The Biden administration’s strict Covid-19 vaccination mandates place more than 13% of the US’ fighting forces at risk of discharge, according to Department of Defense data updated on Wednesday.
The Pentagon’s website shows 268,858 “partially vaccinated” individuals across the Army, Marines, Navy, and Air Force, plus another 50,710 civilian employees. However, the figures don’t include servicemembers who have had no shots at all, meaning the real number imperiled by the administration’s vaccine mandates could be significantly higher.
While unvaxxed soldiers whose requests for medical and religious exemptions are pending are supposedly exempt from the requirement, Marine Reservist Mike Berry told Breitbart that religious exemptions have only been granted to individuals already on their way out of the military.
Some 6,400 servicemembers have already been kicked out for refusing to get the shot, with the majority being Marines, according to statistics cited by Breitbart. That’s despite the fact that a court injunction has barred the Navy from discharging any sailor seeking a religious exemption. While political pushback has stopped the Pentagon from labeling the departed with a dishonorable discharge, even a “general” discharge can mean a loss of benefits and a black mark on a soldier’s disciplinary record.
The Army began stepping up administrative proceedings against the partially- and un-vaccinated last week, explaining the noncompliant would no longer receive pay as of July or be allowed to participate in “federally funded drills and training.” A statement by the military branch warns those who refuse the mandatory vaccination order “may be subject to additional adverse administrative action, including separation.”
The deadline for part-time Army Reservists and National Guardsmen to receive the vaccine passed last week, leaving 12% of reservists – about 22,740 people – not fully vaccinated. Some 13.1% of the Army National Guard (44,000 soldiers) are also not fully vaccinated, a spokesperson told Army Times.
More than 60,000 Army soldiers losing pay, benefits over vaccine mandate
Roughly 40,000 National Guard and 22,000 Reserve soldiers who refuse to take the COVID-19 vaccines have been cut off from their military benefits, according to the U.S. Army.
"Soldiers who refuse the vaccination order without an approved or pending exemption request are subject to adverse administrative actions, including flags, bars to service, and official reprimands," an Army spokesperson said in a statement.
As of July 1, this included 13% of the Army Guard and 12% of the Reserve, according to the announcement.
Additionally, none of the 3,000 religious exemption requests filed by those in the Guard and Reserve were granted. Refusal of religious exemption requests is consistent with all branches of service, as reported by Liberty Counsel and the Thomas More Society, who sued on behalf of military members, contractors and civilians whose religious exemption requests were denied.
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin argued in his directive issued last August that requiring all active duty members and civilian employees to receive the shots was necessary for military readiness. The mandate came at a time when the U.S. military is already struggling to meet recruitment goals.
Military service members were required to take the vaccine or be discharged, pay back scholarships, education or other training costs, be disciplined or even face court martial.
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