Army Medical Profile | PULHES – Physical Profile Serial System

The Army Medical Profile, also known as the Physical Profile Serial System (PULHES), is used by the United States Army to assess a soldier’s physical capabilities and limitations.

The Army uses PULHES to evaluate various aspects of a soldier’s health and physical condition to determine whether they can continue specific military duties and assignments.

The PULHES system consists of six categories, each represented by a letter:

Table of Contents hide

Medical Profile Evaluation Criteria

The Army assesses each category within the PULHES system based on specific evaluation criteria.

Each soldier is assigned a numeric code corresponding to their level of fitness or impairment.

The codes range from 1 to 4, with 1 indicating no limitations and 4 representing varying degrees of restriction or impairment of the soldier.

Example:

“1” signifies no limitations, while higher numbers represent varying degrees of restriction or impairment.
Combining these codes forms a soldier’s medical profile, which helps determine their eligibility for specific military roles and duties.

PULHES Numeric Codes and Descriptions

Numeric Code	Description
1	No limitations
2	Mild limitations
3	Moderate limitations
4	Severe limitations

Army PULHES Evalution Categories

Physical Capacity or Stamina (P):

This category assesses a soldier’s overall physical fitness and endurance.
It considers factors such as cardiovascular health, strength, and agility.
A soldier with a P-1 designation will demonstrate excellent physical capacity, while a P-4 designation indicates severe limitations.

Upper Extremities (U):

The U category evaluates the functionality and condition of a soldier’s arms, shoulders, and hands.
It accounts for disabilities, injuries, or conditions affecting upper body strength and agility.

Lower Extremities (L):

L category focuses on the lower body, including legs, knees, and feet.
It assesses mobility, agility, and any impairments that may affect a soldier’s ability to walk, run, or perform physical tasks.

Hearing and Ears (H):

This category evaluates a soldier’s auditory health and sensitivity.
It considers factors such as hearing loss, tinnitus, and other auditory impairments that may impact communication and situational awareness.

Eyes and Vision (E):

E category assesses visual acuity, depth perception, and overall eye health.
It identifies any visual impairments, such as nearsightedness, farsightedness, or color blindness, that may affect a soldier’s performance in various environments.

Mental (S):

The S category evaluates a soldier’s mental health and cognitive functioning.
It considers factors such as psychological disorders, cognitive impairments, and emotional stability.
A soldier’s ability to cope with stress and make sound decisions under pressure is also assessed.

PULHES Categories and Evaluation Criteria

Category	Evaluation Criteria
Physical Capacity or Stamina	– cardiovascular health, strength, endurance
Upper Extremities	– arm functionality, shoulder mobility, hand dexterity
Lower Extremities	– leg mobility, knee functionality, foot health
Hearing and Ears	– hearing sensitivity, tinnitus, auditory impairments
Eyes and Vision	– visual acuity, depth perception, color perception
Mental	– psychological health, cognitive functioning, emotional stability

Utilization of Medical Profiles

Once a soldier’s evaluation is complete, combining numeric codes across all PULHES categories forms their medical profile.
This profile helps determine a soldier’s eligibility for specific military roles, duties, and assignments.
It ensures that soldiers are assigned tasks that align with their physical capabilities and limitations, optimizing their effectiveness and minimizing the risk of injury or impairment.

Sample Medical Profile

Category	Numeric Code	Description
Physical Capacity (P)	1	No limitations
Upper Extremities (U)	2	Mild limitations
Lower Extremities (L)	1	No limitations
Hearing and Ears (H)	3	Moderate limitations
Eyes and Vision (E)	1	No limitations
Mental (S)	1	No limitations

These tables provide a structured breakdown of the PULHES categories, their evaluation criteria, the corresponding numeric codes, and a sample medical profile illustrating how the codes are assigned based on assessment results.

Army PULHES Conclusion

The Army Medical Profile, through the PULHES system, plays a crucial role in assessing and managing military personnel’s health and physical readiness.
By evaluating various aspects of a soldier’s health and fitness, the PULHES system ensures that soldiers are assigned tasks and responsibilities appropriate to their abilities, promoting operational effectiveness and mission success.

Army Medical Profile Codes and Assignments

Medical Profile Code	Description
1	Fully deployable; no restrictions or limitations.
2	Limited duty; restrictions on certain activities or assignments.
3	Non-deployable; significant restrictions or limitations; requires medical review.
4	Temporarily non-deployable; severe restrictions or limitations; requires medical evaluation.
5	Medically non-deployable; permanent restrictions or limitations; may be subject to medical board.

Examples of PULHES Numeric Codes and Their Meanings

Numeric Code	Meaning
1	No limitations; fully fit for military duties.
2	Mild limitations; suitable for restricted duties.
3	Moderate limitations; may require further evaluation.
4	Severe limitations; may be unfit for military service.

These additional tables further clarify the medical profile codes, their assignments, and examples of how numeric codes are interpreted within the PULHES system.

George N. is the founder of ArmyPRT.com. While he never actually served in the United States Army, he has a passion for writing about military-related topics.

Born and raised in Bozeman, Montana, he graduated from George State University with an MBA in Actuarial Science. His hobbies include beach volleyball, hiking, fishing, and lifting weights

George is also a certified nutritionist with a passion for health and fitness.