Navy Starts Administrative Separations for COVID-19 Vaccine Refusers

[mahatmakanejeeves]

Source: U.S. Navy

Navy Starts Administrative Separations for COVID-19 Vaccine Refusers

15 December 2021

From MC1 Mark D. Faram, Chief of Naval Personnel Public Affairs.

WASHINGTON - The Navy issued guidance to commanders to move forward with administrative separations for service members continuing to refuse the COVID-19 vaccination, while leaving the door open for those who change their minds.

The Navy released these procedures, points of contact and other details in NAVADMIN 283/21 on Dec. 15.

“In order to ensure a fully vaccinated force, U.S. Navy policy is, first, that all Navy service members receive the vaccine as directed and, second, that any who refuse the vaccine be processed for separation at the earliest possible opportunity,” said Vice Adm. John B. Nowell, Jr., the chief of naval personnel in the message.

“While the vast majority of Navy service members have already received the vaccine, it remains in the interest of the Navy to encourage remaining Navy service members to become fully vaccinated as soon as possible and, at such time, consider them for retention.”

However, service members currently refusing the vaccine who change their minds still have a path to stay Navy, even if they cannot meet the Navy’s stated vaccination deadlines.

Once these Sailors initiate their vaccination series, they can now work through their commands to report this updated status to COVID Consolidated Disposition Authority (CCDA). Unless there are extenuating circumstances, they could see administrative separations paused or stopped.

Service members with pending COVID-19 vaccination exemption requests will not be processed for separation. However, if denied they must start vaccination within five days of notification. Continued refusal after that will result in administrative processing for discharge.

{snip}


Read more: https://www.navy.mil/Press-Office/News-Stories/Article/2874249/navy-starts-administrative-separations-for-covid-19-vaccine-refusers/

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Hat tip, the Washington Examiner, which is not a newspaper anymore

It's also considered RW for LBN purposes. Still, they pointed me to the story. They got it from the source I'm using.

-- -- -- -- -- --

https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/policy/defense-national-security/navy-begins-removing-sailors-who-refused-covid-19-vaccine

Navy begins removing sailors who refused COVID-19 vaccine
by Mike Brest, Defense Reporter | | December 15, 2021 02:01 PM

The U.S. Navy has started removing sailors who refused to comply with the coronavirus vaccine mandate.

While the overwhelming majority of active-duty sailors are fully vaccinated (more than 96% ), the remaining bunch will get the boot. In a Wednesday announcement , the Navy noted that unvaccinated sailors can change their minds and get the vaccine, even after the deadline.

{snip}

[AZLD4Candidate]

1. I always thought orders needed to be followed, unless they were immoral or unlawful.

Has the military changed so much that being ordered to take a vaccine for the good of your fellows in arms is not an immoral, unlawful order?

When did people gain the right to disobey orders?

[MarineCombatEngineer]

6. They're being discharged because they refused to obey a lawful order,

so there's no change in the UCMJ about refusing to follow lawful orders.

[AZLD4Candidate]

13. Except in these idiot's minds.

Enjoy your general or dishonorable discharge, fellas.

[MarineCombatEngineer]

14. It's basically a Gen. Discharge under honorable conditions,

Here's the definition of an Admin. Discharge.

An administrative discharge is a non-punitive discharge before the completion of a Military enlistment. It is a way for the military to get someone out of service without negatively affecting any post-service benefits.

So, not much of a punishment.

[TomSlick]

22. Which is the problem.

Disobedience of a lawful order ought to draw a court-martial. I appreciate that I'm talking about a lot of courts-martial but a non-punitive discharge for willful defiance of orders sends the wrong message.

At a minimum, the more senior personnel should be charged and sent on their way with a punitive discharge. Senior rebels ought to be cashiered.

[MarineCombatEngineer]

23. I fully agree, disobeying a lawful order is a pretty serious UCMJ violation,

these clowns are getting off easy.
Back in the day, when I was still active duty, this shit would have led to a Court Martial and possible BCD.

[TomSlick]

24. I have prosecuted courts-martial for less serious offenses.

If I was prosecuting one of these clowns, I would ask the court (jury) for reduction to E-1 and a BCD for the enlisted folks and a dismissal for the officers. None of them are worth the expense to the taxpayers for confinement but all deserve to be cashiered.

[MarineCombatEngineer]

25. +100. nt

[madville]

36. That won't happen for one simple reason

It’s easier and faster to administratively discharge these folks. Just say it’s a few thousand people out of a million military members, that’s way too many man hours involved to actually take those people to trial.

[cstanleytech]

31. Aye, any a minimum they should be required to return any monies they were given as a bonus

for signing up and or agreeing to extend their time in the service not to mention any costs for special training they might have received.
Furthermore they should also be barred from being hired by the federal government in any position even through a government contractor.

[madville]

27. The only real downside of that discharge is

Last edited Thu Dec 16, 2021, 11:31 PM - Edit history (1)

That they lose their GI Bill benefit eligibility.

They are still entitled to all other VA benefits though and veterans preference in hiring from federal and many state and local governments.

[MarineCombatEngineer]

29. Yep.

The military should hammer them for disobeying a direct lawful order, that's a pretty serious violation of Article 92 of the UCMJ

https://mymilitarylawyers.com/practice-areas/ucmj-articles/ucmj-article-92-failure-to-obey-order-or-regulation/#:~:text=A%20violation%20of%20or%20failure%20to%20obey%20lawful,pay%20and%20allowances%2C%20and%20confinement%20for%202%20years.

A violation of or failure to obey lawful general order or regulation may result in a dishonorable discharge, forfeiture of all pay and allowances, and confinement for 2 years.

[TomSlick]

35. What the Marine said!

[inthewind21]

7. Kind of ironic

Here's the list of REQUIRED vaccines the army REQUIRES and did before anyone ever heard of COVID. And the other branches are pretty much the same.

https://usarmybasic.com/about-the-army/army-shots
Army Shots List


Adenovirus, Types 4 and 7
Influenza (Flu Shot) Recruits receive this shot in basic only during the designated flu season (October – March)
Measles Measles Mumps and rubella (MMR) are administered to all recruits regardless of prior history.
Meningococcal Quadrivalent meningococcal vaccine (containing A, C, Y, and W-135 polysaccharide antigens) is administered on a one-time basis to recruits. The vaccine is given as soon as practicable after in-processing or training. This vaccine is required routinely only for recruits, although its use may be indicated in other situations based on transmission potential and risk of contracting meningococcal disease.
Mumps Measles Mumps and rubella (MMR) are administered to all recruits regardless of prior history.
Polio A single dose of trivalent OPV is administered to all enlisted accessions. Officer candidates, ROTC cadets, and other Reserve Components on initial active duty for training receive a single dose of OPV unless prior booster immunization as an adult is documented.
Rubella Measles Mumps and rubella (MMR) are administered to all recruits regardless of prior history.
Tetanus-diphtheria A primary series of tetanus-diphtheria (Td) toxoid is initiated for all recruits lacking a reliable history of prior immunization in accordance with existing ACIP guidelines. Individuals with previous history of Td immunization receive a booster dose upon entry to active duty and subsequently in accordance with ACIP requirements.
Routine “Booster” Shots while in the Military
Influenza (Flu Shot) Annual, during “Flu Season” (October – March)
Tetanus-diphtheria A primary series of tetanus-diphtheria (Td) toxoid is initiated for all recruits lacking a reliable history of prior immunization in accordance with existing ACIP guidelines. Individuals with previous history of Td immunization receive a booster dose upon entry to active duty and subsequently in accordance with ACIP requirements.
Yellow Fever Navy and Marine Corps only.
When Deploying or Traveling to High Risk Areas
Hepatitis A
JE Vaccine (Japanese B Encephalitis)
Meningococcal
Typhoid
When Required by Host Country to Enter
Cholera Cholera vaccine is not administered routinely to either active or reserve component personnel. Cholera vaccine is administered to military personnel, only upon travel or deployment to countries requiring cholera vaccination as a condition for entry, or upon the direction of the appropriate Surgeon General, or Commandant (G-K), Coast Guard.
High Risk Occupational Groups
Hepatitis B
Measles
Mumps
Plague There is no requirement for routine immunization. Plague vaccine is administered to personnel who are likely to be assigned to areas where the risk of endemic transmission or other exposure is high. Vaccine may not be effective in the prevention of airborne infection. The addition of antibiotic prophylaxis is recommended for such situations.
Rabies Rabies vaccine is administered to personnel with a high risk of exposure (animal handlers; certain laboratory, field, and security personnel; and personnel frequently exposed to potentially rabid animals in a non occupational or recreational setting).
Varicella
When Deployed to Area Where In-Theater Commander Accesses a Biological Threat
Small Pox This vaccine is administered only under the authority of DoD Directive 6205.3, DoD Immunization Program for Biological Warfare Defense.
Anthrax This vaccine is administered only under the authority of DoD Directive 6205.3, DoD Immunization Program for Biological Warfare Defense.

[erronis]

15. Quite a list. I only got about 10 of these 40 years ago. Still was happy to get them.

(Not military, other service.)

I'd love to see the vaccine records of all those profiteering anti-vaxxers. No DPT? No polio, smallpox?

[Ray Bruns]

9. You don't. That is why they are throwing the bastards out.

[Twoflower]

2. Great news get the shot or get the fuck out of my Navy!

[Faux pas]

3. Kickin' With Gusto!

They're doing it to themselves

[Traildogbob]

4. Go Navy

“This” after beating Army. A happy sailer here. Close confinement on a ship is not a place for pandemic carrying assholes. Maybe Desantan’s ARMY will take them. Sailers can beat them down as well.

[IronLionZion]

5. Hoorah

Semper Fortis

[bluecollar2]

8. Bravo Zulu...n/t

[Calista241]

10. I wonder if people are vaccinated and just using this as a way to get out of the Navy.

[MarineCombatEngineer]

12. There would be a record of the vaccination on file for each and every sailor,

so I doubt that's even feasible.

[madville]

26. They could get a vaccination from somewhere else in the civilian world

They could get a vaccination anywhere else and it wouldn’t be in their military medical record.

I wanted a vasectomy when I was still active duty years ago, went through Navy medical and they wouldn’t do it because I only had one child and was 30 years old. I took a week of leave and paid for it myself at a civilian clinic, no mention of it in my military medical records of course.

I bet there are some folks not getting vaccinated as a way to get an easy administrative discharge. When I was in we had a couple of people that were so miserable they purposely smoked weed and then turned themselves in to get booted for the failed drug test lol. Also saw a guy come out as gay to get purposely thrown out back then.

[MarineCombatEngineer]

33. I hadn't thought of that, that's a real possibility. nt

[mahatmakanejeeves]

11. Another link:

US Navy To Start Discharging Sailors For Refusing Vax
December 15, 2021 Coronavirus, Military

Defense One reports:

The Navy will start processing unvaccinated active-duty sailors for separation under a new policy guidance released Wednesday. Thousands of sailors risk ending their career’s early and repaying bonuses and education fees for failing to be fully vaccinated against the coronavirus by the end of November.

“We want every sailor to receive the vaccine and stay Navy. And if a sailor gets their shot, we will honor that and make every effort to retain them,” Rear Adm. James Waters, the Navy’s director of military personnel plans and policy, told reporters. “On the other hand, those who continue to refuse the vaccine will be required to leave the Navy.”[/blockquote

Read the full article. According to the report, only 1.6% of active duty sailors have refused the vaccine. Around 3000 have requested religious exemptions but none have so far been approved. Earlier this week the Air Force also began discharging vaccine refusers.

Link to tweet

[Phoenix61]

18. I'd be willing to bet a large percentage of

them want out and this is a great way to make that happen.

[OneCrazyDiamond]

16. They should shoot them in the rear

with a covid vaccine dart as they leave.

[DanieRains]

17. We Love The Troops But They Can't Fight While On A Ventilator Or Infecting Their Squad

Vaccinations part of the military since George Washington.

It is what it is.

[Rebl2]

20. Should have been

done many months ago🤬

[keithbvadu2]

21. Wonder how many sailors on the USS Roosevelt refused the vaccine after the onboard pandemic?

Wonder how many sailors on the USS Roosevelt refused the vaccine after the onboard pandemic?

[pfitz59]

28. I was in the Navy, in a 'high-risk' category.

Pretty much got all those shots, and perhaps a few more. Never questioned the need, just figured the science was right. 40 years later I'm doing just fine.

[CarmanJohn]

30. Anyone who has Served

understands that being a Member of The United States Armed Forces is NOT a Democracy. You belong to a Dictatorship. Now don't get bent, It HAS to be that way. You WILL follow Orders. If you are given the Choice to charge that Machine Gun nest or not the Majority of right minded individuals will NOT.
As a Member of a Fighting force you bite your FEAR and you do as you are Ordered.
You do NOT want to follow Lawful Orders? Usually the Brig is where you will Land. Consider being Discharged with a Other Than Honorable a GIFT.
This is NOT Rocket Science here folks, It's called being a Member of the United States Military of which I AM a Proud Veteran OF!!
Go Navy!!

[Smackdown2019]

32. George Washington

If he was here today, they would of been cut opened with a knife and puss from an infected individual scraped across that cut. Why? He did that valley forge to save his army from disease. So, why refuse this shot over all others you received at boot camp?

[papa3times]

34. If they can't take the vaccine for

Whatever reason it's time to send them packing. Those who won't take the vaccine are MAGA chuds for the most part anyway. Gtfo and don't let the door hit you in the ass!