WASHINGTON — The Military has reenlisted greater than 23 troopers who had been discharged for refusing the COVID-19 vaccine, officers mentioned Monday, dashing to implement President Donald Trump’s order that troops be rehired and given again pay.
Three individuals rejoined lively responsibility Military service, and greater than 20 got here again both to the Nationwide Guard or the Reserve, the Military mentioned. The troopers have signed their contracts and had been sworn in, and the lively responsibility troops had been reporting to their models, the Military mentioned.
Not one of the different providers has accomplished reenlistments but, however all are reaching out to former troops. The Marine Corps, Air Pressure, Military and Navy arrange new web sites on Monday to supply data for service members trying to reenlist. And they’re sending letters and emails and making calls to those that had been discharged.
Trump has argued that the vaccine mandate wrongly pushed troops out and recommended that many would return. In an govt order signed per week after he took workplace, Trump mentioned the vaccine mandate price the navy “a few of our greatest individuals” and he vowed to “rehire each patriot who was fired from the navy with … backpay.”
Those that could have been attracted by the supply of again pay will probably get far much less cash than they initially thought when Trump introduced his plan. Underneath the small print of the Pentagon supply, any wages earned throughout their time as civilians could be deducted from the again pay whole, together with different funds they might have obtained.
The Pentagon made the COVID-19 vaccine necessary in August 2021 for all service members, together with these within the Nationwide Guard and Reserve. Then-Protection Secretary Lloyd Austin mentioned getting the vaccine was vital to sustaining a wholesome, prepared drive. The Pentagon dropped the mandate in January 2023.
The preliminary reenlistments come because the Pentagon final week formally elevated the brand new minimal service dedication from two to 4 years for these discharged for refusing a lawful order to take the vaccine.
A Feb. 7 memo despatched to the secretaries of the navy providers mentioned troops could be required to enroll in two years. However a memo signed April 1 by Jules Hurst III, who’s doing the job of protection undersecretary for personnel, mentioned “reinstatement is not going to be afforded to those that are unwilling or unable to return to lively service or lively standing, as relevant, for 4 years.”
The Military mentioned the majority of the troopers who reenlisted had been these ordered out for refusing the shot, and so they signed on for 4 years. They are going to be entitled to get some again pay. A number of, nonetheless, left the Military voluntarily to keep away from the shot, so they’re allowed to reenlist for 2 years and won’t get again pay.
In response to the brand new memo, there may be an exception for anybody who would have been eligible for retirement inside two years of the date they had been initially discharged. These service members can also reenlist for no less than two years.
Roughly 8,200 troops had been discharged for refusing to obey the vaccine order. They’ve been allowed to rejoin since 2023, however that didn’t embrace any again pay. Simply 113 reenlisted.
The Military and Marine Corps have been sending out emails, texts and cellphone calls to service members for a number of weeks. The Navy and the Air Pressure had been ready for the extra steerage.
In response to Military spokesman Christopher Surridge, about 400 troopers have inquired up to now concerning the reenlistment program. Of these, about 100 are within the utility course of. The Military didn’t have estimates on how a lot it has given the troopers in whole again pay.
As of Friday, 472 Marines have indicated curiosity in studying extra about returning. The Navy mentioned a few half dozen sailors had up to now expressed curiosity or sought extra data, and the Air Pressure mentioned it had not but gotten any suggestions from service members.
The restricted curiosity displays what service leaders mentioned early on, which was that many troops used the vaccine as a cause to depart and have moved on with their lives.
These eligible for again pay may get an quantity that features their primary wage, bonus funds, cost-of-living allowances and a few well being profit prices. However that whole can be lowered by any wages, veterans advantages, separation funds, money owed and different quantities that had been earned throughout that point.
Service members must present verified tax data and different paperwork as a part of the method.
In response to the memo, the providers should present every individual with an estimate of the quantity of again pay they’ll obtain. Service members will then have 60 days to resolve whether or not to reenlist.
Everybody who desires to reenlist should meet all navy requirements, together with well being, health and ethical necessities. Service members have till Feb. 28, 2026, to hunt reinstatement.
