Air Force Denies Medical Benefits to New Recruit

Air Force recruit Joseph Weston was diagnosed with acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL) just a few weeks after he entered basic training. Usually, a soldier diagnosed with a life-threatening illness like ALL would be given an honorable medical discharge and would be entitled to medical and disability benefits. With such a serious illness, a soldier would be classified as 100% disabled and would be entitled to receive a monthly pension from the federal government. Joseph Weston won't receive any of these benefits, and will be denied even an honorable discharge.

Instead, the Air Force is administratively discharging Weston, claiming that his leukemia had developed before he entered boot camp. However, blood tests taken the day Weston entered training did not show that he had leukemia, and his leukemia was not diagnosed until a few weeks after he started basic training. Until Weston's case is completely resolved, he has to stay in the medical holding squadron, the same unit where recruits are placed who have failed drug tests and are being discharged. It could be as long as six months before the situation is resolved and Weston can go home.