Seven (7) USCGA Cadets Discharged

Falcon74

Falcon74

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Seven (7) USCGA cadets were recently discharged for not accepting a vaccine that by federal law they can’t legally be required to take. Discharge DD214s have apparently been issued. As a result:
  • Discharge with less than one day notice cuts off 100% of their income
  • Two (2) cadets are homeless
  • All have been required to put their additional transportation, food, and lodging costs on their personal credit cards.
  • They were forced to leave the CGA on 8/19/22 (with less than 24 hours notice)
  • Five (5) cadets represent minorities and two (2) are Caucasian female cadets
  • Status of reimbursement for expenses incurred is currently unknown
  • One of the seven cadets was selected to receive an award as a top cadet leader. Given that the award was to be presented in October, I assume that the cadet will not be invited back to receive the award.
Retired Admirals Demand Answers Over Coast Guard Cadets Allegedly Discharged For Vaccine Exemption Requests Retired Admirals Demand Answers Over Coast Guard Cadets Allegedly Discharged For Vaccine Exemption Requests | The Daily Wire

According to Lt Gen (USAF, Ret) Rod Bishop, Chairman of the Board of Directors of STARRS, in a recent interview, “Trying to assist and having met unvaccinated cadets from all five Service Academies over the last half year, the USCG Academy has been the source of the most egregious actions toward their own service members by far.”

“They seem to have forgotten their own cadets are people first with First Amendment rights. Instead, the USCGA has pushed basic human rights aside ‘just following orders’ to force an unnecessary ‘series of shots’ that no one seriously can say is for ‘force protection’ now,” he said. “No critical thinking; no common sense; no compassion; no sense of duty to 'do the right thing,” he added.
 

ACADEMY'S STATEMENT REGARDING THE DISENROLLMENT OF SEVEN CADETS FOR REFUSING THE COVID-19 VACCINE​

  • On August 24th 2021, the Secretary of Defense determined that mandating the COVID-19 vaccine for service members is necessary to protect the military and defend the American people. The U.S. Coast Guard announced the mandatory Covid-19 vaccination requirement on August 26th, 2021. Subsequent to this announcement, fifteen cadets filed either medical exemption requests or religious accommodation requests in September 2021. Each request was evaluated on a case-by-case basis by the Coast Guard’s Office of Military Personnel Policy. The cadets were notified on March 14th, 2022 of the denial of their exemptions or accommodations and given 10 business days to file an appeal. They were informed in May 2022 that their appeals were denied by Coast Guard Headquarters and directed to report to the Coast Guard Academy clinic to receive their first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine. Four cadets chose to become vaccinated, four cadets chose to resign from the Academy, and seven cadets refused the order to become vaccinated. On June 13th, 2022, the seven cadets were informed that they were in violation of the Uniform Code of Military Justice Article 90, Willfully disobeying a superior commissioned officer, and Article 92, Failure to obey [an] order or regulation. At that time, they were given an additional five days to receive their first vaccination. On June 22nd, 2022 the seven cadets were notified of their disenrollment and afforded the opportunity to submit an appeal of that decision to Coast Guard Headquarters. On August 15th, 2022 the seven cadets were notified that their disenrollment appeals were denied by Coast Guard Headquarters, and were directed to proceed to an alternate worksite status beginning on August 19th, 2022.
    All seven cadets departed the Academy at their own convenience on August 19th 2022 throughout the day based on their individual travel arrangements; the last cadet departed around 8PM. The Coast Guard Academy staff assisted the seven cadets with Coast Guard processes to make travel arrangements. The Coast Guard Academy funded travel to the location of their choice. All seven cadets are currently residing at a safe location, having either returned to their families or are being hosted by the families of fellow cadets. While the seven cadets have been disenrolled, they have not been separated from the Coast Guard Academy and are continuing to receive cadet pay and entitlements until their separation is processed. The seven cadets will not be subject to recoupment of their education expenses.
 
The other side of the Academy's statement story follows:

Seven cadets were separated because of a vaccine which was the subject of a recent whistleblower report to Congress. 081622Whistleblower-Report-of-Illegal-DoD-Activity_15Aug22.pdf (lc.org) Admittedly, the 41-page report is a lengthy read, but the major points can be found in (easier to read/digest) Senator Johnson’ webpage. Sen. Johnson to DoD, FDA, CDC: Whistleblower Allegations about COVID-19 Vaccine... (senate.gov)

Paragraphs 4 and 5 (page 2) of the report are pretty clear in identifying why the DoD or the federal government for that matter can’t require the acceptance of an Emergency Use Authorized (EUA) product. Federal law protects those USCGA cadets that didn’t want the EUA product. USCG leadership appears to have ignored federal law.

Cadets at other service academies are protected by court orders preventing the forced acceptance of this vaccine. No court has answered the same question in reference to the USCGA. Hence, seven USCGA cadets, who wanted to stay and serve, were recently separated.

BTW, I am not either anti-VAX or pro-Vax. I do support following federal law which allows these USCGA Cadets to make an informed choice.
 
If we're into Talmudic hairsplitting you'll want to go find the documents from DHS, not DOD.
 
Falcon74 said:
Seven (7) USCGA cadets were recently discharged for not accepting a vaccine that by federal law they can’t legally be required to take. Discharge DD214s have apparently been issued. As a result:
  • Discharge with less than one day notice cuts off 100% of their income
  • Two (2) cadets are homeless
  • All have been required to put their additional transportation, food, and lodging costs on their personal credit cards.
  • They were forced to leave the CGA on 8/19/22 (with less than 24 hours notice)
  • Five (5) cadets represent minorities and two (2) are Caucasian female cadets
  • Status of reimbursement for expenses incurred is currently unknown
  • One of the seven cadets was selected to receive an award as a top cadet leader. Given that the award was to be presented in October, I assume that the cadet will not be invited back to receive the award.
Retired Admirals Demand Answers Over Coast Guard Cadets Allegedly Discharged For Vaccine Exemption Requests Retired Admirals Demand Answers Over Coast Guard Cadets Allegedly Discharged For Vaccine Exemption Requests | The Daily Wire

According to Lt Gen (USAF, Ret) Rod Bishop, Chairman of the Board of Directors of STARRS, in a recent interview, “Trying to assist and having met unvaccinated cadets from all five Service Academies over the last half year, the USCG Academy has been the source of the most egregious actions toward their own service members by far.”

“They seem to have forgotten their own cadets are people first with First Amendment rights. Instead, the USCGA has pushed basic human rights aside ‘just following orders’ to force an unnecessary ‘series of shots’ that no one seriously can say is for ‘force protection’ now,” he said. “No critical thinking; no common sense; no compassion; no sense of duty to 'do the right thing,” he added.
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I am against them being discharged, but my question for you is how do you see this as a First Amendment issue?
 
First, the reference I made to the First Amendment was actually a quote from Lt Gen Bishop, USAF (Ret), STARRS Chairman.

My personal view would be that these cadets were removed from the CGA and ordered not to speak with any member of the press, which is why their lawyers had to do the talking on national news networks for them. Apparently, the cadets were threatened with disciplinary action if they spoke. We can assume from this direct order that the CGA leadership had something to be concerned about if the cadets spoke to the American people about how they were being treated. CGA leadership couldn't gag the cadets' lawyers with any kind of threat. I would suggest that order not to exercise an individual's right to free speech is a direct violation of the Constitution's First Amendment.
 
The entire vaccination policy has become political. If it weren't, then migrants who cross the border illegally and unvaccinated would not be allowed to stay. Indeed, hundreds of thousands are shipped all across the country. It seems allowing that to continue is far more problematic to the Military and the rest of the U.S. population, than low risk, healthy Cadets. I hope they can be reinstated if that is their wish.
 
FutureAdademyDad? said:
Lists of pharmacies where the fully approved vaccines Comirnaty or Spikevax are available.


Near USCGA:

https://www.vaccines.gov/results/?z..._comirnaty_covid_19_vaccine&appointments=true


Near USAFA:

https://www.vaccines.gov/results/?z..._comirnaty_covid_19_vaccine&appointments=true


Near USMA:

https://www.vaccines.gov/results/?z..._comirnaty_covid_19_vaccine&appointments=true


Near USNA:

https://www.vaccines.gov/results/?z...a_spikevax_covid_19_vaccine&appointments=true
Click to expand...

Unfortunately, the Services have a different supply chain which is still using the EUA product. For details, see the whistleblower report referenced in an above post. The report also contains photographic evidence of a vaccine purportedly labeled Comirnaty which happens to have a lot number that confirms that it was produced in the USA under EUA authorization. The fully approved vaccines are manufactured in Europe - not the USA, probably for legal liability reasons. The mismarking seems to be fraud of some sort. See the links above for photographic evidence in the whistleblower report to Congress. Additionally, federal law has several requirements which are not being met. The greatest problem for the government is that federal law prevents the government from mandating an EUA product - end of story. Even the recently leaked report from the DoD/IG about the legality of government actions with regards to this mandate favors service members seeking waivers. I am not personally aware of any court decision that has come down in favor of the government. Service members also have the right to apply for a religious waiver. Given the number of religious waiver requests/approvals, there is evidence that the current administration has directed that all religious waivers be disapproved essentially automatically as they are submitted. The administration seems to be challenged when it comes to complying with this federal law.

Unfortunately, I know of no court decision which is applicable to the USCGA.
 
Abacab said:
The entire vaccination policy has become political. If it weren't, then migrants who cross the border illegally and unvaccinated would not be allowed to stay. Indeed, hundreds of thousands are shipped all across the country. It seems allowing that to continue is far more problematic to the Military and the rest of the U.S. population, than low risk, healthy Cadets. I hope they can be reinstated if that is their wish.
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I would agree that complying with federal law should never be considered political!
 
Hopefully if they make that reversal they do the same for all who were kicked out in years prior to don’t ask don’t tell and further modernization of views on alternative lifestyles. Perhaps if they reinstate it sets precedence to reinstate in future any drug dismissals if they legalize in future.
 
Redleg92 said:
Hopefully if they make that reversal they do the same for all who were kicked out in years prior to don’t ask don’t tell and further modernization of views on alternative lifestyles. Perhaps if they reinstate it sets precedence to reinstate in future any drug dismissals if they legalize in future.
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Very cheeky for a first post!
 
Cheeky, but not entirely wrong. The whole issue was a perceived disconnect between broad policies of following orders and getting inoculations and the specifics of this particular shot in this particular situation. Once you start accepting exceptions and retroactively letting things slide then you face a lot longer list of changed standards that you will be charged with answering. Don't Ask and pot are both lurking out there waiting to see how this is handled.
 
Korab said:
Seeing as the vaccine mandate for all military members is about to be lifted by Congress, I hope these cadets will be welcomed back with apologies and back pay. What a fiasco.
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YES! And does this mean i will not have to get my teenage son vaccinated for academy? I was planning on holding out till last possible moment hoping they would lift mandate.
 
StPaulDad said:
Cheeky, but not entirely wrong. The whole issue was a perceived disconnect between broad policies of following orders and getting inoculations and the specifics of this particular shot in this particular situation. Once you start accepting exceptions and retroactively letting things slide then you face a lot longer list of changed standards that you will be charged with answering. Don't Ask and pot are both lurking out there waiting to see how this is handled.
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No argument here.

I don't think American society can handle many more carve outs, exceptions, special considerations, loop holes, safe zones, hurt feelings, etc..

It's like a sucking vortex of "MEism"
 
cb7893 said:
No argument here.

I don't think American society can handle many more carve outs, exceptions, special considerations, loop holes, safe zones, hurt feelings, etc..

It's like a sucking vortex of "MEism"
Click to expand...
I look forward to the historic data coming out. See what the science reveals.
 
Actions to address issues related to those discharged for sexual orientation reasons have been going on for some time following the disappearance of “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy. Here’s a sample of one action.
www.npr.org

LGBTQ Vets Discharged Under 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' Have New Chance For Full Benefits

The new guidance will apply to veterans who were forced from service under the policy and given "other than honorable discharges" due to their sexual orientation, gender identity or HIV status.
www.npr.org www.npr.org

A USNA grad I knew in the mid 2000’s, Marine Corps, had been “outed” by a peer officer, so they resigned under pressure, though their performance was stellar, they were ranked #1, and had served 2 tours in Afghanistan. They had kept their personal business private, observing DADT. The reporting officer had been ranked number 3, and had been following the other officer around as they met with a same-sex civilian friend in another town miles away from base.
The Marine resigned in lieu of separation and went on to a successful career. Two years later, after the DADT was dropped, they received a letter from the Marine Corps, inviting them to return. They declined. They had been grievously hurt by their beloved Corps and were well settled into a new career and family. They still proudly claim their Marine veteran identity.
 
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