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The US Marine Corps is withdrawing harsh penalties for military personnel seeking religious exemptions for COVID-19 vaccines. This includes ending involuntary dismissals and delaying promotion for those who refuse to be vaccinated.
According to new “interim guidance” signed September 14 and quietly posted online, the message is directed to unvaccinated Marines who have been denied religious consideration requests and have appealed the decision. “Modify behavior”.
According to the memo, the amended guidance was granted on Aug. 18 by a federal district court in Florida, which issued a preliminary injunction barring the Marine Corps from taking “certain actions” against those seeking religious immunity. is stated to be after issuing
According to the guidance, “The Marine Corps is a class marine that enforces orders to accept COVID-19 vaccinations, administrative segregation, or asserts statutory rights under the Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA). We will not retaliate against our soldiers.”
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The RFRA is a federal law that prohibits the government from “subsidizing”.[ing] Exercise of a person’s religion, even if the burden is due to general applicable rules. “
“The involuntary administrative segregation of class members who refuse to receive the COVID-19 vaccine is suspended,” the memo details.
In addition, I direct commanders to “suspend all administrative action related to the involuntary separation of class members, regardless of the current status of the separation process (e.g., orders to receive vaccines may not be issued).” and no counseling will be issued.) If the vaccine is refused, the Administrative Segregation Board will not be enforced and DD-214 will not be issued.)
The memo also states that vaccination status cannot be “considered or referenced” in service member fitness reports or other performance evaluations.
The Marine Corps’ previous directive required commanders to “delay the promotion of officers and delay/restrict the promotion of non-commissioned officers who refuse vaccines,” but the updated guidance has withdrawn that specific punishment. It outlines a series of steps to
However, if the federal court’s interim injunction expires, guidance says Marines could be subject to separation from the military for refusing to meet vaccination requirements.
The Marine Corps withdrew its strict guidelines after Fox News Digital quietly withdrew punishments for SEALs seeking religious exemption from the Navy, and the Pentagon’s inspector general warned that the Pentagon had “potential violations”. It is the day after I reported that it was in Review and Rejection Criteria Religious Exemption from Mandatory COVID-19 Vaccines.
An internal memo from Acting Department of Defense Inspector General Sean O’Donnell to Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin said the IG had considered “denials of requests for religious freedom accommodations from COVID-19 vaccination requirements.” I’m here.
“We saw a trend towards general assessments rather than the individual assessments required by federal law. Department of Defense and Military Service PolicyIG said in a report.
Pentagon ‘may violate’ law after rejecting vaccine religious lodging claim: IG
In addition, Fox News Digital has exclusively obtained a pair of Fragmented Armed Forces Orders (FRAGO) from multiple sources detailing the COVID-19 guidance issued on July 8 and 19, 2022. . restricted unvaccinated soldiers Engaging in official travel without express approval from the Army leadership.
A spokesman for the Marine Corps did not respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.
Houston Keane and Elizabeth Heckman of Fox News contributed to this report.