If anyone is wondering how the US Navy is handling the vaccine mandate and exemptions, I have a story to share. First, here are the current guidelines for sailors who refuse the vaccine.
https://www.navy.mil/Press-Office/N...pdates-guidance-for-covid-19-vaccine-refusal/
Basically those who refuse are getting kicked out and will lose all benefits including GI bill, but ones who try for an exemption won’t be punished while it’s under review. Because they mean business, 98% of sailors are fully vaxxed. It’s easy for a ship captain to make everyone get vaccinated, they made a rule that they won’t let you off the boat without getting the shot, so everyone on the boat gets the shot.
Well, here’s how the navy is treating officers who try for a religious exemption. My husband works at a large naval facility. There is a young lieutenant on a shore billet in a different department who applied for a religious exemption. I’m not sure of the religion or what his problem is with the vaccine specifically but he is so anti-vax that his children have received no vaccines even though he has his other required shots. He is also currently enrolled in seminary because he wants to be a navy chaplain. He submitted his exemption and his commanding officer read him the riot act, saying that he was being disingenuous and cynical, that he had no problem getting his other vaccines and he’s exhibiting conduct unbecoming of an officer. His request was denied and so his career is over: he’s being given a less than honorable discharge.
The Navy is not playing around, at least not with officers.