Corona virus infections continue to rise in the United States, due to the spread of the Omicron mutant.
About 97 percent of all Army soldiers received at least one dose, while more than 3,000 soldiers requested exemptions for health or religious reasons.
Defense Minister Christine Wormott issued a directive, Wednesday, to unit commanders to start mandatory dismissal procedures against vaccine refusals who do not have a pending or approved exemption.
She said, “The ability of the army depends on soldiers who are ready to train, deploy, fight and win the wars that our country is waging. Unvaccinated soldiers pose a threat to the forces and endanger our readiness. We will start the procedures for the compulsory dismissal of soldiers who refuse to be vaccinated without waiting for a final decision on the exemption.”
The order includes active-duty soldiers, active-duty reservists, and cadets at West Point Military Academy and Reserve Officers College.
The decision said the soldiers would be dismissed for “misconduct”.
In all, about 600 marines, airmen, sailors, or cadets have been laid off from training camps starting last week.
