![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.azuse.cloud\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/navy-offer-219x300.jpg\")
<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
The service branches will rescind COVID-19 vaccination policies by 17 March, according to a Pentagon memo. The memo also expunges personnel records of any flags and halts involuntary separations for those who have refused the jab.<\/p>\n
The new guidance follows SecDef Austin\u2019s 10 Jan policy memo, which formally ended the vaccine mandate for all service members.<\/p>\n
Some services have already started. The Navy and Marine Corps formally rescinded vaccine requirements in January. The Navy also announced it is now allowing unvaxxed sailors and Marines to deploy on ships, though liberty may be restricted during port visits.<\/p>\n
The damage has been done, though. The unvaxxed were discharged by the hundreds with no possibility of a waiver and with a very real threat to reimburse the Navy for bonuses, special pays and the cost of their training.<\/p>\n
Now that recruitment is in the dumpster across the board, how many COVID dischargees would be interested in a return to duty?<\/p>\n
By Rebecca Kheel<\/strong><\/p>\n Fewer than 10 of the more than 2,000 sailors discharged for refusing the COVID-19 vaccine have expressed interest in rejoining the Navy now that the shot isn’t required, a service official told lawmakers Tuesday.<\/p>\n “We’ve had single digits in terms of numbers of individuals who explored the option of returning to service,” Navy Under Secretary Erik Raven said during a hearing of the House Armed Services Committee’s personnel subcommittee.<\/p>\n Testifying alongside Raven, Army Under Secretary Gabe Camarillo said he did not know how many soldiers have sought to return, and Air Force Under Secretary Gina Ortiz Jones did not address how many airmen want to rejoin.<\/p>\n Read Next: Pentagon Tells Congress There’s No Evidence US Weapons Sent to Ukraine Are Being Misused<\/p>\n Tuesday’s hearing was the personnel subcommittee’s first under the chairmanship of Rep. Jim Banks, R-Ind., who has said he wants to use the post to target “woke” Pentagon policies. Republicans use the term woke to refer to a wide range of Biden administration policies they disagree with, including the military’s now-defunct COVID-19 vaccine mandate.<\/p>\n Republicans, despite controlling neither chamber of Congress at the time, successfully fought for a provision in last year’s defense policy bill repealing the Pentagon’s COVID-19 vaccine mandate.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n Military<\/a><\/p>\n Rather doubt the other branches’ numbers differ very much. Then there’s this:<\/p>\n By LOLITA C. BALDOR<\/p>\n The military services are still reviewing possible discipline of troops who refused the order to get the COVID-19 vaccine, defense officials told Congress on Tuesday, and they provided few details on how many of those who were forced out of the military would like to return.<\/p>\n Lawmakers expressed frustration with the news, questioning why service members should still face discipline since the vaccine requirement had been rescinded.<\/p>\n Gilbert Cisneros Jr., undersecretary of defense for personnel, told the House Armed Services personnel subcommittee that some service members who disobeyed the lawful order to get the vaccine \u2014 and did not seek any type of exemption \u2014 were still going through the review process.<\/p><\/blockquote>\nTroops who refused COVID vaccine still may face discipline<\/h3>\n