After the Biden Administration authorized COVID-19 vaccine mandates in August for members of the United States military, many service members, including “a large group” of Navy SEALs, face the possibility of not being deployed for failing to comply with the newly-issued vaccination requirements.
The story: According to lawyers representing Navy SEALs, military officials informed a large swath of frogmen that they will not be deployed if they fail to receive the COVID-19 vaccine, regardless of whether they qualify for religious or medical exemptions.
In early August of 2021, top military leaders disseminated a memo to troops outlining the necessity of having a fully vaccinated military force.
“To defend this Nation, we need a healthy and ready force,” Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said at the time, indicating that deadline would be sometime in September.
In detail: Now, facing the vaccine mandate deadline, a number of service members intend on opposing the requirement, particularly because they say they have been told they will not be deployed without a COVID-19 vaccination, even if they qualify for a medical or religious exemption.
JAG lawyer R. Davis Younts, who represents some of the Navy SEALs opposing the mandate, articulated that many service members oppose taking a vaccine that was developed by testing on fetal tissue.
“There are absolutely Christians who are pro-life that have concerns and want to have their questions answered about the development of the vaccine,” Younts explained.
“My clients include several Navy SEALs who are a small part of a large group of SEALs and other military members who are being asked to choose between their faith and their ability to serve our nation,” Younts added.
Faced with the deadline to get the vaccine, Younts requested on behalf of his clients a delay in enforcing the mandate until they can settle the issue.
“My clients need time, and we are seeking at least a 90-day extension to vaccine mandate compliance deadline they have been given,” Younts said.
Worth noting: Proponents of the vaccine mandate point out that this is commonplace in the military, and members are routinely required to adhere to vaccine protocol.
Nevertheless, if military members do refuse the COVID-19 vaccine, many lawmakers, including Senator Roger Marshall (R-Kan.), believe military members should be treated honorably as they exit.
“As a physician and veteran who is confident that the vaccine has saved countless lives, I believe vaccinating our service members against COVID-19 is an important effort; however, whether or not to receive the vaccine should be a personal choice between an individual and their doctor,” stated Marshall, who is also a medical physician. “Service members who refuse to get vaccinated, and are subsequently separated from the service, should not receive anything other than an honorable discharge.”
“There is no question about it: American heroes should not be treated as felons because of their personal medical choices,” Marshall concluded.
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