Defense officials, speaking to the House Armed Services personnel subcommittee earlier this week, admitted they were still considering disciplinary action against troops who refused an order to get the COVID vaccine.
Which, with the knowledge we have today regarding the poor efficacy of the vaccine in preventing the spread of COVID, and the fact that the vaccine mandate has been rescinded with the benefit of hindsight, is astounding.
Gilbert Cisneros Jr., the undersecretary of defense for personnel, told the panel that servicemembers who refused the vaccine and did not apply for an exemption were still being reviewed.
“In order to maintain good order and discipline, it’s very important that our service members go and follow orders when they are lawful,” Cisneros said adding that each case was being evaluated.
“Troops who refused COVID vaccines still could face punishment.”
This is so disgraceful to our military members!
https://t.co/7Eo8SS0FG8 pic.twitter.com/M1qHXqmsim
— COVID VACCINE INJURIES .COM (@Storiesofinjury) February 28, 2023
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Troops Who Refused Vaccine May Still Be Punished
First off, it’s absolutely hilarious that they’re targeting those troops who didn’t bother to submit exemptions to the COVID vaccine, knowing full well religious exemption requests were essentially rubber-stamped denials from the Department of Defense.
They seemingly weren’t even considered. And the troops were smart enough to realize there was no point in applying.
Second, the charade is over. Let it go.
There is no longer an illusion that the vaccine is the most effective means of stopping the spread of COVID, and there is no longer mass hysteria leading people to arrogantly force mandates on anybody, including the military.
Our service members deserve better.
“Rep. Cory Mills, R-Fla., said he will push to allow those who were ‘unlawfully purged, in my opinion, to be reentered into the military with their full benefits…’”https://t.co/mb3EzFxEw9
— Rep. Cory Mills
(@RepMillsPress) March 1, 2023
So why the continued review? Republican lawmakers would certainly like to know.
“What’s the point?” Representative Jim Banks (R-IN) asked Cisneros. “We rescinded the mandate — what’s the point of continuing to review the cases?”
Representative Cory Mills (R-FL) blasted the vaccine mandate and said he would fight for those who were “unlawfully purged, in my opinion, to be reentered into the military with their full benefits, their back pay.”
Pursuing Discipline For These Troops is a Joke
The Pentagon formally dropped its COVID-19 vaccination mandate in January of this year. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin implemented the requirement for troops in August of 2021.
The Political Insider’s Kathleen Anderson reported recently on four Republican senators who voted against an amendment to the bill that would have granted troops dismissed for refusing the jab their service back.
The Pentagon stated they are “not currently pursuing back pay to service members who were dismissed for refusing to take the COVID vaccination.”
The Pentagon is “not currently pursuing” back pay for servicemembers who were discharged for refusing the Covid-19 vaccine, says @PentagonPresSec.
The NDAA that Congress just passed directed the DOD to end its vaccine mandate, but stopped short of providing back pay.
— Mark Satter (@marksatter) January 17, 2023
It is a travesty, a miscarriage of justice.
Defense officials at the hearing stated servicemembers could go through the proper channels to begin the process of reenlistment to the military.
Erik Raven, the Navy undersecretary, said the current number of those interested in returning to service was in the “single digits.”
It’s a mystery as to why they wouldn’t want to return.
The Associated Press reports that over 8,400 troops – 3,717 Marines, 2,041 from the Navy, 1,841 from the Army, and 834 from the Air Force – were forced out of the military for refusing to get the vaccine.
That’s a group of men and women who should not only be reinstated if they so desire, but should be rewarded for having the courage to stand up in defiance of a mandate that never should have seen the light of day.
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