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The United States Secretary of Defense officially rescinded the requirement for U.S. Military Servicemembers to receive the COVID-19 vaccine in order to serve in the military. Servicemembers who submitted accommodation on religious, administrative, or medical grounds and were dismissed may be eligible to have discharge records upgraded. The Secretary of Defense’s memo not only rescinds the COVID-19 vaccine mandate, but requires the removal of adverse information for individuals currently serving in the Armed Forces.
The memo states that “Military Departments will update the records of such individuals to remove any adverse actions solely associated with denials of such requests, including letters of reprimand.” Although the language only covers individuals currently serving in the Armed Forces, veterans who were discharged for refusing the COVID-19 vaccine may petition their respective Discharge Review Board or Board for Correction of Military Records to request removal of adverse information.
Galveston County encourages any veterans discharged for COVID-19 vaccination refusal to contact the Galveston County Office of Veterans Services to individually request a correction to their personnel records, including records regarding the characterization of their discharge.
The Galveston County Office of Veterans Services provides assistance, counseling, and guidance to all Galveston County veterans and their survivors in all manners pertaining to benefits and entitlements from the Department of Veterans Affairs. The Veterans Services Office can be reached by phone at (409) 766-2448 or by visiting www.galvestoncountytx.gov/county-offices/veterans-services.