Last August, Defense Secretary Lloy Austin issued a memo that called for mandatory vaccinations against COVID-19 for all U.S. troops. At the time, there had reportedly been more than 80,000 unvaccinated service members.
The Biden Administration has always completely railed against any amendment that would ensure any military member has the ability to get an honorable discharge, instead of the punitive dishonorable discharge.
“The Administration strongly opposes section 716, which would detract from readiness and limit a commander’s options for enforcing good order and discipline when a Service member fails to obey a lawful order to receive a vaccination,” the White House argued against the provision. “To enable a uniformed force to fight with discipline, commanders must have the ability to give orders and take appropriate disciplinary measures.”
The military periodical Vet Verify goes on to explain how a dishonorable discharge can be totally devastating for service members:
A dishonorable discharge is a punitive discharge rather than an administrative discharge. It can only be handed down to an enlisted member by a general court-martial. Dishonorable discharges are handed down for what the military considers the most reprehensible conduct. This type of discharge may be rendered only by conviction at a general court-martial for serious offenses (e.g., desertion, sexual assault, murder, etc.) that call for dishonorable discharge as part of the sentence. With this characterization of service, all veterans’ benefits are lost, regardless of any past honorable service. This type of discharge is universally regarded as shameful, and the social stigma attached to it makes it very difficult to obtain gainful post-service employment. Additionally, US federal law prohibits ownership of firearms by those who have been dishonorably discharged. In most cases, a person who receives a dishonorable discharge loses the right to vote and the right to receive government assistance of any kind. They cannot obtain a bank loan and they are unable to find work at the state or government level. Finding gainful civilian employment is also an arduous task for someone with a DD as most states now require employers to conduct background checks and the results of military records and discharges are often disclosed. Going to college is another pitfall because government loans and grants are unavailable for anyone with a DD. This is a permanent record that will follow the individual for the duration of their lives anywhere in the world.
There are plenty of American service members who are still serving who are reportedly extremely stressed about the potential of rejecting the COVID-19 vaccine and being dishonorably discharged. The Liberty Counsel, which is a self-described “Christian ministry that proclaims, advocates, supports, advances, and defends the good news that God in the person of Jesus Christ paid the penalty for our sins and offers forgiveness and eternal life to all who accept him as Lord and Savior.”
This organization is still claiming that they have been inundated with heart-rending pleas for help from military members who are being ordered to get the COVID shots or face discipline.”
“A United States Marine who served in Afghanistan during Operation Freedom Sentinel and Operation Southern Vigilance is facing dishonorable discharge if he does not get the COVID shots,” the report alleged. “This service member graduated as the Honor Graduate of the class in a course meant for Corporals and Sergeants and is currently serving as an E4 (Corporal).”
This Marine has been previously diagnosed with two heart conditions: arrhythmia and right bundle branch blockage. “Taking this shot simply isn’t an option for this Marine due to the side effects of blood clots and heart inflammation being seen,” according to the Liberty Counsel.
“The military personnel informed the Marine that the only way for a medical waiver was that the diagnosis would have to be congenital heart failure,” the report said. “He is also being told there are no religious exemptions.”
The anonymous Marine corporal told Liberty Counsel, “If I don’t stand for what I believe in, I could never look at myself in the mirror again. This is everything I’ve fought for and taught my Marines and everything our Founding Fathers stood against. This is completely unconstitutional and goes against more than one Amendment.”
Last month, Sens. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), James Lankford (R-Oklahoma), Roger Marshall (R-Kansas), and Tommy Tuberville (R-Alabama) introduced the COVID-19 Vaccine Dishonorable Discharge Prevention Act so that they could bar the Department of Defense from dishonorably discharging service members if they opt not to receive the COVID vaccine.
Cruz did his part by lashing out at President Joe Biden and the rest of his administration for threatening American military members with a dishonorable discharge if they elect not to get the COVID-19 vaccine.
“It’s an insult to our servicemen and women,” Cruz said.
In August, Representative Thomas Massie (R-Kentucky) hosted a roundtable discussion with numerous anonymous members of the U.S. military so that they could hear their concerns about the vaccine mandates.
There is a major with 17 years of active service who informed Massie that he had already had COVID-19 and he had recovered. However, this officer is afflicted with a heart condition and is gravely concerned about taking the COVID-19 vaccine.
“Privately I’ve been told that I qualify for a medical exemption, but the pressure put on the medical staff is such that none of the doctors are willing to officially sign off,” he revealed.
