Former troops kicked out of military service for refusing to get the Covid-19 vaccine will obtain “special category VIP or ‘white glove’ treatment” in the event that they rejoin, the Pentagon stated Thursday along side the discharge of a memo to military service leaders. The modifications observe criticism from some social media influencers about how returning troops have been handled at military consumption amenities.
Chief Pentagon Spokesperson Sean Parnell stated in an announcement the modifications would accompany a evaluate of the Pentagon’s Covid-19 vaccine coverage that may study “what occurred, why, and what the Department will do to ensure that it never happens again.”
The memo, signed by Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness Anthony Tata, advised military service leaders to make modifications at Military Entrance Processing Stations, or MEPS, websites the place recruits endure medical screenings, aptitude exams and different ultimate checks earlier than being introduced into military service.
“As these efforts continue, the Military Departments are directed to prioritize special-category VIP treatment for affected former service members,” Tata wrote.
Special treatment for returning troops consists of accepting late arrival, being given precedence processing, and a “trained escort to expedite screening,” the memo stated.
The reinstatement of troops kicked out over the vaccine mandate has been a precedence for Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, although solely a fraction of those who had been separated have put again on a military uniform. As of May this 12 months, solely 13 folks of greater than 8,000 faraway from service had returned underneath the Pentagon’s coverage to reinstate them. Asked Friday for up to date numbers a Pentagon spokesperson stated the company had no replace to those figures.
The memo comes simply weeks after a closed-door meeting between Tata, Hegseth and different senior officers with a bunch of people that have been outspoken on social media in regards to the Covid-19 vaccine mandate.
The Pentagon began requiring that troops be vaccinated towards Covid-19 in 2021, considered one of many vaccines required by the military for its service members, significantly those deploying overseas. The mandate was rescinded in 2023 after Congress required its removing, an effort largely seen as a win for conservative lawmakers and advocates who argued it was hindering the military’s recruitment efforts, although Pentagon officers stated there was no proof to assist the declare.
Tata additionally wrote within the memo that the division would undertake a evaluate of its vaccine insurance policies that may embody wanting on the consistency of the Covid-19 vaccine mandate “with historical vaccine policy,” personnel impacts, how the mandate was managed throughout the military companies, the way it was determined which people had been exempt from the mandate and the way folks had been discharged.
Many of the modifications for reentering troops directed within the newest memo seem to deal with issues in regards to the arduous consumption processes at military amenities. Those amenities have lengthy been understaffed and stricken by prolonged timelines bringing in new recruits.
Tata stated within the memo that the Pentagon has “implemented enhancements” supposed “to ensure a professional, respectful, and efficient experience.”
The memo appeared to take some concerned within the MEPS course of without warning, with one supply conversant in MEPS telling NCS, “MEPS staffing nationwide is horrendous, there are no trained escorts.”