HIV testing in the Army?

[sweetnss06]

I have sort of a strange question. I was wondering if anyone knew for sure if soldiers in boot camp were tested for HIV. I dated a guy last fall and we had a few sexual encounters, which I won't divulge unless asked, but I guess what I just really need to know is whether or not he would have been tested. He went to boot camp this past August and is stationed in Georgia. I found something by searching Google that said army recruits would be tested and those found positive would not be found eligble to fight, but then it got into specifics and I didn't really understand the language after a bit so I didn't come away with clear knowledge of whether or not he would have been tested. Also, this document was dated 1996. If anything I would think testing procedures would be more prevalent now, but who knows? So if anyone has a cut-and-dry answer for me, I'd really appreciate it. I can't contact him now because he has no internet down in Georgia and I deleted his cell phone number months ago. Thanks for your help. This is a great forum.

[RainLover71]

This thread is 6 years old if you haven't noticed already.

[Xhost]

Hi,

Well, I cannot comment on the veracity of the girl's statements, other than to say that, according to the doc on this site, very few people would lie about their HIV status when asked outright.

As for whether or not her boyfriend would have been sent to a federal prison for testing positive on a drug test, I will say this: it is not outside of the realm of possibility. It is a violation of the UCMJ, and is an offense that may warrant a courts-martial and jail time if found guilty.

BTW, just because her old boyfriend went to jail doesn't mean that she, or, by extension, you, are at any more risk of contracting HIV than any other heterosexual person.

[AnxietyDrivingMeCrazy]

Hi xhost,
I have a question for you. I have been driving myself nuts after this girl I have been with told me her ex went to jail. That would increase her chance of having HIV like crazy. She claimed he was in the military, I think army, and he was found positive to cocaine screening and had to go to jail. I find it hard to believe. A normal person does not go to jail for personal use of cocaine. Maybe a fine and some social work, but jail sounds like he was a drug trafficant/heavy IV drug user to me. She claimed she contracted genital herpes from him, so I drive myself crazy thinking about HIV. What I am wondering if it's really possible that he went to jail just because he was cought doing cocaine by the military. She claimed she did not have sex with him after he came out. I also tested negative for HIV after almost 5 months from my last encounter w this girl (unprotected oral insertive). However, I use a corticosteroid nasal spray on almost a daily base so I am freaking out wondering if the guy was big time drug trafficant/or IV drug user (that wuld explaing the jail time) with HIV and I am late seroconverting because of the medication I take. I have had for the last month or more this burning tongue/mouth sensation. It is not going away after the HIV negative test result so it's not anxiety. The medication did not give me troubles for the first two months I used it so I doubt it's the reason of my symptoms. Also a nasal spray should not affect the mouth. I am just trying to figure out if this girl is a liar (about her HIV status too which she claims she doesn't know if she was ever tested for).

[Xhost]

I was in the Navy, and I was tested once a year. In addition, an HIV test was part of my enlistment physical. Anyone testing positive for HIV would be disallowed from joining the service at all, let alone going into a combat zone. Anyone already in the service who tests positive would be processed out on a medical discharge. And, BTW, all four branches of the military follow the same testing procedures, I believe.

[Brian123]

They are tested annually.