The Department of Defense has announced it is formally ending the COVID-19 vaccine mandate for the U.S. Military and the National Guard but did not provide any signal as to whether those discharged due to having refused the vaccine would have any chance of being re-enlisted.
“No individuals currently serving in the Armed Forces shall be separated solely on the basis of their refusal to receive the COVID-19 vaccination if they sought an accommodation on religious, administrative, or medical grounds,” Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin wrote in a memorandum (pdf) dated Jan. 10.
“The Military Departments will update the records of such individuals to remove any adverse actions solely associated with denials of such requests, including letters of reprimand,” Austin said in the memo….