According to a report in the New York Post, the US Army is recalling former soldiers who were sacked after refusing to be vaccinated against the COVID-19 virus. The army is writing to ex-soldiers, pushing them to seek re-enlistment. The army’s reversal comes nearly a year after Congress compelled the Pentagon to reverse its order requiring all troops to undergo the COVID-19 vaccine. “As part of the overall Covid mandate rescission process mandated by Congress, the Army this month mailed the letters to approximately 1,900 individuals who had previously been separated,” Bryce Dubee, the army spokesman was quoted as saying by the publication.
About 8,000 soldiers were discharged during the height of the coronavirus outbreak
Only 19 of the 1,900 letters sent have returned to active duty, but the army is confident that more will return as word spreads. Former soldiers are encouraged to contact a recruiter in the Army, Army Reserve, or National Guard. Notably, about 8,000 soldiers were discharged during the height of the coronavirus outbreak for adhering to their pro-choice stance. It is unclear whether the re-hired soldiers will be returned to their previous job profiles. Furthermore, there is no set of criteria for re-entry into the service, but the Post noted that candidates will be assessed on a case-by-case basis.
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin issued a letter in August 2021 requiring personnel to be vaccinated. While the majority followed the command, some questioned the efficacy of the newly minted vaccines and refused to comply. Republicans, on the other hand, argued that the decision would be detrimental to the military in the long run. The mandate was in effect for 15 months until being repealed due to a reduction in COVID-19 numbers. The United States Army is experiencing a shortage of personnel. The number of active-duty soldiers dropped from 485,000 in late 2021 to roughly 452,000 in 2023. The army’s recruitment board fell 10,000 shy of its 65,000 hiring goal in 2023 alone.