are more likely to have braces, here’s what you need to know.
Can You Have Braces in the Military?
You can’t join the military while having braces and immediately start serving. If you do have braces, you can still enlist but you must join the Delayed Entry Program (DEP).
If you are a part of the DEP, you can’t join the military until you have your braces removed.
Additionally, you’re going to need to fill your cavities before entering a life of service as well.
If you do have braces, you may be able to have them removed by your orthodontist and a dentist can help you alleviate other dental health issues that may prevent you from serving.
Those with braces may be able to pick up where they left off after deployment once they join the military but again, such decisions will need to be made with a qualified team of health professionals.
Can You Have Braces in the Military After Basic Training?
After you’ve completed boot camp, you may be able to find a path toward service and having braces; however, this is going to depend on many variables.
In many cases, you’re not going to be able to be in the military and have braces, but you may also be able to finish your treatment if you put it on hold to enlist.
Still, getting braces in the military has many obstacles. Your role, branch, and the needs of the military are going to strongly dictate which options are available to you at the time.
Why You Can’t Join
The Department of Defense’s Instruction 6130.03 (Medical Standards for Appointment, Enlistment, or Induction into the Military Services) is why you can’t join the military and have braces.
These DoD guidelines disqualify people from serving unless they can finish their orthodontic treatment, with documentation as proof, before being sworn into active duty.
There are many reasons the military considers braces when qualifying personnel for service:
- For starters, if you have other ongoing healthcare needs, you may also be disqualified from service. It’s not just the military and braces that have a complex relationship.
- There also isn’t always access to orthodontic care, which causes issues for both the military and warfighter.
- Finally, wearing braces can mean risks while on the battlefield and a need for dietary restrictions. Unless it’s reasonable for the military and for a moral and religious reason, don’t expect special diets to be a trend while serving. This can include food allergies.
The key to remember is that active duty troops can’t have braces. Because this is a major part of military service, it’s best to have such a procedure completed before joining the American Armed Forces.
Delayed Entry Program
If you are joining the military and have braces, the DEP is an option that will provide you with a way to enlist but will delay your active duty service for the time being.
In most cases, DEP will provide recruits with an additional 365 days to delay their training, though in some cases, you may be allotted up to 410 days.
The DEP is for the military and not strictly just for incidents related to braces, so if you need to finish school or do other things to get your duck in a row before joining, you can do so.
Joining the military and braces treatments can be complex. Your best bet is to contact a recruiting officer to fully understand your options.
Suggested reads:
SHARE:
TAGS:
JOIN OUR NEWSLETTER
Get the latest news and military discounts
