Unvaccinated U.S. soldiers will be barred from reenlistment, promotion

Vaccines in DOD
Photo credit Photo by Lance Cpl. Brian Bolin Jr.

A Nov. 16 memo signed by Secretary of the Army Christine Wormuth minces few words as to what will happen to members of the Army, Army National Guard, and Army Reserves who decline the COVID-19 vaccination.

With the December deadline for active-duty soldiers to be vaccinated fast approaching, the memo states that troops who refuse will be precluded from, "reenlistment, reassignment, promotion, appearance before a semi-centralized promotion board, issuance of awards and decorations, attendance at military or civilian schools, application for or use of tuition assistance, payment of enlistment bonus or selected reenlistment bonus, or assumption of command."

Podcast Episode
KNX All Local
Edison power outages impacting thousands of customers; Firefighters ready in case winds whip up fires; Gas prices at record levels
Listen Now
Now Playing
Now Playing

Soldiers will also be flagged with a General Officer Memorandum of Reprimand unless that soldier is pending a decision regarding a medical or religious exemption from the mandatory vaccine.

Army memo
Photo credit Courtesy of the U.S. Army

The stipulations laid out in the memo effectively end the career of soldiers who decline to get vaccinated.

Close to two-thirds of the U.S. Army is currently fully vaccinated. Approximately 1.5 million service members are fully vaccinated in the overall force.

Follow KNX 1070 Newsradio
Twitter  | Facebook | Instagram

LISTEN on the Audacy App
Sign Up and Follow Audacy
Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

Featured Image Photo Credit: Photo by Lance Cpl. Brian Bolin Jr.