DOD Prepares Invitation to Bring Back Troops Separated for Refusing COVID Vaccine

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Defense Department plans to invite the nearly 8,000 active duty and reserve service members who were involuntarily separated from service for refusing to take the COVID-19 vaccine, as well as those who left voluntarily to avoid the vaccine mandate, back into uniform at the same rank they held when they separated.

President Donald J. Trump signed an executive order on Jan. 27, 2025, regarding reinstating service members discharged under the department's COVID-19 vaccine mandate.

As part of the executive order, active duty and reserve service members who were discharged solely for refusing to receive the COVID-19 vaccine may request reinstatement to their former rank.

The Defense Department rescinded the mandate to take the COVID-19 vaccine on Jan. 10, 2023.

Last week, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth directed the undersecretary of defense for personnel and readiness to provide guidance to the military departments on how to proceed.

https://www.defense.gov/News/News-Stori ... vid-vacci/