The Army has announced that the over 60,000 National Guard and Army Reserve soldiers that remain unvaccinated against COVID-19 can’t participate in their military duties, effectively cutting them off from some of their benefits.
“Soldiers who refuse the vaccination order without an approved or pending exemption request are subject to adverse administrative actions, including flags, bars to service, and official reprimands,” an Army spokesperson said in a statement. “In the future, Soldiers who continue to refuse the vaccination order without an exemption may be subject to additional adverse administrative action, including separation.”
There are 40,000 National Guard and 22,000 Reserve soldiers who haven’t received the vaccine, making up 13% and 12% of their ranks, respectively.
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As of Jul 7, the Army had separated 1,299 active Army soldiers based on vaccination status, but it had yet to separate anyone in the Reserves or National Guard.
There were 7,767 temporary exemptions given in the National Guard and 6,457 in the Reserves, according to Army data. Only six permanent medical exemptions have been made nationally for the National Guard, without any religious exemptions. Not a single Reserve soldier has received a medical or religious exemption. Over 3,200 have pending exemptions, and the new protocol will not apply to them.
“We’re going to give every soldier every opportunity to get vaccinated and continue their military career,” Director of the Army Guard Lt. Gen. Jon Jensen said in a statement. “We’re not giving up on anybody until the separation paperwork is signed and completed.”
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Meanwhile, the Reserves have only reached 73.6% of its recruiting goal in the 2021 fiscal year. The National Guard reached 80.6% of its 2021 goal and, so far, 48.1% of its 2022 goal.
However, unvaccinated soldiers are allowed to fulfill their state active-duty orders, which are normally given by governors during short-term emergencies.
The Army has 652,005 fully vaccinated soldiers and 261,578 who are partially vaccinated.
