Pentagon Considers Huge Concession For Discharged Anti-Vax Service Members

It took far too long, but unvaccinated service members are finally starting to be vindicated by the very military that treated them like second-class citizens during the COVID-19 hysteria.

With last year’s National Defense Authorization Act, the Pentagon was forced to repeal its vaccine mandate, paving the way for thousands of discharged service members to finally clear their names and potentially return to the jobs they love.

Of course, that’s not enough on its own after the Defense Department deprived them of income for months. Amid mounting pressure, the Pentagon confirmed that it was at least considering demands to provide these men and women the back pay they deserve.

As Yahoo explained:

“All Service members and Veterans may apply at any time to the appropriate Discharge Review Board or Board for Correction for Military/Naval Records if they believe that there is an error or injustice in their records-to include those that were separated by the vaccine mandate,” Pentagon spokesperson Maj. Charlie Dietz told Fox News Digital in a statement Friday.

“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,” he added.

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin officially repealed the pandemic-era policy on Tuesday after Congress included it in the annual defense spending bill in December.

Republican congress members are seeking to help discharged troops get reinstated or an honorable discharge.

Critics of the vaccine mandate have long called on the military to provide back pay to these discharged service members.

If the military COVID vaccine mandate has officially ended, everyone who was discharged for not taking it should be reinstated with back pay and an apology.

— Tim Young (@TimRunsHisMouth) January 11, 2023

Every federal employee and military member who was forced to leave their job because of the COVID vaccine mandate should be reinstated with back pay.

— Irene Armendariz-Jackson (@BorderIrene) January 10, 2023

Last month, I led 10 colleagues in demanding @SecDef ensure that all service members wrongfully dismissed for refusing the vax receive FULL BACK PAY & REINSTATEMENT.

Eliminating the #COVID military vax mandate was a win, but we won't stop until these members are made whole.

— Rick Scott (@SenRickScott) January 11, 2023

Elections have consequences: Republicans took House & forced the Biden administration to end the covid shot mandate for military. Next step rehire all who were fired with back pay. And take back all taxpayer profits from Moderna & Pfizer for covid shots because they don’t work.

— Clay Travis (@ClayTravis) January 11, 2023

Even wishy-washy Mike Pence thinks it’s a good idea.

Here’s what The Hill reported:

Pence, in a Wednesday interview with The Hill, called it “unconscionable” that some troops were put in a position to decide between serving their country and complying with the vaccine mandate, which was instituted in August 2021. The mandate was rescinded through a bipartisan defense policy bill signed into law late last year.

“I think it was unconscionable that the Biden administration mandated the vaccine on members of the armed forces of the United States, and I celebrate Congress’s recent decision to rescind that mandate, but that doesn’t go far enough,” Pence said.

“I think now that Secretary Austin has implemented what Congress passed into law, lifting the vaccine mandate on members of our armed forces, now I’m calling on the Biden administration and the Pentagon to reinstate every man and woman that was discharged from our armed forces because they refused to take the vaccine, and give them 100 percent back pay for the time after they were discharged,” Pence continued.

And here’s White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre calling the mandate repeal a “mistake.”