Navy Chaplains are blocking religious vaccine exemption requests

[nw_hunter]

https://nationalfile.com/exclusive-top-u-s-naval-officer-says-navy-chaplains-are-blocking-religious-vaccine-exemption-requests/

[teamnelson]

Well that is factually wrong. I am a very senior Navy Chaplain and that article is a perversion of the truth. I have two requests in right now, I also teach at the senior officer courses and literally this week have lead about 100 of them through the process (commanding officers and executive officers) and our Chief of Chaplains RADM Scott (who is not a liberal by any stretch of the imagination if you've ever heard him preach) spoke to my students this week on that very issue.

Here's the law: https://www.mynavyhr.navy.mil/Portals/55/Reference/MILPERSMAN/1000/1700Morale/1730-020%20.pdf?ver=c6WJ56qzUXFwgnPmAAx6-w%3D%3D It wasn't "obtained" ... its been hanging out right there not even behind a log in, for as long as the Navy has had internet.

Chaplains do not approve or deny any claim. They simply interview the person requesting religious exemption. And under the RFRA, the request only has to claim its a sincerely held belief - no theological justification required. The requester also must be counseled by Medical Officer, who also cannot approve or deny the claim. Then it goes to the Commanding Officer, who can only recommend or not recommend the request. And that gets routed all the way to N131 at the Pentagon who is final authority to approve or deny.

CO stands for Commanding Officer, which the Author appears not to understand. Its like they didn't even read the document they posted. And nowhere in the document do they substantiate the title - the alleged officer doesn't blame the Chaplain for blocking the request. The author injected their left wing spin into the document without justification.

Here's some facts: requesting an RE for immunization has never been automatically approved, ever, in decades. The Anthrax debacle was identical to this. A request is a request, and while awaiting a determination from N131 ... way above anyone's pay grade ... the individual requester can be forced to engage in the very activity they request a waiver from. And if they disobey, they can be punished.

However, historically, commands do not want to "punish" people, but they cannot use them if the mission requirements now include fully medical ready. So the requester should not expect an automatic pass, nor to be able to continue to serve with a waiver. All requests will most likely be denied by N131, but the requesters will most likely be administrative separated, allowed to retire, or resign their commissions, if they've met their obligated service. If they act like a jack ass, the command will most likely escalate to match.

The guys I'm helping through the process now I'm advising to be respectful. And my student COs and XOs I'm advising to keep their emotions in check. None of them wants to punish anyone or make it worse than it is. It sucks all around.

[orerancher]

Thank You for Posting Sir!

[mcbammer]

   To my understanding  the military mandate, is  take  the jab, or face  a dishonorable discharge .   

[teamnelson]

   To my understanding  the military mandate, is  take  the jab, or face  a dishonorable discharge .

Its take the jab or face administrative separation. Dishonorable would require a pattern of misconduct over and above the Article 92 charge of disobeying a direct order. And based on my student's interactions (all O-5/6 CO XO types), there doesn't seem to be any interest in making martyrs over this since how these estimated 25,000 folks are treated will effect morale for the rest of the commands. Even charging them with an Article 92 is entirely at the option of the unit CO, and not automatic. I really don't see many vindictive mean spirited people in command today.

Most likely will be a "Needs of the Military" administrative separation for enlisted, retirement when eligible or resignation of commission for officers. For those with less than 36 months, it will effect VA education benefits. If you're close to retirement, but not enough, you may lose eligibility if you're under the old high-3 system - folks under BRS will still get something. Folks with any obligation to serve for like giving their kids their post-911 GI Bill or taking funded education for themselves will most likely have to pay back the $$. Some folks are going to have some associated costs with this. And General Under Honorable status of discharge is the most likely outcome, unless you're retirement eligible.

I dropped my retirement papers back a month ago, and it saddens me deeply to see the state of our military today.

[Dee]

Take the jab, or else. Socialism/Marxism in the United States military.

[mcbammer]

   To my understanding  the military mandate, is  take  the jab, or face  a dishonorable discharge .

Its take the jab or face administrative separation. Dishonorable would require a pattern of misconduct over and above the Article 92 charge of disobeying a direct order. And based on my student's interactions (all O-5/6 CO XO types), there doesn't seem to be any interest in making martyrs over this since how these estimated 25,000 folks are treated will effect morale for the rest of the commands. Even charging them with an Article 92 is entirely at the option of the unit CO, and not automatic. I really don't see many vindictive mean spirited people in command today.

Most likely will be a "Needs of the Military" administrative separation for enlisted, retirement when eligible or resignation of commission for officers. For those with less than 36 months, it will effect VA education benefits. If you're close to retirement, but not enough, you may lose eligibility if you're under the old high-3 system - folks under BRS will still get something. Folks with any obligation to serve for like giving their kids their post-911 GI Bill or taking funded education for themselves will most likely have to pay back the $$. Some folks are going to have some associated costs with this. And General Under Honorable status of discharge is the most likely outcome, unless you're retirement eligible.

I dropped my retirement papers back a month ago, and it saddens me deeply to see the state of our military today.

  So how do you see it effecting recruitment ? 

[Mule 11]

Recruitment has always been a problem. This will assuredly help:)

[mcbammer]

Recruitment has always been a problem. This will assuredly help:)

  Well, I dont think the military needs the manpower it use to .  Alot of button pushing combat from a command center .

[darkgael]

Not all button pushing. If you have not seen this video, it is worth watching. Boots on the ground. https://youtu.be/2ZrE_jwef-E

[ironglow]

Not all button pushing. If you have not seen this video, it is worth watching. Boots on the ground. https://youtu.be/2ZrE_jwef-E

   Too bad this video cannot be played before a captive audience of Pres Biden, his Secretary of defense and the joint chiefs of staff !

  BTW:..I served several decades ago, but I distinctly recall that when we were deployed overseas, we just lined up..and proceeded through a squad of medics..each giving us a shot as we passed by. 
 
     That was a different era, and not so many questioned the government's motives.

   About half of those shots were with the gun..and some guys received some nice "slices" in their arms..

  TN...  Do they still use those guns for innoculations?

[ironglow]

.

  From TM;

   " ...forcing or coercing people to take or participate in experimental medical procedures is verboten according to the Nuremberg Codes."


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
   
   ...And the government should respect and heed these rules...

[teamnelson]

IG they stopped using the multi-vax air guns in the 90s I think; I certainly ad them in the 80s.

Recruiting from certain parts of America was already low, by design and by self-selection. This will dissuade a lot more from joining. As will other recent policy changes. The House argument on the new NDAA starts Wednesday and it’s shaping up to be interesting. It’s been a long time since I encouraged a young person to enlist. My kids and their spouses all got out, my youngest is headed back in as a Doctor, prior-corpsman, and I sense he’s got his eyes open. He’s got a few years of school left so perhaps America will say enough is enough.

[ironglow]

IG they stopped using the multi-vax air guns in the 90s I think; I certainly ad them in the 80s.

Recruiting from certain parts of America was already low, by design and by self-selection. This will dissuade a lot more from joining. As will other recent policy changes. The House argument on the new NDAA starts Wednesday and it’s shaping up to be interesting. It’s been a long time since I encouraged a young person to enlist. My kids and their spouses all got out, my youngest is headed back in as a Doctor, prior-corpsman, and I sense he’s got his eyes open. He’s got a few years of school left so perhaps America will say enough is enough.

  Understood...and offered a prayer for the burgeoning physician..

[Mule 11]

I have always held medics and corpsman in high regard...

[Dee]

I suspect its time for every soldier to make their own individual choices on this vaccine issue.

[ironglow]

I have always held medics and corpsman in high regard...

  ^^^DITTO^^^

[billy_56081]

I have always held medics and corpsman in high regard...

  ^^^DITTO^^^

ANd I also help our cooks in high esteem, especially at breakfast time.