Pentagon to review discharges of 8,700 troops who declined COVID vaccine
Preventative Medicine Services NCOIC Sergeant First Class Demetrius Roberson administers a COVID-19 vaccine to a soldier on September 9, 2021 in Fort Knox, Kentucky. (Photo by Jon Cherry/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON - The Pentagon has ordered military services to proactively review and, when warranted, upgrade the discharge records of thousands of troops forced out for refusing the now-rescinded COVID-19 vaccine mandate.
The effort could restore honorable status to more than 3,000 former service members.
Dig deeper:
The Secretary of War has directed each military department to identify and reevaluate cases in which troops were discharged solely for declining the vaccine, an order that affects approximately 8,700 former service members separated under the previous administration.
More than 3,000 of those individuals received less-than-honorable characterizations, which can affect access to veterans’ benefits and employment opportunities.
Under the directive, the services must complete their reviews within one calendar year. Former service members do not need to submit applications or take any action; the Pentagon will conduct the evaluations automatically and upgrade records when appropriate.
What they're saying:
"The Department is committed to ensuring that everyone who should have received a fully honorable discharge receives one and continues to right wrongs and restore confidence in, and honor to our fighting force," a statement read.
Any service member or veteran who believes that their records reflect an error or injustice should visit the military review boards website at https://www.milreviewbds.mil for information on how to apply for relief.
COVID shots no longer recommended by CDC for kids
Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. says CDC no longer recommends COVID-19 vaccines for healthy children or pregnant women. The move was announced via a video on X without CDC officials present. A CDC advisory panel was set to vote in June on updated vaccine guidance.
The backstory:
The Pentagon made the COVID-19 vaccine mandatory in August 2021 for all service members, including the National Guard and Reserve. Then-Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said getting the vaccine was critical to maintaining a healthy force prepared to defend the nation.
The Pentagon dropped the mandate in January 2023.
The Source: The Associated Press contributed to this report. The information in this story comes from an official Pentagon announcement directing the military services to review and potentially upgrade the discharge records of troops separated for refusing the now-rescinded COVID-19 vaccine mandate, as well as details provided in a Department of Defense statement outlining the number of affected service members, the review timeline, and guidance for veterans seeking further relief through military review boards. This story was reported from Los Angeles.