The military is making good on its promise to push out unvaccinated soldiers. As multiple states have introduced draconian vaccine passports that make it difficult for unvaccinated people to carry out their day to day lives, the Army has now decided that it does not want the unvaccinated among its ranks. The Epoch Times Reports–
The U.S. Army announced Wednesday that it will immediately start discharging, or “separating,” soldiers who refused to receive the COVID-19 vaccine.
Under a directive (pdf) issued by the Army, the order applies to regular soldiers, active-duty Army reservists, and Army cadets unless they have an exemption or a pending exemption.
“Army readiness depends on soldiers who are prepared to train, deploy, fight and win our nation’s wars,” Army Secretary Christine Wormuth said in a statement. “Unvaccinated soldiers present risk to the force and jeopardize readiness.”
Wormuth added that the service “will begin involuntary separation proceedings for Soldiers who refuse the vaccine order and are not pending a final decision on an exemption.”
Army soldiers who are discharged because they’ve refused the COVID-19 vaccine won’t be eligible for involuntary separation pay. They also might be “subject to recoupment of any unearned special or incentive pays,” the Army said.
Other branches of the U.S. armed forces have started to remove those who have chosen not to obtain a COVID-19 vaccine.
“The Army has not yet involuntarily separated any Soldiers solely for refusing the lawful order to receive the COVID-19 vaccine,” the statement continued. “As of Jan. 26, Army commanders have relieved a total of six regular Army leaders, including two battalion commanders, and issued 3,073 general officer written reprimands to Soldiers for refusing the vaccination order.”
Officers and warrant officers who have refused the vaccine have until March 2022 to get it, according to the directive.