( Observer Network News) According to a report by the "Russia Today" website on the 15th, data released by the U.S. Department of Defense on the 13th showed that more than 260,000 U.S. military personnel are facing dismissal due to failure to complete vaccination work on time. The risk accounts for 13% of the total number of US military combat troops.
According to this data, a total of 268,858 soldiers in the U.S. Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marine Corps have been vaccinated, but have not completed the full course of vaccination. It’s important to note that these numbers do not include those who have not yet been vaccinated, meaning the number of U.S. troops who are actually at risk of being laid off may be even higher.
"Russia Today": Hundreds of thousands of US military personnel may face dismissal.
reported that for some US military personnel who have not been vaccinated, they should be able to avoid being fired if their applications for medical or religious exemptions are approved. However, Marine Corps Reservist Mike Berry said the religious exemption only applies to those who are about to retire.
Statistics cited by the U.S. far-right news website Breitbart show that although a court injunction prohibits the Navy from firing any sailors seeking religious exemptions, about 6,400 U.S. soldiers have been fired so far for refusing to take the new crown vaccine. Most were Marines. In addition, due to political considerations, the U.S. Department of Defense does not label dismissed soldiers as "dishonorable discharges." However, dismissal even at the rank of "general" may mean the loss of benefits and a record of service. Leaves stains on.
Starting last week, the US Army began to strengthen administrative proceedings against partially vaccinated and completely unvaccinated US military personnel. According to the military, starting in July, those who do not meet the regulations will no longer receive pay and will no longer be allowed to participate in "federally funded exercises and training." A statement from the military warned that those who refuse compulsory vaccination orders may also be subject to administrative measures, including dismissal.
Last week, the deadline for U.S. Army Reserves and National Guard personnel to be fully vaccinated passed, leaving 12% of Reserves (approximately 22,740 people) and 13.1% of National Guard personnel (approximately 44,000 people) Not fully vaccinated.
As for whether the practice of laying off personnel due to vaccination issues will have an impact on military preparedness, Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, tried to downplay the issue. Milley insisted that "the number of people who refuse to be vaccinated is very small" and that this problem is "controllable." He also urged US military personnel to "shut up" and get vaccinated immediately.
In February last year, U.S. soldiers were receiving the COVID-19 vaccine at the Fort Bragg base in North Carolina. (" New York Times " picture)
A recent study published in "Journal of the American Medical Association" pointed out that although it is very rare, some US military personnel who have received the new crown vaccine are suffering from serious side effects including myocarditis.
It is worth noting that at the same time that the US military was laying off personnel due to vaccine issues, the US military's recruitment work was facing difficulties. The National Broadcasting Corporation (NBC) reported on June 27 that " the Pentagon is struggling with military recruitment." Many military departments are worried that they will not be able to meet their annual recruitment targets, and the number of young Americans willing to join the military has reached the highest level in 15 years. the lowest level.
An internal Pentagon survey this year showed that only 9% of eligible U.S. citizens aged 17-24 have the intention to join the military, which is the lowest number since 2007.
This year’s U.S. military recruitment will end on September 30. So far, the U.S. Army has only completed about 40% of its recruitment goals. The U.S. Air Force plans to recruit 50,000 new pilots, but this is 4,000 fewer than in previous years.
A senior Pentagon official involved in personnel work revealed that the total number of Americans eligible to serve in the military has declined - from 29% to 23% in recent years - and the military now faces "recruiting difficulties" and "as the size of the military changes, Small, the public is increasingly unfamiliar with those in uniform, and the coronavirus pandemic has accelerated an already widening crisis.”
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