Pentagon “Exploring” Back Pay for Troops Kicked Out Over COVID Vaccine Mandate
Former service members may be eligible for back pay from the U.S. Department of Defense if they were not vaccinated against COVID-19. This is possible after the Pentagon Friday’s spokesperson confirmed that the mandate had been repealed.
In response to The Epoch Times’ request, a Pentagon spokesperson said that the Pentagon had provided this information. Reports Politico and other publications – The back pay issue, “Department is still exploring this and will provide its views on legislation of this nature at the appropriate time and through the appropriate process.” Dietz didn’t give a timetable when back pay might be considered.
Tuesday’s memo was issued by Lloyd Austin, Defense Secretary.PDFAfter the December defense spending bill was passed, lawmakers required that the vaccine mandate be repealed. The Pentagon had already stopped discharging service members who didn’t get the vaccine.
“The Department will continue to promote and encourage COVID-19 vaccination for all service members,” Austin wrote about a year after the implementation. “Vaccination enhances operational readiness and protects the force.”
According to the memo, commanders have the right to decide whether troops should be deployed to areas where they are not vaccinated. This applies even if COVID-19 vaccination is required “for travel to, or entry into, a foreign nation,” It was also added.
“Certainly commanders do have a responsibility to ensure that if they’re sending forces to a place that requires a vaccine that that’s a situation that will be addressed, you know, on a case-by-case basis,” Pentagon spokesman Brig. According to Gen. Patrick Ryder, the Pentagon spokesperson for Thursday. “But you know, we have a responsibility for the health and welfare of our forces. And so, you know, again, depending on the situation and the circumstances, it is incumbent on commanders to ensure that they’re doing what they need to do to make sure those forces are ready.”
More than 8,400 soldiers were forced out of service due to the contentious mandate. Top officials claimed they refused to follow an order to decline to receive the vaccine. A federal judge granted exemptions to religious and medical reasons for thousands of people, but he wrote last month that (PDFIt is notable that less service personnel have been able to obtain religious exemptions than those who were granted medical exemptions.
Austin claimed that over 2 million active duty and reserve service personnel are fully vaccinated. This is 96 percent of all active duty and reserve force members.
In August 2021 and after the Pfizer vaccine was granted emergency use authorization by the Food and Drug Administration, Austin instituted the mandate and said that it was necessary to protect the health of the military force.
Other defense leaders agreed with him that troops deployed overseas for years have required 17 vaccines. This includes shots for anthrax. Other vaccine mandates did not change with the new rules.
In December, White House press secretary Karine Jean Pierre told reporters that the Biden administration believed that removing the mandate is a good idea. “mistake,” Austin makes the same claims about how the shot works. “sure our troops are prepared and ready for service.” The bill was ultimately signed by President Joe Biden after it passed both chambers.
Despite all these arguments, Congress approved to repeal the mandate. Opponents suggested that perhaps the mandate had been successful in getting the majority of the force vaccinated. Some lawmakers are concerned that the mandate, along with other policy directives, has lowered enlistment in recent decades.
These members of Congress claimed that the repealing the mandate would increase recruitment. Defense officials responded that it would help with recruiting. However, a survey by the department during the first nine month of last year showed that most respondents said that the mandate did little to change their willingness to consider enlisting.
Refusing to comply with a lawful order to receive the vaccine was grounds for discharge. Austin’s memo says that anyone who was discharged can petition their military service to request a change in the “characterization of their discharge” Their personnel records. However, it does not indicate what corrections might be made.
This report was contributed by The Associated Press.
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Jack Phillips is a Senior Reporter for The Epoch Times. He is based out of New York. He reports on breaking news.
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