The United States Army is taking steps to correct the records of soldiers who were discharged for refusing the coronavirus vaccine mandate. This comes after the Biden administration imposed a vaccine mandate on the military in August 2021, forcing any servicemember who did not comply to be kicked out by December of that year.
According to a letter posted online by several former soldiers, the Army is now offering guidance on how those who were dismissed can have their records corrected in order to reenter service. The letter also instructs former soldiers on how to contact their local Army, Army Reserve, or National Guard recruiter for more information.
This development follows the Army’s quiet issuance of a memo rescinding its vaccine mandate, which was done in response to House Republicans forcing the Biden administration to rescind the policy in the 2023 National Defense Authorization Act. As a result of the mandate, over 8,000 troops were discharged, thousands more sought exemptions and the National Guard suffered from a recruitment crisis.
Former Army chief warrant officer Sam Shoemate, who was one of the administrators of the military watchdog website Terminal CWO, posted a copy of the letter on X. Retired Army Maj. Chase Spears also spoke out about the Army’s recent measures, writing in American Mind that they may be linked to the Army’s abysmal recruitment numbers.
A letter is going out to soldiers which says, “former Soldiers who were involuntarily separated for refusal to receive the COVID-19 vaccination may request a correction of their military records.”
It also says “Individuals who desire to apply to return to service should contact… pic.twitter.com/e32h97tYoI
— Shoe (@samosaur) November 16, 2023
Spears also discussed the persecution faced by soldiers who refused to get the vaccine, as well as the two-class system that was created in the military based on vaccination status. He called on senior Army officials to apologize for their misconduct and make amends to subordinates who had their trust broken.
In light of these developments, Spears urged the Army to never allow totalitarians to persecute their fellow citizens in the military again. He argued that a force that can so easily lose sight of its purpose must be viewed through a skeptic’s lens.
The new guidance from the Army may offer a glimmer of hope for those who were discharged for refusing the vaccine mandate. However, it remains to be seen how those who were punished and kicked out of the military will be compensated for their treatment.
