US Navy Members To Be Discharged If Not Vaccinated

If a US Navy sailor doesn’t get the COVID-19 vaccination, they will be discharged and may face loss of education benefits, promotions, and bonus pay.

In late August, the Department of Defense mandated that all military service members get inoculated. “In order to ensure a fully vaccinated force, U.S. Navy policy is to process for separation all Navy service members who refuse the lawful order to receive the COVID-19 vaccination and don’t have an approved exemption,” a statement read from the NAVADMIN on Monday.

If a sailor is discharged solely for refusing the shot, they could qualify for a general discharge under honorable conditions.

By Nov. 14, active-duty sailors were supposed to have received the vaccine so that they would be fully vaccinated by November 28. By December 14, individuals in the Navy reserve should have received their last dose.

There have only been six permanent medical exemptions that have been approved. Furthermore, the Navy hasn’t accepted any religious exemption requests.