The United States Army is facing significant challenges in recruiting new soldiers, prompting them to extend an invitation to those who were previously discharged for refusing the COVID-19 vaccine. The Army sent letters to approximately 1,900 active duty soldiers who were separated from the military due to their vaccine refusal. These letters were part of the COVID mandate recession process, according to an army spokesperson.
In January 2023, a Department of Defense memo rescinded the military rules that mandated service members to receive the COVID vaccine, allowing individuals to seek religious, administrative, or medical accommodations if they chose not to be vaccinated. However, the memo emphasized that the department still encourages all service members to get vaccinated. The circulated letter advises former soldiers to request a correction of their military record if they were separated due to vaccine refusal and provides instructions for those interested in rejoining the service to contact a recruiter.
This latest effort to re-engage discharged soldiers comes amidst a recruitment crisis for the US military. In 2022, the Army fell short by approximately 15,000 soldiers, representing a 25% shortfall. To address this ongoing decline in recruits, the Army has revived its iconic “Be All You Can Be” campaign, as reported by NPR. Secretary of the Army, Christine Wormuth, highlighted the shrinking percentage of physically fit and mentally prepared young Americans, standing at only 23% of individuals aged between 18 and 24, who are eligible to join the military. Wormuth also noted that Generation Z exhibits a declining trust in institutions, contributing to their decreased interest in military service.
Despite these efforts and challenges, the US Army has yet to provide a comment in response to Insider’s request.
