Fewer than 10 of the greater than 2,000 sailors discharged for refusing the COVID-19 vaccine have expressed curiosity in rejoining the Navy now that the shot is not required, a service official informed lawmakers Tuesday.
“We have had single digits by way of numbers of people who explored the choice of returning to service,” Navy Below Secretary Erik Raven mentioned throughout a listening to of the Home Armed Companies Committee’s personnel subcommittee.
Testifying alongside Raven, Army Below Secretary Gabe Camarillo mentioned he didn’t know what number of troopers have sought to return, and Air Pressure Below Secretary Gina Ortiz Jones didn’t handle what number of airmen need to rejoin.
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Tuesday’s listening to was the personnel subcommittee’s first beneath the chairmanship of Rep. Jim Banks, R-Ind., who has mentioned he desires to make use of the submit to focus on “woke” Pentagon insurance policies. Republicans use the time period woke to seek advice from a variety of Biden administration insurance policies they disagree with, together with the army’s now-defunct COVID-19 vaccine mandate.
Republicans, regardless of controlling neither chamber of Congress on the time, efficiently fought for a provision in final yr’s protection coverage invoice repealing the Pentagon’s COVID-19 vaccine mandate. Service members are required to take a couple of dozen different vaccines, however Republicans argued the mandate trampled on particular person liberties and harm the army as a complete by discharging 1000’s of troops at a time when the army is scuffling with recruitment.
With the mandate gone, Republicans have vowed to proceed combating to reinstate, with again pay, the greater than 8,000 troops who have been discharged for refusing when ordered to get the vaccine.
Officers at Tuesday’s listening to indicated they don’t have any plans to provoke a particular course of to reinstate the discharged troops.
Raven, Camarillo and Jones, in addition to Below Secretary of Protection for Personnel Gil Cisneros, testified that troops who have been discharged over the mandate can use the identical process as anybody else who desires to rejoin the army: both discuss to a recruiter about reenlisting or undergo the correction of army data course of.
Because the army companies formally rescind their mandate-related insurance policies, officers have mentioned they are going to mechanically regulate data for service members who requested exemptions however have been punished solely for vaccine refusal so they don’t seem to be handed over for promotion. They’ve additionally pledged to halt any discharge proceedings for troops who requested exemptions.
However what is going to occur to service members who refused the vaccine with out requesting a spiritual, medical or administrative exemption remains to be an open query. Cisneros recommended Tuesday these troops might nonetheless face punishment, together with discharge, however that the army companies are nonetheless reviewing these instances.
“Those that refused the vaccine and didn’t put in a request for lodging refused a lawful order,” Cisneros testified. “With a view to preserve good order and self-discipline, it is crucial that our service members go and comply with orders when they’re lawful, and there are a number of or 1000’s that didn’t.”
Camarillo, Raven and Jones mentioned every case shall be determined by itself deserves, suggesting that some could have aggravating circumstances or different misconduct past refusing the vaccine.
“There are a selection of instances that we nonetheless have but to evaluation for particular person troopers who, as Secretary Cisneros mentioned, selected to not adjust to a lawful order,” Camarillo mentioned. “There could also be, in any occasion, quite a few violations of the [Uniform Code of Military Justice] or different areas by which there could be circumstances to have a look at disciplinary procedures.”
— Rebecca Kheel may be reached at rebecca.kheel@army.com. Comply with her on Twitter @reporterkheel.
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