Reinstating Service Members Discharged Under the Military's COVID-19 Vaccination Mandate
Orders Reinstatement for Service Members Discharged Over COVID-19 Vaccine
What it does
The Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of Homeland Security must make reinstatement available and restore rank, pay, and benefits to eligible discharged service members.
Real-world impact
- Allows service members discharged for refusing the vaccine to seek reinstatement.
- Restores former rank, full back pay, benefits, and any bonus payments.
- Permits those who voluntarily left to return with no loss of status.
Topics
Summary
This order makes reinstatement available to service members who were discharged solely for refusing the COVID-19 vaccine and who request to return to military service.
It directs the leaders responsible for the military and homeland security to restore reinstated members to their former rank and provide full back pay, benefits, and any bonuses.
It also allows people who voluntarily left rather than be vaccinated to return without loss of status, rank, or pay and states the mandate was unfair.
Questions, answered
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