The
Department of Defense
is “exploring” the possibility of providing back pay to former
U.S. service members
who were separated over the
coronavirus
vaccine mandate.
Defense Secretary
Lloyd Austin
mandated all U.S. military members get the initial vaccine back in August 2021, and he rescinded the policy on Tuesday after Congress repealed it in this year’s
National Defense Authorization Act
. While unvaccinated service members are no longer at risk of getting involuntarily separated following Austin’s memo earlier this week, it did not allow for those people to rejoin the service or receive back pay.
“Regarding back pay, the Department is still exploring this and will provide its views on legislation of this nature at the appropriate time and through the appropriate process,” Pentagon spokesman Maj. Charlie Dietz told the Washington Examiner on Friday.
Politico
reported Dietz’s comments.
The department separated roughly 8,400 service members who refused to get the vaccine or get an exemption request approved while the policy was in effect.
GOP BILL GRANTS SERVICE MEMBERS DISCHARGED OVER VACCINE MANDATE EDUCATION BENEFITS
Austin noted that over 2 million service members, or 96% of the active duty and reserve forces, have been fully vaccinated to meet the mandate’s now-defunct requirement. The secretary also said the department would continue to encourage its people to get the vaccine.
While service members may not be discharged for not receiving the vaccine, these people could still be barred from certain deployments.
“Certainly commanders do have a responsibility to ensure that if they’re sending forces to a place that requires a vaccine that that’s a situation that will be addressed, you know, on a case-by-case basis,” Pentagon spokesman Brig. Gen. Patrick Ryder said on Thursday. “But you know, we have a responsibility for the health and welfare of our forces. And so, you know, again, depending on the situation and the circumstances, it is incumbent on commanders to ensure that they’re doing what they need to do to make sure those forces are ready.”
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER
Republicans frequently derided the mandate for service members and actively worked to end it despite Austin and President
Joe Biden’s
support for it. They celebrated the inclusion of the amendment to rid the DOD of the mandate in the NDAA, though many argued that there was more to be done for those service members who left the service over the requirement, such as back pay and reinstatement.
