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Navy Issues Formal Apology to Service Members Discharged Under COVID Vaccine Mandate
The Department of the Navy issued a formal apology Friday to thousands of military personnel who were discharged from service for refusing the COVID-19 vaccine during the Biden administration, acknowledging what it called an “unjust” removal of servicemembers.
Under Secretary of the Navy Hung Cao delivered the message in a video posted on social media, offering a direct apology to affected Navy and Marine Corps personnel.
“To the sailors and marines who were wrongfully discharged during COVID, we failed you,” Cao said. “We will never allow this to happen again, not on my watch. We are ready for you to come back, and we want to correct your records.”
The apology represents a significant shift in policy following President Donald Trump’s January 2025 executive order directing federal agencies to reinstate affected service members and restore their benefits. The order specifically targets relief for members of all military branches who were discharged solely for refusing the COVID-19 vaccine.
“We are righting this wrong and it starts with this formal letter of apology,” added Cao, who oversees approximately one million Navy, Marine Corps, and civilian personnel as the department’s chief operating and management officer.
According to Department of Veterans Affairs data, more than 8,000 service members were separated from the military following the vaccine mandate implemented by the Department of Defense in 2021. The requirement remained in effect until its rescission in 2023, but by then, thousands of careers had been affected.
The issue was particularly contentious because many service members cited personal or religious objections to the vaccine requirement. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth highlighted this concern in a December memo, calling the treatment of these personnel “unconscionable.”
“It is unconscionable that thousands of former Service members who held true to their personal and religious convictions were not just separated, but separated with general (under honorable conditions), rather than honorable, discharge characterizations,” Hegseth wrote. “While many have applied for and received relief from our Military Department review boards, I believe the onus is on us to make this right.”
The Pentagon has now initiated a proactive review of personnel records to identify individuals involuntarily discharged solely for refusing the COVID-19 vaccine. The Department of War has issued guidance to all military department secretaries to contact former service members with information about potential reinstatement and to correct their discharge records.
President Trump’s Executive Order 14184 specifically addresses this issue, stating: “The military unjustly discharged those who refused the vaccine, regardless of the years of service given to our Nation, after failing to grant many of them an exemption that they should have received.”
This policy reversal comes amid broader changes in military personnel policies under the second Trump administration. The Defense Department under Hegseth’s leadership has implemented several initiatives aimed at what it describes as “reawakening the warrior spirit” within the armed forces.
For affected veterans, the Navy’s apology may offer not only practical benefits through corrected records and potential reinstatement, but also acknowledgment of what many viewed as an unfair policy. The Department of Veterans Affairs has already begun restoring educational benefits eligibility to veterans who were ousted under the mandate.
Military analysts note that the policy change addresses a significant personnel issue at a time when all service branches face ongoing recruitment and retention challenges. The Navy, which has struggled to meet recruiting goals in recent years, may particularly benefit from welcoming back experienced personnel who were previously forced out.
The Department of the Navy has not yet provided specific details on how many personnel might be eligible for reinstatement or what the process will entail, but affected veterans are expected to receive direct communication about next steps.
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18 Comments
This is a significant policy shift by the Navy to apologize and offer to reinstate service members discharged over the vaccine mandate. It will be interesting to see how this plays out and whether other branches follow suit.
Agreed, it’s an important acknowledgment of the unjust treatment of these personnel. Restoring their records and benefits is the right thing to do.
The apology and offer to reinstate discharged personnel is a positive step, but the Navy should also consider providing compensation for the hardship and disruption caused to these individuals and their families.
Good point. The Navy should look at ways to make amends and provide support to those who were unfairly impacted by the previous policy.
This is an important step in acknowledging the harm done to service members who were discharged over the vaccine mandate. However, the Navy should also consider providing compensation and support to help these individuals and their families.
Absolutely. The Navy has an obligation to make amends and ensure the affected personnel are made whole, both financially and in terms of their military service records.
The Navy’s apology and offer to reinstate discharged personnel is a significant policy shift, but it remains to be seen how it will be received by those who have already been separated from service. Rebuilding trust and morale will be crucial.
You raise a valid point. The Navy will need to engage directly with the affected individuals, listen to their concerns, and demonstrate a genuine commitment to making things right.
The Navy’s apology and offer to reinstate discharged personnel is a welcome development, but it also raises questions about the broader implications of the initial vaccine mandate policy and decision-making process.
Agreed. A thorough review of the rationale and implementation of the mandate is necessary to ensure similar injustices don’t occur in the future.
This is a significant reversal of the previous vaccine mandate policy. It will be interesting to see if the other military branches follow suit and issue similar apologies and reinstatement offers.
Good point. The Navy’s actions could set a precedent for the rest of the armed forces to address the impacts of the vaccine mandate more comprehensively.
While I appreciate the Navy’s acknowledgment of the unjust treatment, I wonder how this will be received by those who were already separated from service. Rebuilding trust and morale will be crucial.
Absolutely, the Navy will need to engage directly with the affected personnel and listen to their concerns. Transparency and a genuine commitment to making things right will be essential.
Curious to learn more about the details of this apology and the process for affected service members to potentially return to active duty. Transparency and clear communication will be key.
Good point. The Navy will need to provide a straightforward path forward for those who were discharged so they can be fairly considered for reinstatement if they so choose.
This is a welcome development, but it raises questions about the broader impacts of the initial vaccine mandate policy. Were there legitimate public health and operational concerns, or was it more about political posturing?
That’s a fair question. The rationale behind the mandate and the decision-making process should be thoroughly reviewed to understand the full context and implications.