{"id":67365,"date":"2023-02-28T21:12:25","date_gmt":"2023-02-28T21:12:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/marinecorpstimes\/uncategorized\/2023\/02\/28\/troops-who-refused-covid-vaccines-still-could-face-punishment\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T14:50:20","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T14:50:20","slug":"troops-who-refused-covid-vaccines-still-could-face-punishment","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/marinecorpstimes\/news\/coronavirus\/2023\/02\/28\/troops-who-refused-covid-vaccines-still-could-face-punishment\/","title":{"rendered":"Troops who refused COVID vaccines still could face punishment"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

With the Pentagon\u2019s COVID-19 vaccine<\/a> order lifted, troops can refuse to take the shot without risking ending their careers. But those who refused it in the past could still be booted for \u201cdisobeying a lawful order,\u201d Defense Department officials<\/a> warned lawmakers Tuesday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt\u2019s very important that our service members follow orders when they are lawful, and there are thousands that did not,\u201d Gilbert Cisneros Jr.<\/a>, Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel, told members of the House Armed Services Committee. \u201cThe services are going through a process to review those cases to make a determination what needs to be done.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The potential additional dismissals are the latest controversy surrounding the military\u2019s COVID-19 vaccine mandate, which has been a target of conservative lawmakers almost since it was put in place nearly two years ago.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It drew immediate condemnation from Republicans on the congressional panel<\/a>, who accused defense officials of trying to circumvent a law rescinding the vaccine mandate, which was passed late last year.<\/p>\n\n\n\t