Logan Reed
There has been an ongoing dispute between Republican leaders and the Pentagon over the COVID-19 vaccine mandate for the National Guard. While Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has informed Republican governors that their state's National Guard members must be vaccinated, some governors have opposed the mandate, arguing that unless National Guard members are federally deployed, they are under the jurisdiction of the state and not subject to federal mandates. As of July 2022, about 10% of National Guard members were in violation of the federal vaccine mandate, and non-compliance could result in punishments such as removal from service and loss of pay.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Vaccination Status of the National Guard | As of July 2022, about 10% of National Guard members have not been vaccinated, violating the federal mandate. |
| Vaccination Deadlines | The Air National Guard members had until December 2021 to be vaccinated, while the Army National Guard members have until June 30, 2022. |
| State Opposition | Some state governors, particularly Republicans, have opposed the mandate and requested exemptions for their state's National Guard. |
| Consequences of Non-Compliance | Non-compliance may result in prohibition from participating in drills, training, and other duties. It could also lead to removal from the National Guard and loss of pay. |
| Vaccination Rates by Branch | The Air National Guard has higher vaccination rates than the Army National Guard. |
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What You'll Learn
- National Guard members who don't get vaccinated may be barred from participating in drills and training
- The National Guard is the branch with the lowest vaccination rate
- Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt opposed the vaccine mandate for his state's National Guard
- The Air National Guard has higher vaccination rates than the Army National Guard
- National Guard members deployed in healthcare settings must be vaccinated
National Guard members who don't get vaccinated may be barred from participating in drills and training
The Defense Secretary, Lloyd Austin, has been very clear that National Guard members must be vaccinated against COVID-19. This has caused an ongoing dispute between Republican leaders and the Pentagon, with several GOP governors requesting that the mandate be dropped. However, Austin has stated that he has the power to implement the mandate "regardless of duty status", and that concerns over the vaccine do not "negate the need for this important military readiness requirement".
In a letter to Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt, Austin stated that Guard members who don't get vaccinated may be barred from participating in drills and training, and their status in the Guard could be jeopardized. This was reiterated in a memo from Austin, which stated that no credit or excused absence would be given to members who do not participate in drills, training, or other duties due to a failure to be fully vaccinated.
Despite this, some states have continued to resist the mandate. In Oklahoma, Stitt appointed a new adjutant general of the Guard, who wrote a memo stipulating that no member was required to get the vaccine. This request was turned down by Austin, and Oklahoma then unsuccessfully sought to have a federal court overturn the mandate.
As of July 2022, about 10% of National Guard members have not provided documentation of vaccination and are in violation of the federal mandate. These troops will no longer be able to drill with their units until they provide proof of vaccination or receive an approved exemption.
Punishments for non-compliance with the vaccine mandate could include removal from the service, although military leaders have said that this would not happen immediately. Other repercussions could include a loss of pay, with Pentagon press secretary John F. Kirby stating that consequences would be felt on an individual level.
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The National Guard is the branch with the lowest vaccination rate
The National Guard has a vaccination rate of about 89.9%, with 88.2% being fully vaccinated. The Air National Guard has a higher vaccination rate than the Army National Guard, with 94% fully vaccinated and 94.2% with at least one dose. The active-duty Army has a higher compliance rate, with 97% either fully or partially vaccinated as of June 23, 2022.
The Army National Guard has a lower vaccination rate, with about 11% of soldiers still unvaccinated and in violation of the federal mandate. This means that about 37,000 soldiers could face punishments, including removal from the service and loss of pay. The National Guard Bureau spokesman, Kurt Rauschenberg, stated that all members of the National Guard must be fully vaccinated by the deadlines established by the Army or Air Force or must subsequently become vaccinated to participate in drills, training, and other duties.
The dispute over the mandate has led to legal action, with Oklahoma Attorney General John O'Connor suing the Biden administration, arguing that the mandate was unlawful. Two other states, Texas and Alaska, also filed lawsuits. Federal officials have maintained that governors do not have the legal standing to allow Guard members to refuse to comply with the military's vaccine mandate.
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Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt opposed the vaccine mandate for his state's National Guard
The Pentagon and the White House have been at odds with several Republican governors over the COVID-19 vaccine mandate for National Guard members. Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt was the first governor to publicly oppose the mandate in November 2021, when he asked the Pentagon to exempt his state’s National Guard from the mandate. Stitt argued that the federal government should not place mandatory vaccine obligations on Oklahoma National Guardsmen, as it could potentially limit the number of individuals he could call upon to assist the state during an emergency. He estimated that 10% of the Guard did not plan on receiving the COVID-19 vaccine.
Stitt later appointed a new adjutant general of the Guard, Army Brig. Gen. Thomas Mancino, who wrote a memo stipulating that no member was required to get the shot. However, the Pentagon turned down that request, stating that concerns over the vaccine did not negate the need for this important military readiness requirement. The Oklahoma Adjutant General's office also stated that they did not support the governor and liked the vaccination policy as it was.
In response to the mandate, Stitt, along with Oklahoma Attorney General John O'Connor and 16 unnamed members of the Air National Guard, filed a lawsuit against the Biden administration, arguing that the mandate was unlawful and unconstitutional. A judge rejected Oklahoma’s request to block the federal COVID-19 vaccine mandate for National Guard members, and the state of Oklahoma then unsuccessfully sought to have a federal court enjoin the mandate.
Despite the opposition from Stitt and other Republican governors, the Pentagon has maintained that National Guard members must be vaccinated against COVID-19. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has informed the governors that he has the power to implement the mandate, regardless of the duty status of the Guard members.
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The Air National Guard has higher vaccination rates than the Army National Guard
The Pentagon has mandated that all members of the National Guard must be vaccinated against COVID-19. This has led to a dispute between Republican leaders and the Pentagon, with some governors fighting the mandate for their National Guard troops. Despite this, the Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has stood firm, rejecting requests for vaccination exemptions from several states.
The Air National Guard has a higher vaccination rate than the Army National Guard. According to recent figures, 94% of the Air National Guard is fully vaccinated, while only 86.4% to 88.2% of the Army National Guard is fully vaccinated. This difference in vaccination rates may be due to the different deadlines set for the two branches. The Air National Guard had until December 2021 to be vaccinated, while the Army National Guard has until June 30, 2022, to comply.
The low vaccination rates among some National Guard units have caused concern among military leaders. The Army Surgeon General has called the coronavirus case count and death toll "concerning," adding that mandatory vaccinations are a "health and readiness priority." The Chief of the National Guard Bureau, Army Gen. Daniel R. Hokanson, has also expressed worry about losing Guardsmen in an already challenging recruiting environment.
To improve vaccination rates, the National Guard is offering soldiers every opportunity to get vaccinated and continue their military careers. Soldiers who are not vaccinated by their deadlines will face consequences, including potential removal from the service and ineligibility for deployments, military schools, reenlistment, and federal pay. However, military leaders have stated that they will not immediately separate unvaccinated soldiers from the service and will give them time to comply.
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National Guard members deployed in healthcare settings must be vaccinated
National Guard members are required to be vaccinated against COVID-19. However, there has been some dispute between Republican leaders and the Pentagon over the mandate, with some GOP governors requesting that their states' National Guard members be exempt. Despite this, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has maintained that the mandate applies "regardless of duty status".
In New York, it was clarified that National Guard members deployed in healthcare settings must be vaccinated. This was in response to concerns that unvaccinated healthcare workers would be replaced by unvaccinated National Guard members. The New York State Department of Health confirmed that the vaccine mandate for healthcare workers would apply to any National Guard members deployed in healthcare settings.
As of July 2022, about 10% of National Guard members were in violation of the federal vaccine mandate, with over 37,000 soldiers unvaccinated. These soldiers could face punishments, including removal from the service and loss of pay. However, military leaders stated that they would not be immediately separated from the service, and that every effort would be made to ensure they could continue their military careers.
The deadline for National Guard members to be vaccinated varied depending on the branch. Air National Guard members had until December 2021, while Army National Guard members had until June 30, 2022, to comply.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has informed GOP governors that their state's National Guard members must be vaccinated against COVID-19.
National Guard members who don't get vaccinated may be barred from participating in drills and training, and their status in the Guard could be jeopardized. They could also face punishments, including being removed from the service.
No, the deadlines vary by state and type of Guard. For example, in Oklahoma, members of the Air National Guard and reserves had until December 2, 2021, while members of the Army National Guard had until June 30, 2022.
As of July 1, 2022, about 88-89% of the National Guard had received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, while about 86-88% were fully vaccinated.
Some National Guard members may be exempt from the vaccine mandate for medical reasons or if they have requested an exemption. However, the specific consequences for not complying with the mandate are determined by individual Guard leaders.
