Data: Only 43 Of Over 8,000 Discharged From U.S. Military For Refusing COVID-19 Vaccine Re-Enlisted
OAN’s Brooke Mallory
6:16 PM – Thursday, November 16, 2023
Data from U.S. military branches reveals that only a small fraction of the over 8,000 service members who were dismissed for refusing the COVID-19 vaccination have attempted to re-enlist.
The Defense Department was forced to repeal the vaccination requirement due to pressure from Republicans who argued that it hindered military recruitment and retention.
Furthermore, unlike other vaccines, the COVID-19 vaccines did not provide complete protection against catching or transmitting the virus, which was another point of contention.
From August 2021 to January 2023, the military mandated the COVID-19 vaccination, but it was later revoked as part of the National Defense Authorization Act, marking the first time in history that a vaccination mandate was lifted.
Since the repeal, only a small number of troops have returned to the Army and Marines, with even fewer returning to the Air Force and Navy. The branches where the rest of the dismissed service members rejoined were not disclosed.
The figures have been deemed “minuscule” by experts, putting the issue to rest, according to J. Stephen Morrison, head of the Global Health Policy Center at the Center for Strategic and International Studies.
Republican senators, including Tommy Tuberville, criticized the vaccination requirement, claiming it depleted the military ranks and damaged readiness.
Efforts were made to restore military members who were discharged due to the vaccine mandate, but only a very small percentage of veterans have applied to rejoin.
Experts speculate that some soldiers who were already planning to leave the military used the vaccine as an excuse, while others may have pursued alternative employment opportunities.
“Some people were already on their way out of the military, and they didn’t want to get the vaccine and they just didn’t care, and I think that may account for a significant portion of the individuals represented in the data,” claimed Kate Kuzminski, the director of the Military, Veterans, and Society Program at the Center for a New American Security.
“I don’t see this number jumping significantly,” Kuzminski said. “You might see ones and twos in the future.”
Stay informed! Receive breaking news blasts directly to your inbox for free. Subscribe here. https://www.oann.com/alerts
Rep. George Santos faces more Campaign Misappropriation accusations, Diddy fields accusations of his own and a jury brings the hammer down on David Depape.
After Presidents Biden and Xi Jinping meet, whistleblowers cite concerns over Sequoia Capital.
Both Iowa and West Virginia are leading an 18-state coalition opposing the gag order a federal court has placed on former President Donald Trump.
In a 3-2 vote this week, the Federal Communications Commission has adopted final rules to prevent so-called ‘digital discrimination,’ that many say is rooted in Critical Race Theory. One America’s Chief White House Correspondent Monica Paige breaks down the details.
Spotify expanded its partnership with Google Cloud to use large language models to help identify a user’s listening patterns across podcasts and audiobooks.
Starlink has secured a contract to offer free internet in Mexico until the end of 2026.
U.S. lawmakers asked Apple Inc to explain the abrupt end of political comedian Jon Stewart’s television show on its streaming service.
Elon Musk denied a report that his rocket company SpaceX was discussing an IPO for its satellite internet business, Starlink.
rnrn
Have efforts to restore military members who were discharged due to the vaccine mandate been successful, and what factors may have influenced their decision to not rejoin
The Impact of COVID-19 Vaccine Mandate Repeal on Military Recruitment and Retention
Data from U.S. military branches has revealed that only a small fraction of the over 8,000 service members who were dismissed for refusing the COVID-19 vaccination have attempted to re-enlist. This revelation sheds light on the impact of repealing the vaccination requirement and its effect on military recruitment and retention.
The Defense Department was compelled to repeal the vaccination requirement under pressure from Republicans who argued that it hindered military recruitment and retention. Unlike other vaccines, the COVID-19 vaccines did not provide complete protection against catching or transmitting the virus, which further fueled the controversy surrounding the mandate.
From August 2021 to January 2023, the military mandated the COVID-19 vaccination. However, it was later revoked as part of the National Defense Authorization Act, marking the first time in history that a vaccination mandate was lifted.
Since the repeal, only a small number of troops have returned to the Army and Marines, with even fewer returning to the Air Force and Navy. The branches where the rest of the dismissed service members rejoined were not disclosed. Experts have referred to these numbers as “minuscule,” suggesting that the issue has been put to rest. J. Stephen Morrison, head of the Global Health Policy Center at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, believes that the figures speak for themselves.
Republican senators, including Tommy Tuberville, openly criticized the vaccination requirement, claiming that it depleted the military ranks and damaged readiness. Efforts were made to restore military members who were discharged due to the vaccine mandate, but only a very small percentage of veterans have applied to rejoin. This supports the speculation that some soldiers who were already planning to leave the military may have used the vaccine as an excuse, while others may have pursued alternative employment opportunities.
Kate Kuzminski, the director of the Military, Veterans, and Society Program at the Center for a New American Security, suggested that “some people were already on their way out of the military, and they didn’t want to get the vaccine and they just didn’t care, and I think that may account for a significant portion of the individuals represented in the data.” She further added, “I don’t see this number jumping significantly. You might see ones and twos in the future.”
The repeal of the COVID-19 vaccine mandate in the military has not had a substantial impact on recruitment and retention. The small percentage of service members who attempted to re-enlist after being dismissed for refusing the vaccine indicates that the issue may have been blown out of proportion. It remains to be seen if there will be any significant changes in the future, but for now, it appears that the controversy surrounding the vaccine requirement has been resolved.
" Conservative News Daily does not always share or support the views and opinions expressed here; they are just those of the writer."
*As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases
Now loading...