UK to Overturn Ban that Prevents People with HIV from Joining Armed Forces

The British Government has confirmed that it will overturn a ban that has been preventing people living with HIV from joining the armed forces. This means people who have tested positive for HIV can join the armed forces, such as The British Army or British Navy, if they no longer carry a detectable amount of the virus, according to the defence ministry. From today the use of HIV prevention pill by potential recruits who are HIV negative will no longer be a barrier to entry to the forces.

Today's announcement will not only benefit new recruits but will bring overdue relief to serving members who are living with HIV who will now be classed as fully deployable. Currently, where personnel are already serving in the forces and are then diagnosed with HIV, they are often medically downgraded, as ‘not fully fit’; a categorisation which the government also plans to change as this medically unnecessary. From early next year, serving British military personnel who have tested positive for HIV, but no longer carry a detectable viral load, will be classed as 'fully fit', meaning they can be deployed on military operations.

The announcement, made on World AIDS Day, makes the UK only the second country in the world after South Africa to update its armed forces policy rules in line with the huge medical progress in HIV. The decision removes one of the last limits for people living with HIV having the careers they want. The ban will now be overturned and people living with HIV who are on treatment and virally suppressed will be able to serve. This is based on the realities of HIV today, with overwhelming evidence that there is no medical reason why people living with HIV who are on treatment cannot serve in the military, according to the UK's leading HIV and sexual health charity Terrence Higgins Trust.

This news has been welcomed by both HIV and AIDS charities, and many in the armed forces. "A career in the armed forces was the only career not open to people living with HIV in the UK, and with this much-needed change the military will be more able to meet its obligation to promote inclusivity within its ranks," stated Britain's National AIDS Trust’s Chief Executive Deborah Gold.

“This is a momentous day which shows how far we have come in the fight against HIV. It is absolutely the right decision and there is no reason why people living with HIV shouldn’t serve in our armed forces. It’s crucial that all the medical progress that’s been made in HIV is reflected in our rules and regulations with the armed forces a clear outlier up until today. These changes must now be urgently implemented,” added Ian Green, Chief Executive of Terrence Higgins Trust.

Many people will be “surprised to learn that this ban was still in place and its removal will mean a huge amount to people living with HIV wanting to join or already serving in the military,” highlighted Green. “It also sends a clear message to everyone that HIV has changed and does not have to stop you doing anything you want to do. That’s an incredibly powerful, stigma-busting message on World AIDS Day.”

Lt Cdr Oliver Brown of the Royal Navy, who is living with HIV and working closely with Terrence Higgins Trust, also welcomed today’s news. “Being diagnosed with HIV in November 2019 was a shock and my knowledge of what my life would become was lacking. I did not even know if I would be able to remain in service. I was glad to learn this was not the case and my life would change very little except for one tablet a day. Today proves even more that living with HIV has no restriction and that UK Defence is truly a diverse and inclusive organisation.”

However, he also warned that this “does not mean the fight against stigma ends”. “It is however a firm nail in its coffin. I know all too well the personal toll this stigma takes on your mental health but the support of my family, friends, colleagues and Terrence Higgins Trust has enabled me to have the strength to challenge this stigma in every part of my life.”