The other services are expected to follow similar procedures. The Navy has warned that sailors who refuse the shot and don’t get an exemption may have to refund bonuses and other financial payments, based on existing military justice procedures for disobeying a lawful order. Those steps may be more common in smaller units such a special operations forces who usually deploy in small numbers. Under military rules, commanders can take into account the potential impact on a unit’s mission, and reject a religious exemption if it puts performance at risk.Ĭommanders can also move service members into another job, deny them overseas deployment or limit unit access if they get an exemption or while a request is being reviewed. It unclear how widely religious exemptions will be granted. And we wouldn’t want to promise that because it wouldn’t be the same way we handle the orders violations for other offenses as well,” said Kirby. “So can we promise you that there will be absolute uniformity across the board? No. Kirby said Monday that the secretary doesn't want to tell commanders how to resolve the punitive measures, and instead trusts that they will do what is best for their units. "Each case is going to be treated specifically and individually as it ought to be,” he said. They have declined to say how many troops are still seeking an exemption or refused the vaccine.Īsked about possible variations in the treatment of those seeking exemptions or refusing the vaccine, Pentagon press secretary John Kirby said it’s up to the services. Officials say the numbers change daily, and include those who may have gotten or requested an exemption. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has called for compassion in dealings with those troops, which totals nearly 60,000 active duty service members, according to data released last week.
The military services are reporting between 1%-7% remain unvaccinated. But unlike most civilians, military personnel are routinely required to get as many as 17 vaccines, and face penalties for refusing. Military vaccination rates are higher than those of the general population in the United States and the reasons for objecting – often based on misinformation – are similar to those heard throughout the country. “Because of some of the sensitivities of this particular vaccine, I think that we just wanted to ensure that we were consistent and equitable" in meting out a punishment that would be “a repercussion of continuing to refuse a valid order.”
0 kommentar(er)
