‘Possibly There’s Nonetheless Hope to Make Issues Proper’: Navy Discharged for Refusing COVID-19 Vaccine Communicate Out Forward of NDAA Vote

Many alternative service members shared the hardships they’ve endured since requesting non secular exemptions or being discharged in testimony despatched to Utah Republican Sen. Mike Lee.

Former Coast Guard service member Brett Schmitt mentioned he was “crushed” when he was discharged on September 5, 2022, after serving his nation for over 11 years. Schmitt, who requested a non secular exemption, believes faith trumps “authorities impingement” on his rights and that the vaccines can’t legally be mandated.

Now Schmitt’s household is financially in “a nasty approach,” he mentioned — and “the federal government is attempting to interrupt us much more.”

“Within the ensuing months my spouse and I welcomed child #6 to our household, born per week and a half after discharge, and we’ve but to get well financially from the break,” Schmitt shared. “We’re desperately poor presently and the federal government is attempting to recoup 4 years and three months of bonus (SRB) totaling over $13K after taking my last paycheck and go away days to recoup much more.”

Logan Pittman, who served in the USA Navy, additionally shared with Lee that he refused to adjust to the army vaccine mandate and was formally separated on March 15, 2022, after requesting a non secular exemption instantly when he discovered concerning the mandate on August 28, 2021.

Pittman mentioned he left for deployment within the first week of October, throughout which era he acquired a denial of his exemption request, and was despatched house from his deployment on March 12, 2022, from Okinawa, Japan to complete his separation at Naval Air Station Jacksonville.

“Nobody needed to maintain a gun to my head for me to lift my proper hand to ‘Swear to guard these in opposition to enemies overseas and home…’ however in fact I did it voluntarily,” he added. “For me to not get to satisfy that oath, won’t ever sit proper with me. It’s an unlucky chain of occasions, however who is aware of…. Possibly there’s nonetheless hope to make issues proper.”

A feminine service member who spoke with the Each day Sign anonymously to guard her privateness mentioned she was discharged from the Coast Guard in November 2022 after 2 years and 10 months of service for refusing to get vaccinated in opposition to COVID-19.

“My bonus is being recouped because of my discharge,” she mentioned in testimony shared with Lee’s workplace. “I sought non secular exemption in September 2021 across the time that the vaccine was mandated for us. My exemption was denied in January 2022.”

“I used to be deemed not match to sail for deployment in Feb-March of 2022,” she continued. “Later I used to be in a position to deploy once more for many of the summer season however was in the end separated this November.”

The previous Coast Guard member mentioned she was compelled to isolate and given a “plethora of destructive paperwork” all through 2021 and 2022, “uncared for and mistreated by my unit all through these quarantines and handled lower than in numerous conditions.”

As a result of she had refused to get vaccinated, she mentioned, she was denied medical remedy at her base medical facility, compelled to remain in “unsanitary quarters for isolation,” and sometimes denied meals when in isolation.

Air Power member Brian Saunders additionally objected to the vaccine on non secular grounds. He shared with The Each day Sign that his non secular lodging was stalled for 12 months as he and his pregnant spouse grappled with uncertainties about their future — in the end selecting to delivery their child at house because of fears about hospital vaccination necessities and masking.

Saunders mentioned he was barred from promotion to the rank of Captain and compelled to promote his house and transfer into his mother and father’ home with no revenue from the Air Power whereas nonetheless awaiting discharge.  

“In abstract, we’re nonetheless being held hostage by the Air Power practically 2 years after I submitted my non secular lodging,” Saunders shared with Lee. “The full monetary burden ensuing from our non secular lodging to this point is roughly $40,000.  That is devastating for our younger household, particularly since I might also lose my new job as a deputy because of the Air Power’s failure to discharge me in a well timed method.”

“There may be one phrase that sums up what has been perpetrated in opposition to the great women and men who merely reserved their rights afforded to them by the Structure,” he informed The Each day Sign. “Betrayal.”

Kentucky Republican Sen. Rand Paul, in a now viral tweet, additionally referred to as on service members who have been discharged over their vaccine refusal to share their tales. The senator has been day by day sharing these tales to attract consideration to the plight of the service members.

One active-duty Marine, Lieutenant Colonel Scott Duncan, shared in testimony with Paul that his request for a non secular exemption was denied twice. Duncan says he’s the daddy of six kids and he’s only some months away from retirement after serving within the army for nearly 20 years.

Earlier than the mandate, Duncan shared, he was slated to take command of an F-35B squadron. The Marine says he’s nonetheless on energetic responsibility however unable to retire since the USA Marine Corps has positioned all officer’s careers on “maintain” because of the preliminary injunction.

David Hamski, a former U.S. Military Captain and Airborne Firm Commander who served within the army for 9 years, shared with the senator that he was separated for refusing the vaccine and refusing to order his paratroopers to get vaccinated (Hamski additionally found he had a coronary heart situation after contracting COVID-19).

“I endured quite a few makes an attempt of coercion from my senior chain of command, together with a Main grabbing my shoulders, bodily shaking me and saying, ‘Simply get the shot! Don’t inform your spouse. This isn’t the hill to die on,’” Hamski shared.

He mentioned he was faraway from firm command on September 10, 2021, ordered to not work together together with his paratroopers, and in the end separated from the Military in July 2022.

Many of those members stay hopeful that lawmakers will take steps to rectify their conditions — to not solely halt the mandate, however to get them reinstated, and with backpay.

“The Division of Protection COVID-19 vaccine mandate has ruined the livelihoods of women and men who’ve honorably served our nation,” senators wrote in November. “Whereas the Division of Protection actually should make choices that may bolster army readiness, the results of the mandate are antithetical to readiness of our power, and the coverage should be revoked.”

“The USA merely can’t afford to discharge our courageous women and men in uniform and lose the investments we’ve made into each considered one of them due to a clumsy bureaucratic coverage,” they added. “We respectfully request that the Senate vote to treatment a coverage that adversely impacts our service members and our nationwide safety.”

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