SU-30SM, SU-35S, and SU-34 flying in formation - Sputnik International, 1920
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US Troops Refusing COVID Vaccine May Not Be Guaranteed Veteran Benefits, Report Says

© AFP 2023 / JON CHERRYPreventative Medicine Services NCOIC Sergeant First Class Demetrius Roberson administers a COVID-19 vaccine to a soldier on September 9, 2021 in Fort Knox, Kentucky. The Pentagon, with the support of military leaders and U.S. President Joe Biden, mandated COVID-19 vaccination for all military service members in early September. The Pentagon stresses inoculation from COVID-19 and other diseases to avoid outbreaks from impeding the fighting force of the US Military.
Preventative Medicine Services NCOIC Sergeant First Class Demetrius Roberson administers a COVID-19 vaccine to a soldier on September 9, 2021 in Fort Knox, Kentucky. The Pentagon, with the support of military leaders and U.S. President Joe Biden, mandated COVID-19 vaccination for all military service members in early September. The Pentagon stresses inoculation from COVID-19 and other diseases to avoid outbreaks from impeding the fighting force of the US Military. - Sputnik International, 1920, 05.11.2021
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Earlier this week, the US Air Force revealed that some 8,500 airmen had failed to meet the 2 November deadline for receiving a vaccine against the coronavirus, with almost 5,000 people seeking a religious exemption.
US military personnel reluctant to get vaccinated against the coronavirus may not be guaranteed protections or leniency in how they are dismissed from the armed forces, Military Times reported, citing Defence and Veterans Affairs officials.
It will be local commanders who make decisions on whether to give such individuals other-than-honourable discharges - something that could potentially lead to one losing their veteran benefits.
“We see the vaccine as a readiness issue”, said Gil Cisneros, Defence Department undersecretary for personnel. “Any discharge decision is up to the individual service as to how they proceed with that”.
Cisneros said he is aware of concerns that many active-duty personnel have in regard to the vaccine mandate, but remains adamant that the mandate is needed anyway.
Earlier this week, the Air Force released vaccination statistics showing that while 95.9% of active-duty personnel and 90.5% of those in reserve have been fully vaccinated, around 8,500 troops failed to meet the 2 November deadline for getting a jab, and almost 5,000 of those are seeking a religious exemption.
A person receives a vaccine for the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) following Republican Governor Greg Abbott's ban on COVID-19 vaccine mandates by any entity, including private employers, at Acres Home Multi-Service Center in Houston, Texas, U.S., October 13, 2021. - Sputnik International, 1920, 04.11.2021
Over 8,000 Active-Duty US Air Force Troops Missed Mandatory Vaccination Deadline, Stats Shows
Cases of individuals who refuse to get a jab will be evaluated by those granting veteran benefits to weigh the “mitigating or extenuating circumstances, performance and accomplishments during their service, the nature of the infraction and the character of their service at the time of their discharge”. According to the report, vaccine refusals will not be handled differently or separately in any way.
Earlier, in September, a proposal to punish troops refusing to get vaccinated with dishonourable or other-than-honourable discharges was blocked by the US House of Representatives, with lawmakers deeming the measure too severe for the offence.
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