Can you JOIN the marines with hSV 1?

Answer 1

Yes, you can still join the Marines. As long as you don't get visible sores on face (oral herpes) when entering, so if it is genital you should be okay unless you get excessive outbreaks and can not perform your duty and are affected by it physically and mentally. You have to pass a three mile physical fitness test, so if you have Back pain due to hsv1, suck it up or you will be booted medically if you can't pass your physical fitness test. Do not tell your recruiter or MEPS that you have hsv-1. 60 percent of the population have hsv-1 orally and some will never get recurrences, so the medical field does not give a flying care about it if you do have it. Even some clinics stopped testing for hsv-1 and only test for hsv-2 since hsv-1 is so common. Military will not screen you for hsv-1 or 2 unless there is suspected reason to (visible sores, pain, and mistaken outbreak symptoms that are herpes related such as folliculitis or yeast infection) that prevent you from doing your job. So if you think you can join without ever having to see medics about your minor condition, you are good to go. ooh rah!