Marine Corps removes harsh COVID vax penalties for religious accommodations

Marines who request spiritual exemption will now not be punished for his or her refusal to take the COVID-19 vaccine.
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A brand new administrative order issued by the Marine Corps has briefly paused any punishments for Marines who request a non secular exemption from receiving the COVID-19 vaccine.

The order, which was signed and posted Wednesday, directs commanders inside the Marine Corps to halt all administrative actions in opposition to Marines, regardless of the present stage of the separation course of.

The executive order acknowledged that a U.S. Federal District Courtroom in Florida issued a courtroom order on Aug. 18 that prohibited the Corps from taking “sure actions” in opposition to service members in search of spiritual exemption.

Leathernecks who assert their rights beneath the Spiritual Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA) will now not be punished for his or her refusal to get vaxxed.

Although this order stands, it is just short-term and Marines can nonetheless face separation if the order is modified or voided.

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The executive order additionally states that a Marine’s vaccination standing can't be used in opposition to them in health stories or different efficiency evaluations.

For Marines in search of promotions however had been unable to rank up due to the vaccination coverage, the brand new order brings updates however they differ for officers and enlisted personnel.

Although a Florida courtroom has issued this order, if the order is revoked for any purpose, Marines can nonetheless be subjected to separation for his or her refusal to take the vaccine.

Greater than 3,000 troops have been involuntarily separated from the navy for his or her refusal to get the vaccine for varied causes. The Marine Corps eliminated probably the most, axing 1,968 from their ranks, the Navy Occasions reported in April.

The discharge standing of troops who've been pushed out of the navy varies.

AP

About 70% of the troops separated throughout the navy have obtained common discharges beneath honorable situations, securing most of their veteran advantages. The remaining troops who had been separated obtained honorable discharges.

The reasoning for the distinction in discharge standing is unknown.

The Division of Protection has reported that greater than 1.9 million troops throughout the armed forces have been vaccinated, with barely greater than 28,000 partially vaccinated as of Sept. 14.