While the Biden administration and DoD were very loud about dropping the hammer on unvaccinated troops, the same cannot be said now.
It would seem that someone realized that if they kicked out all these service members, our country would become very vulnerable.
All of a sudden, orders are coming out to back off punishments to the unvaccinated in the Marine Corps.
This is something we have also seen in the Navy, more specifically when it comes to SEALs.
Backing Off Quietly
New "interim guidance" was recently released in a memo and very quietly posted online.
The new guidance states the "Marine Corps will not enforce any order to accept COVID-19 vaccination, administratively separate, or retaliate against Marines in the class for asserting statutory rights under the Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA)."
The memo further states, "Involuntary administrative separation processing of class members for refusing COVID-19 vaccination is suspended."
Commanders have been ordered to "pause all administrative actions related to the involuntary separation of a class member, regardless of the current status of the separation process (e.g., no orders will be given to receive the vaccine, no counselings will be issued for refusing the vaccine, no administrative separation boards will be conducted, no DD-214s will be issued)."
While the vaccination status was reason to hit troops on their fitness reports, that will no longer be permitted either.
The order prohibits vaccination status from even being mentioned on fitness reports.
That status can no longer be used to hold back promotions as well.
Marine Corps spokesperson Maj. Jay Hernandez stated, "The Marine Corps is aware of the class-wide preliminary injunction issued by a District Court judge for the Middle District of Florida preventing the Marine Corps from enforcing any order to accept the COVID-19 vaccine or administratively separating Marines who refused to receive the COVID vaccine after their religious accommodation appeal was denied.
"We are working to ensure our current guidance aligns with the injunction and will publish more information when available."
Here is my question… how long before lawsuits start flying in against the DoD and Pentagon for troops that had promotions blocked and were separated over the vaccine before this new guidance was issued?
Source: Fox News
