{"id":19213,"date":"2021-12-15T15:56:57","date_gmt":"2021-12-15T15:56:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/uncategorized\/2021\/12\/15\/the-navy-needs-about-six-months-to-separate-unvaccinated-sailors-heres-what-they-can-expect\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T19:03:46","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T19:03:46","slug":"the-navy-needs-about-six-months-to-separate-unvaccinated-sailors-heres-what-they-can-expect","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/news\/your-navy\/2021\/12\/15\/the-navy-needs-about-six-months-to-separate-unvaccinated-sailors-heres-what-they-can-expect\/","title":{"rendered":"The Navy needs about six months to separate unvaccinated sailors; here\u2019s what they can expect"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

It could take more than six months to separate sailors who have refused to get COVID-19 vaccinations<\/a>, according to Navy officials.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cLet me be clear up front: We want every sailor to receive the vaccine and stay Navy,\u201d Rear Adm. James Waters III, director of military personnel, plans and policy, told reporters Tuesday. \u201cAnd if a sailor gets their shot, we will honor that and make every effort to retain them.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While most separations will happen in the first half of 2022<\/a>, Waters expects some cases to continue past then.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI will say that we think the bulk of these separations will happen in the time period between now and 1 June, because we are providing that window for anyone eligible to retire or separate in that timeframe to do so. \u2026 However, we understand that there will be cases that will go past that point,\u201d Waters said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Navy first announced in October that it would move to separate sailors<\/a> who reject the COVID-19 vaccine and was forming the COVID Consolidated Disposition Authority to oversee those separations.<\/p>\n\n\n\t