Covid vaccine mandate about to be lifted by Congress.

Korab

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After all the handwringing and accusations and insinuations, after all the careers ended or never allowed to begin, Congress is about to lift the vaccine mandate.

Discuss.
 
What would be the fate of the cadets, mids, and or servicemembers who were discharged or separated because of this? I think the way this will play out will be very interesting. We will most likely see lawsuits from all over.
 
Tatoos limited people from beginning careers and probably ended a few.

GED / Diploma requirements have been changed and some instances changed back.

How is this different than changing any other regulation?
It is different because for the most part, people were prevented from entering the military with those requirements in place. Nothing wrong with services making requirements to ensure a competent force that has good order and discipline. The COVID vaccine mandate is a bit different since its effects were mainly felt by those in the service (i.e. people getting discharged over it) instead of it being a barrier to entry (although there are probably some who were barred due to the vaccine refusal). Not trying to make an argument for or against the mandate. I have my own opinion on it just like everyone else.

What I think is common with a lot of regulations is that manpower needs typically drive standards for entry. During times where the military needs people (like now), you see standards relaxed and waivers get processed for a lot of things. In times of high recruiting numbers, the military can afford to have a higher bar for entry and retention.
 
Would the senate have to approve it also? If so, I wouldn't see that happening since the senate is still majority democrat. I'm not really sure how this stuff works though.
 
The cadets, mids, service members did not comply with an order from their service. I think that should be the main point IMO. When you sign up for military service you are obligated to obey commands or risk being penalized. So why why would the services bring them back?
 
The cadets, mids, service members did not comply with an order from their service. I think that should be the main point IMO. When you sign up for military service you are obligated to obey commands or risk being penalized. So why why would the services bring them back?
I think you hit it.

Failure to obey a lawful order. That's actually a UCMJ offense under Article 92. And I agree with you, I think that's the area of contention that will be held.

Short of a court-order (which I think the DOD would appeal up to the SCOTUS) I don't think they'll come back. Of course, I'd like to be wrong in this instance.
 
Agree that it was right for disobedient servicemembers to be separated and kept out. Also agree with this measure if only because military recruitment is having so many issues lately.

In the grander scheme it seems to me like accession standards need to be re-evaluated for DQs that don’t need to be DQ in order to meet recruiting quotas. For example I’m curious what the DoD will do once the federal government legalizes marijuana. However you feel about the drug you can’t deny that it’s becoming more ubiquitous in society among military age people and its usage one of many things potentially keeping some people from entering the military. Smarter people than me will decide whether there’s a way to let personnel to use it off duty or on leave without jeopardizing safety and readiness—I know I don’t want my pilots or aircrew to be stoners!
 
Elon Musk just mentioned releasing twitter files related to covid. And teased about prosecution. I think we are going to learn about the science. Maybe the mandates were wrong, and we trusted the wrong info?
 
Elon Musk just mentioned releasing twitter files related to covid. And teased about prosecution. I think we are going to learn about the science. Maybe the mandates were wrong, and we trusted the wrong info?
Musk is an experienced hype-man and noted internet troll. While I’m glad he’s making twitter’s dirty secrets public, I don’t think he knows anything about the vaccines etc that the rest of us don’t. What we’ll probably learn is how the company suppressed discussion that contradicted official narratives, which is important but I doubt anyone will be prosecuted as a result of the reports.
 
Musk is an experienced hype-man and noted internet troll. While I’m glad he’s making twitter’s dirty secrets public, I don’t think he knows anything about the vaccines etc that the rest of us don’t. What we’ll probably learn is how the company suppressed discussion that contradicted official narratives, which is important but I doubt anyone will be prosecuted as a result of the reports.
We agree to disagree.

I think it will relate to government directives to twitter. He specifically mentioned Fauci.
 
Smarter people than me will decide whether there’s a way to let personnel to use it off duty or on leave without jeopardizing safety and readiness—I know I don’t want my pilots or aircrew to be stoners!
Doesn't this apply to drinking? If we're not worried about alcohol abuse and dependency, then weed is not really different.

The experience at the Nellis AFB O'Club a long time ago would have been a lot different if the pilots had been smoking weed vs. doing shots all night. Probably for the better - fewer altercations, unwanted sexual advances, etc.
 
Doesn't this apply to drinking? If we're not worried about alcohol abuse and dependency, then weed is not really different.

The experience at the Nellis AFB O'Club a long time ago would have been a lot different if the pilots had been smoking weed vs. doing shots all night. Probably for the better - fewer altercations, unwanted sexual advances, etc.
Good point! Alcohol is always treated differently from other more harmful substances because of how normalized it is in our culture.
 
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