WASHINGTON — The Department of Defense is reaching out once again to military personnel who either left voluntarily or were discharged due to their refusal to receive the COVID vaccine, encouraging them to consider reenlisting.
This initiative adheres to an executive order signed by former President Donald Trump shortly after he assumed office, stipulating that any service members who choose to return must commit to a minimum two-year reenlistment.
According to a memo shared on social media, Darin Selnick, who serves as the defense undersecretary for personnel, characterized the vaccine mandate as an “unjust, overly broad, and entirely unnecessary burden” on service members. The directive instructs military branches to implement a program to contact these personnel, which is expected to commence in two months.
In 2021, over 8,200 service members were discharged for not complying with a lawful order by refusing the vaccine. Earlier this year, the military notified all individuals terminated over vaccine refusal that they could rejoin the armed forces; however, only 113 opted to do so. Officials noted that many individuals seemed to use the vaccine mandate as an opportunity to exit their military responsibilities swiftly and without complication.
The Pentagon’s latest offer allows eligible former troops to reenter at their prior rank and to receive retroactive pay, benefits, and bonuses, provided they meet the necessary criteria for reinstatement. Specific cost estimates related to this program have not been disclosed.
Those wishing to return will need to fulfill physical fitness, medical, and other criteria, and may be barred from returning if they have developed a criminal record or other disqualifying factors. Officers will have to undergo a straightforward recommissioning process to rejoin.
The memo emphasizes that waiver authorities should be broadly applied to enhance eligibility wherever suitable. In an unusual development, only high-ranking civilian officials who have been confirmed by the Senate will have the power to deny waiver requests.
Furthermore, any recommendations to decline a service member’s reinstatement request must be sent directly to the secretary of the respective service branch, a power that cannot be assigned to others. Typically, such decisions regarding waivers are made at much lower levels.
The military branches are mandated to identify individuals who were discharged explicitly for vaccine refusal within 30 days, and they are expected to initiate a contacting program within the next 60 days.
Upon determining their total eligible back pay and other compensations, service members will have a 60-day window to respond to the reinstatement offer. This opportunity is only available for one year following the memo’s issuance, dated on February 7, with public dissemination occurring late Thursday afternoon.
Service members must undergo screening via the Boards for Correction of Military/Naval Records process, and the memo urges these boards to expedite decisions and prioritize applications related to COVID.
Troops who voluntarily left in avoidance of the vaccine can also apply for reinstatement but must provide a written declaration explaining their reasons for leaving. These individuals will not be eligible for back pay but will still be required to commit to a two-year reenlistment agreement.
Recent figures indicate that 3,748 Marines were discharged, with only 25 re-enlisting from the 2023 offer; 1,903 Army soldiers left, with 73 returning; 1,878 sailors disbanded, resulting in two returning; and 671 airmen were discharged, with 13 rejoining.
The Pentagon instituted the COVID-19 vaccine requirement for all military personnel, including those in the National Guard and Reserve, in August 2021, citing the importance of maintaining a healthy and prepared force for national defense. However, the mandate was rescinded in January 2023.
