![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.azuse.cloud\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/secdef-austin-300x165.jpg\")
\nSECDEF Austin<\/p>\n
\nSECDEF Austin<\/p>\n
The Pentagon has rejected a request from Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt (R) to exempt his state’s National Guard from the Department of Defense’s vaccine mandate.<\/p>\n
In a letter to Stitt shared with The Hill, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said all members of the Oklahoma Air and Army National Guard must follow the mandate “regardless of duty status.”<\/p>\n
Failure to get vaccinated “may lead to a prohibition on the member’s participation in drills and training… and jeopardize the member’s status in the National Guard,” Austin wrote, adding that Stitt’s concerns “do not negate the need for this important military readiness requirement.”<\/p>\n
Ryan Morgan<\/strong><\/p>\n On Monday, Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin rejected a request by Republican Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt to exempt his state\u2019s National Guard from the Pentagon COVID-19 vaccine mandate. Austin said troops not in compliance with the vaccine mandate could jeopardize their National Guard status, thus losing federal pay and benefits.<\/p>\n Stitt had requested in early November for the Pentagon to exempt members of the Oklahoma Guard from the federal vaccine mandate. In a response letter to Stitt, which was provided to the Associated Press, Austin said all members of the Oklahoma Army and Air National Guard, \u201cregardless of duty status,\u201d must follow the specified vaccination directions of the Army and Air Force service secretaries.<\/p>\n \u201cFailure to do so may lead to a prohibition on the member\u2019s participation in drills and training\u201d conducted under Title 32 of the U.S. Code, \u201cand jeopardize the member\u2019s status in the National Guard,\u201d Austin added.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n No surprise here. At odds here are who commands State National Guard units, and when.<\/p>\n Title 32 of the U.S. Code, stipulates that a state or territory’s governor holds the power to mobilize their guard members unless the troops are activated for a federal mission.<\/p>\n But under Title 10, the president could mobilize the guard, placing them under federal authority.<\/p>\n Other states are watching developments carefully, and I have no doubt lawsuits are in the offing.<\/p>\n American Military News<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"