HIV and military service: veteran says history is repeating

Reggie Dunbar II has lived with HIV for more than 40 years and now leads an advocacy group for veterans, and the Department of Defense has paused shipping HIV-positive recruits after a court upheld the enlistment ban.

Reggie Dunbar II, a 71-year-old military veteran, has lived with HIV for over 40 years and now leads Poz Military & Veterans USA INTL. He also runs Reggie Legal, which offers estate and insurance services. Recent legal and policy developments have brought renewed attention to HIV and military enlistment. Officials announced a pause in shipping recruits who are HIV-positive after an appeals court upheld the enlistment policy. Key facts: - Reggie Dunbar II has lived with HIV since the 1980s and founded an advocacy group for veterans living with HIV. - The Department of Defense issued guidance on January 16 pausing the training or shipping of new recruits who are HIV-positive. - The pause followed a decision by the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals that upheld the policy limiting enlistment by people with HIV. - Dunbar likened the ruling to earlier periods of discrimination, noting past barriers such as limits on life insurance, and said he will continue advocacy. Summary: The ruling and subsequent Department of Defense guidance have renewed concerns about access to military service for people living with HIV and prompted responses from longtime advocates. Officials announced a temporary pause in shipping HIV-positive applicants and said they would follow up in the coming weeks.