Today is the last day for Army National Guard (ARNG) members to comply with the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) COVID-19 vaccine mandate or face separation — unless the DOD pushes back the July 1 deadline, an idea Army officials are considering, according to internal documents.
Under the military’s mandate, after June 30, ARNG members won’t be paid when they are activated on federal status, which includes their monthly drill weekends and their two-week annual training period, Associated Press (AP) reported. “No Department of Defense funding may be allocated for payment of duties performed [by] members of the National Guard who do not comply with COVID-19 vaccination requirements,” the Pentagon announced in November 2021.
“We’re going to give every soldier every opportunity to get vaccinated and continue their military career,” Lt. Gen. Jon Jensen, ARNG director, on June 25 told AP. “Every soldier that is pending an exemption, we will continue to support them through their process.” “We’re not giving up on anybody until the separation paperwork is signed and completed,” Jensen added. “There’s still time.”