The vaccine mandate was ended by the Defense Department last month, and a memo was issued on Friday instructing all military services to rescind any policies, directives, and guidance related to vaccination mandates as soon as possible.
The memo also required Defense Department component heads to certify that their policies have been changed by March 17, 2023. However, it did not mention reinstating discharged service members for refusing the shot.
March 01, 2023
On Friday, several military branches issued news releases indicating their compliance with the Pentagon's guidance. They stated that the service records of members who requested COVID vaccination exemptions would be altered to remove any adverse actions related to vaccine refusal.
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The U.S. Army stated that records of soldiers who requested COVID vaccine exemptions would be updated to remove and/or correct any adverse actions associated with denials of such requests.
The Army will also remove or amend ongoing reviews of COVID vaccination exemption requests, records of soldiers who requested COVID vaccine exemptions, vaccine requirements for accessions or pre-commissioning programs, and travel restrictions based solely on COVID vaccination status.
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The Air Force announced that it would remove "adverse information" related to vaccine refusal from service records, including rescinding letters of admonishment, counseling or reprimand, records of individual counseling, nonjudicial punishments, and current involuntary discharge proceedings. Promotion records will also be "corrected" to "remove or redact all adverse actions related to vaccine refusal."
According to the Military Times, the Coast Guard, Navy, and Marine Corps are making similar changes to their policies in accordance with the Pentagon's guidance.
President Biden signed the annual National Defense Authorization Act last month, which terminated the COVID-19 vaccine requirement for military members. However, it did not reinstate any discharged individuals or have their benefits cut for refusing the shot.
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Republican lawmakers have introduced legislation requiring the secretary of Defense to reinstate members involuntarily terminated due to their unvaccinated status.
Representative Brian Mast, R-Fla., told Fox News Digital in January, "This bill gives us a chance to right a wrong for those service members who chose to exercise their right to medical freedom and to get qualified and trained troops back in uniform and protecting our country."