In a move mirroring similar efforts by the Army, the U.S. Air Force has reportedly sent letters to former service members who were separated from the military due to their refusal of the now-rescinded COVID-19 vaccine mandate. Obtained by the Daily Caller News Foundation, one such letter addressed the recipient by name and offered them an opportunity to rejoin the service.
The letter, received by a former Air Force service member on Sunday, informs recipients that they can request amendments to their service records, reflecting honorable discharges, and seek reentry into the Air Force. It highlights the rescindment of the vaccine mandate by the Secretary of Defense on January 10, 2023, and by the Secretary of the Air Force on January 23, 2023.
The correspondence advises former airmen to submit requests for corrections to their personnel records, including discharge characterizations, through the Air Force Discharge Review Board or the Air Force Board for Correction of Military Records. To facilitate the reenlistment process, the letter recommends contacting a local Air Force recruiter.
While the exact number of letters sent and the timeframe remain unclear, the Air Force’s initiative aligns with the Army’s similar outreach to discharged soldiers. Approximately 1,900 letters were sent by the Army to former soldiers who were discharged for refusing the COVID-19 vaccine.
Between February 2022 and January 2023, the Army discharged 1,903 active-duty soldiers for vaccine refusal, according to Maj. Shahin Uddin, an Army spokesperson. Uddin confirmed the authenticity of the Army letter, stating that it marked the first direct outreach to former soldiers.
The letters aim to address the challenges faced by both the Army and the Air Force in meeting recruiting goals for fiscal year 2023, contributing to what is considered the worst recruiting crisis since the inception of the all-volunteer military. Despite Congress mandating the Pentagon to overturn the COVID-19 vaccine mandate in the 2023 defense bill, no remedies were initially provided for discharged or exempt-seeking service members.
In response to the situation, former soldiers have the option, as confirmed by Army policy from February, to seek corrections to their service records. The success of these letters in reenlisting former soldiers remains to be seen, with only 19 out of 1,903 discharged soldiers rejoining as of September 9.
During a February hearing, Department of Defense and service officials clarified that individuals discharged for vaccine refusal could seek upgrades to their service records. This would make them eligible for post-service benefits not available to those with other-than-honorable discharges.
Former Undersecretary of the Air Force Gina Ortiz-Jones explained that individuals with general discharges instead of honorable ones would need to petition for an upgrade before engaging with a recruiter. Ortiz-Jones mentioned that 610 airmen were separated for refusing the COVID-19 vaccine. Former DOD official Gilbert Cisneros informed Congress that troops were dismissed for “refusing a lawful order.”
