DoDI 6130.03: Military Medical Standards for Service Academies and ROTC
DoDI 6130.03, Volume 1 is the single regulation that governs every DoDMERB medical disqualification. Formally titled “Medical Standards for Military Service: Appointment, Enlistment, or Induction,” this Department of Defense Instruction defines the medical criteria that every service academy and ROTC applicant must meet. When DoDMERB determines whether your student is medically qualified, they are checking against this regulation.
The current version is Change 6, published February 3, 2026. Volume 1 covers accession standards (entering the military). Volume 2 covers retention standards (staying in) and does not apply to applicants.
Download DoDI 6130.03-V1 (PDF)
Change 6 · February 3, 2026 · 481 KB
The complete regulation covering all medical disqualification criteria for military service accession.
What DoDI 6130.03 Covers
The regulation contains 30 sections organized by body system. Each section lists specific conditions that are disqualifying for military service, along with any exceptions or thresholds. When DoDMERB reviews your student's medical history and exam results, they compare findings against these sections to issue a qualification or disqualification determination.
The regulation applies to all five service academies (USMA, USNA, USAFA, USCGA, USMMA), all ROTC programs (Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Option), and USUHS. Individual services may apply their own standards that are more or less restrictive for specific conditions, but DoDI 6130.03 is the baseline.
Key Sections for Academy and ROTC Applicants
These are the sections most frequently cited in DoDMERB disqualifications. Each links to our detailed guide on the topic.
Lungs & Respiratory
Asthma, reactive airway disease, inhaler use, methacholine challenge
Learning, Psychiatric & Behavioral
ADHD, anxiety, depression, autism, IEP/504 plans
How DoDMERB Uses This Regulation
DoDMERB does not make waiver decisions. Their role is strictly to determine whether your student meets or does not meet the medical standards in DoDI 6130.03. After reviewing exam results and medical history, DoDMERB issues one of three outcomes:
- Meets Medical Standards (MMS) — Qualified. No further action needed.
- Does Not Meet Medical Standards (DNMMS) — Disqualified under a specific section of the regulation. The academy or ROTC program decides whether to pursue a waiver.
- Remedial / AMI — DoDMERB needs Additional Medical Information before making a determination.
If your student is disqualified, the DQ code maps directly to a section in this regulation. Understanding the specific criteria helps you know what documentation or evidence could support a waiver request.
Related Tools
Official source: DoDI 6130.03 is published by the Department of Defense and available through Executive Services Directorate. The PDF hosted here is provided for convenience. Always verify against the official source for the most current version.
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A disqualification code maps to a specific section of this regulation. We help families understand what it means and build a strategy to move forward.
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