Vaccine Update: Air Force Grants Religious Exemptions; Wormuth Expects Few Army Discharges

February 9, 2022

The Air Force has allowed nine airmen to opt out of DOD’s COVID-19 vaccine mandate for religious reasons, it announced Tuesday, as Air Force Times reported.

“The Department of the Air Force determined the service members’ accommodations could be supported with no impact to mission readiness,” Air Force spokesperson Ann Stefanek told the outlet.

Army Secretary Christine Wormuth said Tuesday that she expects it will be “a fairly small number of people” within the Army who will be separated for vaccine refusal.

“I think as people are faced with the prospect of actually being asked to leave the Army, some of them are going to take the vaccine who might not have otherwise,” she said at a Center for a New American Security event, according to Stars and Stripes.

Wormuth has ordered commanders to begin separating from service those soldiers who refuse the shots and do not have pending or approved exemptions.

Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Brian Bolin Jr.

February 9, 2022

Recent News

Three Leaders Named Defense Community National Champions

Three Leaders Named Defense Community National Champions

The Association of Defense Communities named three local leaders as national Defense Community Champions: Jana Evans, San Antonio Area Manager, Soldiers’ Angels, Alamo–San Antonio Region Elizabeth Hartman, Commander, American Legion Post 539, Eastern North Carolina...

Corvias Joins Certification Program for Healthy Homes

Corvias Joins Certification Program for Healthy Homes

Corvias is now the largest participant in a new certification program from the International WELL Building Institute that helps identify and measure ways that homes can support residents’ health and resilience, through factors such as air, water, light, thermal...

In Our Communities

In Our Communities

More than 70 community agencies and organizations in the North Country region participated in Mountain Meetup Thursday to meet with Fort Drum, New York soldiers and their families to talk about their services, according to an Army story. The resource fair was free....

Summit Preview: Closing the Gap in Affordable Child Care

Summit Preview: Closing the Gap in Affordable Child Care

DOD, Congress and communities are working to address the challenges that remain in helping military families find quality, affordable child care. It is one of the most pressing quality of life concerns service members report. The topic will be covered at sessions...

PAST STORIES