Records of identified service members will be reviewed by the service discharge review boards.

Timeline

1. Update · Dec 21, 2025, 08:49 AMTrue
   The Department of Defense has directed that records of service members discharged for refusing the COVID-19 vaccine be reviewed by their respective discharge review boards. This initiative aims to correct military records and potentially upgrade discharge statuses for those affected. The guidance specifies that adverse actions solely related to vaccine refusal should be removed from service members' records. (defense.gov)
   • https://www.defense.gov/Portals/1/Spotlight/2025/Guidance_For_Federal_Policies/Supplemental-Guidance-to-the-Military-Department-Discharge-Review-Boards-and-Boards-for-Correction-of-Military-Naval-Records.pdf
2. Update · Dec 21, 2025, 07:38 AMTrue
   The Department of Defense has directed that records of service members discharged for refusing the COVID-19 vaccine be reviewed by their respective service discharge review boards. This initiative aims to reassess discharge characterizations and potentially upgrade them to honorable status. The guidance specifies that adverse actions related solely to refusal of the COVID-19 vaccine should be removed from service members' records. (defense.gov)
   • https://www.defense.gov/Portals/1/Spotlight/2025/Guidance_For_Federal_Policies/Supplemental-Guidance-to-the-Military-Department-Discharge-Review-Boards-and-Boards-for-Correction-of-Military-Naval-Records.pdf
3. Update · Dec 21, 2025, 06:53 AMTrue
   The Department of Defense has initiated a process to review the records of service members who were discharged for refusing the COVID-19 vaccine. This includes evaluations by the respective discharge review boards to assess and potentially correct the characterizations of these discharges. The Department is committed to reinstating affected service members and rectifying any adverse actions resulting solely from their refusal to take the vaccine. (defense.gov)
   • https://www.defense.gov/News/News-Stories/Article/Article/4164505/defense-secretary-orders-additional-remedies-more-clarity-on-covid-19-reinstate/
4. Update · Dec 21, 2025, 05:45 AMTrue
   The Department of Defense has directed that records of service members who were discharged solely for refusing the COVID-19 vaccine be reviewed by their respective discharge review boards. This initiative aims to correct adverse actions in their records and facilitate reinstatement where appropriate. (defense.gov)
   • https://www.defense.gov/Portals/1/Spotlight/2025/Guidance_For_Federal_Policies/Supplemental-Guidance-to-the-Military-Department-Discharge-Review-Boards-and-Boards-for-Correction-of-Military-Naval-Records.pdf
5. Update · Dec 21, 2025, 04:57 AMTrue
   The Department of Defense has directed that records of service members who were discharged solely for refusing the COVID-19 vaccine be reviewed by their respective discharge review boards. This initiative aims to correct military records and potentially upgrade discharge statuses for those individuals. The guidance specifies that adverse actions solely associated with refusal to take the COVID-19 vaccine or seek an exemption should be removed. (defense.gov)
   • https://www.defense.gov/Portals/1/Spotlight/2025/Guidance_For_Federal_Policies/Supplemental-Guidance-to-the-Military-Department-Discharge-Review-Boards-and-Boards-for-Correction-of-Military-Naval-Records.pdf
6. Update · Dec 21, 2025, 04:15 AMTrue
   The Department of Defense (DoD) has initiated a process to review the records of service members discharged for refusing the COVID-19 vaccine. This includes directing the Secretaries of the Military Departments to provide guidance to their respective Discharge Review Boards (DRBs) and Boards for Correction of Military/Naval Records (BCM/NRs) to facilitate the removal of adverse actions solely associated with the refusal to take the COVID-19 vaccine. (defense.gov) The DRBs and BCM/NRs are responsible for reviewing and correcting military records, including discharge characterizations. Therefore, the statement that "records of identified service members will be reviewed by the service discharge review boards" is accurate.
   • https://www.defense.gov/Portals/1/Spotlight/2025/Guidance_For_Federal_Policies/Supplemental-Guidance-to-the-Military-Department-Discharge-Review-Boards-and-Boards-for-Correction-of-Military-Naval-Records.pdf
7. Update · Dec 21, 2025, 02:45 AMTrue
   The Department of Defense (DoD) has initiated a process to review the records of service members who were discharged solely for refusing the COVID-19 vaccine. This includes outreach to those involuntarily separated, inviting them to seek reinstatement and have their records corrected to reflect continued service. (defense.gov) Additionally, the DoD has directed the Military Department Review Boards to consider claims from individuals adversely impacted by the COVID-19 vaccine mandate, including the removal of adverse actions solely associated with their refusal to take the vaccine. (defense.gov) Therefore, the statement that "records of identified service members will be reviewed by the service discharge review boards" is accurate.
   • https://www.defense.gov/News/News-Stories/Article/Article/4067895/dod-prepares-invitation-to-bring-back-troops-separated-for-refusing-covid-vacci/
   • https://www.defense.gov/Portals/1/Spotlight/2025/Guidance_For_Federal_Policies/Supplemental-Guidance-to-the-Military-Department-Discharge-Review-Boards-and-Boards-for-Correction-of-Military-Naval-Records.pdf
8. Update · Dec 20, 2025, 11:39 PMTrue
   The Department of Defense has initiated a process to review the records of service members who were discharged solely for refusing the COVID-19 vaccine. This includes evaluations by the respective service's Discharge Review Boards (DRBs) to assess and potentially upgrade discharge characterizations. The guidance directs the Secretaries of the Military Departments to rescind previous directives and distribute new instructions to their DRBs and Boards for Correction of Military/Naval Records (BCM/NRs). The DRBs are tasked with carefully considering claims from individuals who filed formal requests for administrative or medical accommodation related to the COVID-19 vaccine mandate and removing adverse actions solely associated with their refusal to take the vaccine. (defense.gov)
   • https://www.defense.gov/Portals/1/Spotlight/2025/Guidance_For_Federal_Policies/Supplemental-Guidance-to-the-Military-Department-Discharge-Review-Boards-and-Boards-for-Correction-of-Military-Naval-Records.pdf
9. Update · Dec 20, 2025, 08:36 AMcomplete
   The Department of Defense (DoD) has directed that records of service members discharged solely for refusing the COVID-19 vaccine be reviewed by their respective discharge review boards. This initiative aims to correct military records and provide remedies for those adversely affected by the vaccine mandate. (defense.gov)
   • https://www.defense.gov/Portals/1/Spotlight/2025/Guidance_For_Federal_Policies/Supplemental-Guidance-to-the-Military-Department-Discharge-Review-Boards-and-Boards-for-Correction-of-Military-Naval-Records.pdf
10. Update · Dec 19, 2025, 07:26 AMcomplete
    The Department of Defense has directed that service members who were discharged solely for refusing the COVID-19 vaccine have their records reviewed by their respective discharge review boards. This initiative aims to correct adverse actions and discharge statuses resulting from the vaccine mandate. (defense.gov) Service members seeking discharge upgrades or corrections should submit DD Form 293 to their service's Discharge Review Board if separated within the last 15 years, or DD Form 149 to the Board for Correction of Military/Naval Records for separations over 15 years ago. (defense.gov)
    • https://www.defense.gov/News/News-Stories/Article/Article/4164505/defense-secretary-orders-additional-remedies-more-clarity-on-covid-19-reinstate/
    • https://www.defense.gov/Contact/Help-Center/Article/Article/2742476/request-correction-of-military-records/
11. Update · Dec 18, 2025, 09:53 PMcomplete
    The Department of Defense has directed that service members who were discharged solely for refusing the COVID-19 vaccine have their records reviewed by their respective discharge review boards. This process aims to correct military records and provide appropriate remedies for those adversely affected by the vaccine mandate. (defense.gov)
    • https://www.defense.gov/Portals/1/Spotlight/2025/Guidance_For_Federal_Policies/Supplemental-Guidance-to-the-Military-Department-Discharge-Review-Boards-and-Boards-for-Correction-of-Military-Naval-Records.pdf
12. Update · Dec 18, 2025, 07:24 PMcomplete
    The Department of Defense has directed that service members discharged solely for refusing the COVID-19 vaccine have their records reviewed by their respective discharge review boards. This initiative aims to correct adverse actions and discharge characterizations resulting from the vaccine mandate. The guidance specifies that adverse actions solely associated with refusal to take the COVID-19 vaccine or seek an exemption should be removed. (defense.gov)
    • https://www.defense.gov/Portals/1/Spotlight/2025/Guidance_For_Federal_Policies/Supplemental-Guidance-to-the-Military-Department-Discharge-Review-Boards-and-Boards-for-Correction-of-Military-Naval-Records.pdf
13. Update · Dec 18, 2025, 07:35 AMcomplete
    The Department of Defense has directed the Military Department Review Boards to review the records of service members who were discharged solely for refusing the COVID-19 vaccine. This includes removing adverse actions and upgrading discharges for those whose service was characterized as less than fully honorable due to their refusal. (defense.gov)
    • https://www.defense.gov/News/News-Stories/Article/Article/4164505/defense-secretary-orders-additional-remedies-more-clarity-on-covid-19-reinstate/
14. Update · Dec 17, 2025, 03:07 PMcomplete
    The Department of Defense (DoD) has directed that service members discharged solely for refusing the COVID-19 vaccine have their records reviewed by the Boards for Correction of Military/Naval Records (BCM/NRs). This process aims to correct military records, including discharge characterizations, for those adversely affected by the vaccine mandate. (defense.gov)
    • https://www.defense.gov/Portals/1/Spotlight/2025/Guidance_For_Federal_Policies/COVID-19_Reinstatements/COVID-19_Reinstatements_P%26R_Guidance.pdf
15. Original article · Dec 16, 2025
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