Secretary of War Pete Hegseth announced late last week that the Pentagon will establish a COVID-19 Reinstatement and Reconciliation Task Force to reinstate service members discharged under the previous administration’s vaccine mandate.
“The Department remains committed to honoring Service members unjustly discharged under the rescinded coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccine mandate,” a memo on the subject states. “While the Military Services have initiated rapid return-to-service efforts, additional coordinated action is required to ensure these efforts are optimized across the force.”
In a video announcing the effort, Hegseth explained, “I’m directing the Under Secretary of War for Personnel and Readiness to establish a Department of War COVID-19 Reinstatement and Reconciliation Task Force. The services have them right now. We’re establishing one at our level to oversee the entire thing. The task force’s goal is to bring back into service all those who desire to continue to serve our country in uniform.”
“Even if you do not intend to return to service, the War Department will provide a path for resolution of unearned bonuses, upgrades to discharge characterizations that will unlock your well-deserved benefits, and removal of adverse documents from service files,” he continued. “Further, I have directed a review of policies and decision-making to ensure that we do not go down this path again. You raised your right hand and swore an oath to serve and protect the Constitution and our nation.”
“You were mistreated by the Biden Pentagon, and we are fixing that injustice,” Hegseth declared.
The effort expands upon the Pentagon’s previous extension of its invitation to reinstate service members who were separated under the Biden administration for refusing to receive the COVID-19 vaccine.
