The short answer is yes: The President of the United States can order members of the military to take the COVID-19 vaccine. No Guard or Reserve soldiers have been approved for a religious exemption after nearly 3,000 requests. The document says that "a reported history of confirmed COVID-19 will be annotated as 'Considered Disqualifying'" and documented on their medical report. Coronavirus survivors will be barred from entering the military unless they are granted a waiver from the branch they are seeking to join, a defense official told Fox News, as the agency. The Department of Defense medical waivers are usually . Anyone diagnosed with COVID-19 must wait 28 days after diagnosis before reporting to a processing station. Related: What Does the Guard Do with 40,000 Unvaccinated Soldiers? Do Democrats need a past superstar to hold the White House in 2024? A defense official confirmed to CNN that the Pentagon is considering the ban on recruiting COVID-19 survivors. The highest number of recruits come from southern states, which are slowly starting to reopen despite the absence of a decline in infection and death rates. When most people think about the military and the coronavirus, they think of stories such as the hospital ship, USNS Comfort, deploying to New York City, or the National Guard helping with test sites, or the Army Corps of Engineers erecting temporary hospitals this past spring to handle an overload of sick patients. If soldiers, sailors, airmen, or Marines are ill with coronavirus, the flu, or something else, it can hurt their ability to fight if needed. Banning individuals with a COVID-19 history prioritizes recruits who have both the geographic and financial ability to self-isolate. While it is important for the services mitigate the continued spread of the virus, this guidance is short-sighted. This story will be updated with any response. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. The original memo stated all COVID-19 survivors were banned from serving, later clarified to state a confirmed history of COVID-19hospitalizationis a permanently disqualifying condition for entrance into the armed forces. This piece originally appeared in The Daily Signal. Those new practices include an initial screening in the recruits home state, a screening at the military entrance processing centers andthen again once they are moved to initial training facilities, with a quarantine before training begins. The Pentagon may no longer accept new recruits who have recovered from COVID-19, according to multiple reports. Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made. As the coronavirus rages on throughout parts of the United . Nathalie Grogan and Emma Moore, Center for a New American Security But the fact is that the virus is having an effect on the military, too, creating challenges for national defense. "Soldiers who refuse the vaccination order without an approved or pending exemption request are subject to adverse administrative actions, including flags, bars to service, and official reprimands," an Army spokesperson said in a statement. A sign for a COVID-19 isolation center in Markham, Ontario on Wednesday. COVID-19 Survivors No Longer Banned From Serving In US Armed Forces However if a new recruit has not yet fully recovered from COVID-19 or is still suffering from ongoing side effects, he or. However, given the limited research on COVID-19, there are likely a few factors that military medical professionals are trying to hash out when it comes to recruiting survivors: Whether respiratory damage from the virus is long-lasting or permanent, and whether that can be assessed; the likelihood of recurring flare-ups, even if someone has had two consecutive negative tests; and the possibility that one bout of COVID-19 might not provide full immunity for the future, and could potentially leave someone at a higher risk to contract it again, perhaps with worse complications. However, medical researchers have cautioned against assuming surviving COVID-19 provides full or even partial immunity to future infections. Elizabeth, 49, knows she is . Sign up for notifications from Insider! The Hill reached out to the Pentagon for comment. Are there any long-term, lasting effects? Recruits can apply for waivers for all permanently disqualifying conditions, including surviving COVID-19. WASHINGTON The Defense Department has begun barring the enlistment of would-be military recruits who have been hospitalized for the coronavirus, unless they get a special medical waiver. That group was . Are ther are there any long-term, lasting effects? As of Friday, 1,148 active-duty soldiers have been removed from the Army for failing to comply with the vaccine mandate. Donovan added that he had explained the policy earlier on Thursday morning to Senate Armed Services Committee members worried about the ban and its effects on recruiting. The Pentagon is considering banning new recruits from joining the military if they have been hospitalized for the coronavirus unless they get a waiver from the service they want to sign . Here are some of their personal stories. Army Cuts Off More Than 60K Unvaccinated Guard and Reserve Soldiers from Pay and Benefits, UN Nuclear Head Meets With Iranians Amid Enrichment Concerns, Philippine Governor, 5 Others Killed in Brazen Attack, China: Defense Boost to Meet 'Complex Security Challenges', Biden and Scholz: US, Germany in 'Lockstep' on Ukraine War, Air Mobility Command Removes Tail Numbers and Unit Info from Planes, Alarming Watchdogs, All Combat-Injured Vets Would Keep Their Full Retirement, Disability Pay Under Proposal, Better Housing, Health Care, Pay and a Call for National Service Needed to Buoy Recruitment, Enlisted Chiefs Say, 2 Commanders Among 6 Fired from Jobs at Minot Air Force Base, Veterans' Emergency Room Bills Could Get Repaid by VA Thanks to Change, The Pentagon Is Behind on Issuing Policy to Allow Cadets Who Have Kids to Remain at Service Academies, Space Force Launches New Intelligence Unit as Congress Voices Concerns over Growth, at least 22 service members, according to a study from the JAMA Network, no major religious leaders have come out against vaccines, Multiple Republican governors have vowed not to kick out Guardsmen who remain unvaccinated, SAD orders lasting up to a year to mobilize thousands of troops, The Personally Procured Move (PPM): Steps to Take, Service Members Get Special Rental and Eviction Protection, The Servicemembers Civil Relief Act - SCRA, Paris Davis, Black Green Beret in Vietnam, Finally Awarded Medal of Honor at White House, Ex-Army Private Gets 45 Years for Plot Against His Unit, Ohio Guard Quietly Removed Guardsman Guilty of Making Ghost Guns Last Year, Some Neck and Hand Tattoos OK for Airmen and Guardians Under New Policy Aimed at Helping Recruiting, Nuclear Base Fired 6 Service Members Over Failed Safety Inspection, Defense Official Says, Hawaii Congressional Delegation Asks IRS to Exempt Red Hill Families, Navy Seabee Battalion Honored in Decommissioning Ceremony, Is Deactivated After 80 Years of Building and Fighting, Navy Investigating 3 Instances of 'Hate Symbols' Aboard Destroyer, Health Net Protests $65.1 Billion Tricare Contract Award, Tricare Dental Program to Expand Choice of Carriers Under New Law, Veterans Group Pushes Cap on Attorney Fees in Camp Lejeune Water Cases Despite Political Divide on Limits, Disabled Vets Post Stunning Job Gains as Economy Remains Hot Despite Inflation, Marine Corps Axes Elite Scout Sniper Platoons, Coast Guard Relieves Commander Following Deadly Collision, Coast Guard Swimmer Recounts Dramatic Rescue of Alleged Oregon Yacht Thief and Goonies Prankster, Coast Guard Gulf of Mexico Rescue to Be Chronicled in Survival Thriller Movie, Celebrated Pearl Harbor Survivor Jack Holder Lived Large for Those Who Didn't Make It, 'Dead Space' Remake Gets Everything Right, Army Veteran Wayne Shorter Was a Titan of Jazz. Its fully capable to defend the country and protect our interests overseas despite the virus. A past COVID-19 diagnosis is a no-go for processing, according to a recently released MEPCOM memo circulating on Twitter. The story was first reported by the Military Times. If you get health care coverage through Medicaid, you might be at risk of losing that coverage over the next year . Any infectious disease, we want to make sure theyre not infectious at the time. Recruits with more severe effects will go before a medical board to determine if they can continue serving. Published May 12, 2020 10:44 PM EDT. Listen to the full conversation f View All Reports Meghann Myers is the Pentagon bureau chief at Military Times. One crewmember passed away from the virus. The vaccination deadline for active-duty members of the armed services has passed for the Air Force, Navy and the Marine Corps. She covers operations, policy, personnel, leadership and other issues affecting service members. While the Navy got the ship back to sea aftertwo months, overall operational readiness in the Pacific was impacted while the carrier was pier-side in Guam. A1.3: Yes, telework-ready military members, who can perform appropriate military duties remotely, may be assigned to an alternate duty location in their residence or government quarters. To be sure, COVID-19 has shown to be a virus with enormous capacity to inflict damage on those with severe cases. Greg Abbott issued an executive order in October banning all state entities, including private employers, from enforcing vaccine mandates. Sinai's coronavirus recovery facility takes survivors' suffering seriously, she says. contracted COVID-19 from enlisting or earning a military commission, Pentagon memo contradicts Espers year-end coronavirus vaccine goal, per report, Women in the military: Moving beyond firsts, Ex-soldier, a neo-Nazi, gets 45 years for plot to ambush his own unit, Issues with the Armys Europe-based equipment trigger readiness alarms, Veterans Affairs drops mask requirement for all agency medical offices, Tax scams How to report them Money Minute, Capitol Hill weighs action on two controversial topics: medical marijuana and abortion, Lockheed wins hypersonics contract | Defense Dollars, Go inside a secret nuclear fallout bunker sealed for decades, How the Marine Corps is preparing for era of contested logistics, Perennial pilot shortage puts Air Force in precarious position, Pentagon again denies helping Ukraine attack targets inside Russia. Norfolk Southern train derails in Springfield, Ohio, At least 12 dead after winter storm slams South, Midwest, Trump speaks at CPAC after winning straw poll, Memphis Grizzlies star Ja Morant to "take some time away" from the team after allegedly brandishing a gun in a club, How Paul Murdaugh testified "from the grave" to help convict his father, Man charged for alleged involvement in 2 transformer explosions, Promising drug could provide alternative to statins, new study finds, Iran to allow more inspections at nuclear sites, U.N. says, NTSB to investigate in-flight turbulence that left 1 passenger dead, Coronavirus pandemic tests U.S. military planning, Flu and COVID combo shots won't be ready this year, FDA official says, White House pushing Congress to pass funding to combat pandemic-related fraud, FBI chief says agency feels pandemic likely started with Chinese lab leak. Registration on or use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Service. CNN . Available Downloads. It is unclear if DoD plans to revise the guidance once more information is known about COVID-19. The official, citing the new guidance, explained that "individuals diagnosed or confirmed with COVID-19 but not hospitalized are medically qualified to process for accession 28 days following home isolation," but those "individuals diagnosed or confirmed with COVID-19 and hospitalized are medically disqualified for accession, subject to further review of hospitalization/comorbidity records, and waiver by a Service Medical Waiver Authority.". The Department of Defense medical waivers are usually required for. The official told the outlet the guidance is being put in place because there is. Potential recruits can apply for waivers for any disqualifying medical condition, but the memo does not give guidance for what would lead to an exemption for someone diagnosed with COVID-19. The official told the outlet the guidance is being put in place because there is little understanding of the long-term effects of the virus. There are certainly more in each of the identified categories. The move comes as the services prepare for a surge of post-graduation recruits during the summer and fall high season. As of now, Guardsmen are barred only from attending federally funded drills and other training events, which make up the bulk of their service. Stephen Lopez didn't think he needed to be admitted to the . Copyright 2023 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. Finland offers Covid-19 vaccinations to everyone over the age of 12. Furthermore, geographic breakdown of infection rates spell long term difficulty for recruiting commands. The Pentagon has raced over the past several months to set up new protocols to prevent any recruit from bringing coronavirus into the military as the pandemic overtook the country. As the Defense Department negotiates its way through the coronavirus pandemic and its fallout, military entrance processing stations are working with new guidance when it comes to bringing. In recent weeks, new trainees have been 100-percent tested for COVID-19 before starting training. As of July 1, 13% of the Army Guard and 12% of the Reserve is unvaccinated. The memo prompted howls of disbelief on social media. The fact is that the virus is having an effect on the military, too, creating challenges for national defense. But exemption approvals are rare. COVID long-haulers are killing themselves as symptoms become too painful to bear but support groups offer relief. I agree that more research is needed to study the long-term effects of coronavirus on the human body. Soldiers are required to be innoculated against at least a dozen other ailments, including the flu and hepatitis. The long-term impact may mean many soldiers would be forced to leave, a devastating outcome especially in the middle of a recruiting crisis as Defense Department officials struggle to fill the ranks. Download "Covid-19 and the Military: Maintaining Operations While Supporting Civil Society" 364kb. But Jonathan Moreno, a professor of medical ethics and health policy at the University of Pennsylvania, says the Biden administration's approach . This spring, the aircraft carrierUSS Theodore Roosevelthad a coronavirus outbreak aboard ship that sickened more than 1,000 sailors of nearly 5,000 crew members. So far, it has made more than 260 recommendations. 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. If an applicant seems likely positive for the coronavirus, they can return to the MEPS if they're symptom-free after 14 days. On April 13, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued research guidelines for assessing CP as a potential COVID-19 treatment and the American Red Cross is currently seeking blood plasma donors who have fully recovered from novel coronavirus infections. Getty Images. But SAD duties do not qualify Guardsmen for federal benefits or retirement -- effectively shutting them out of all of the military's service incentives other than a paycheck. Only six Guard soldiers across all states and territories have permanent medical exemptions for the vaccine, out of 53 who requested one, according to Army data. barring the enlistee if they had beenhospitalized due to the illness, Nevada Democrats oust incumbent, elect unity candidate as party chair, Judith Heumann, mother of disability rights movement, dead at 75, Michigan judge rules Oxford schools, staff cannot be sued for 2021 mass shooting, Trump frames 2024 as existential fight: This is the final battle, Former Trump aide Kellyanne Conway to divorce husband after 22 years, US can help Uzbekistan build resilience against Russia & China, Former defense chiefs say number of incarcerated veterans is concerning, US announces new $400 million Ukraine security aid package, Biden awards Medal of Honor to Vietnam vet among first Black Special Forces officers, Top Ukrainian intelligence official: Russia will run out of military tools by spring, FBI Dir accuses China of obfuscating Covid investigation, Poll finds Ron DeSantis top choice for 2024 GOP nominee, Pence gives further hint that 2024 decision is coming: Different times call for different leadership, Marianne Williamson officially launches long-shot bid for 2024, What Biden might try next if his student loan forgiveness plan is struck down. Additionally, the memo lays out guidelines for handling possible and confirmed coronavirus cases in applicants. As Americans, these tough times will likely improve the resilience of both our militaryand the nation. As public health experts and researchers race to find treatments, develop and vaccine and generally study the latest coronavirus, there is still a dearth of information on its short- and long-term effects. If soldiers, sailors, airmen, or Marines are ill with coronavirus, the flu, or something else, it can hurt their ability to fight if needed. On paper, the only thing an unvaccinated Guard soldier is qualified for now is state active-duty orders, a comparatively rare tool for a governor to activate their Guard for short-term emergencies such as hurricane relief and responding to domestic disturbances. In the meantime, he said, the policy is to look at each recruit on a case-by-case basis. Three things to know about what critics are calling Mississippis Jim Mike Lindell calls DeSantis a Trojan Horse, Twitter discloses another possible government censorship effort, Legal experts say Fox News on shaky legal ground in Dominion lawsuit, Trump reigns supreme at a diminished CPAC, Judiciary Democrats go after GOP whistleblowers in FBI probes, Texas property tax bill excludes divorced, LGBTQ couples from getting relief, Manchin indicates opposition to Biden lands nominee over internal memo.