If the pentagon didn’t mandate that all service members receive the COVID vaccine, would you have gotten it?

Not beholden to the DoD anymore, but I got it regardless. I am a first responder and have family members who were/are at risk.

I'm in the healthcare field, and not getting any younger so both my wife and I got it as soon as we were able.

I was in the Marines in the 70's when the original swine flu was going around, we were vaccinated for it. The immunization put at least half of our company out for 2 to 3 days. It was later determined that the vaccine didn't work like it was supposed to.

I still think that vaccination is the only way we will get through this pandemic.

In boot camp I didn't want the flu shot (got 2) or the norovirus one. I didn't have the choice, they decided based on what's out there the most for mission readiness. Our personal choices matter less in the great picture of it all. If they say "bunch of Coronavirus, bunch of flu, alright give me your arm." Wth you going to do? I've had so many vaccines at this point and I'm okay.

The government orders you to take the shot, suck it up buttercup or get the hell out.

If I lived in the appropriate large city, I would have volunteered for the drug experiments

I chose to be vaccinated when they first became available. Since then I am certain I have been exposed on numerous occasions. I either fought it off without much effort or the vaccine simply repelled it. I have had no other side effects.
Now, vaccination was my choice. I made that choice based on my own research, prayer and consulting with family and trusted friends.
It is my wish that everyone would get vaccinated. I think it is the shortest path out of this nightmare. There may be long term effects that we are unaware of, but I accept that for myself.
I also took the laundry list of every vaccine in the military between 1987 & 2008.
I'm not sure why this one is met with such skepticism, but I think it is largely due to the availability of information, good and bad.

I have never been against the vaccine...I just wanted more science on the long term effects...me and my wife are vaccinated but we did it out of much research and meditation...as far as the military goes if you are in uniform...it is simple...it is a readiness issue...you have to be healthy and ready to deploy at a moments notice...it is not as simple as an admin discharge...this is a lawful order...if you are eligible to separate or retire you can...if not and you refuse you can be court martialed and possibly receive a less than honorable on your way out...it isn't as simple to say that if I don't take it I can leave...nope there are consequences for that decision.

I would not take the shot

Here is the thing. The Pentagon can mandate it all they like. Just because they mandate it does not make it legal. Now, the moment that the COVID Vaccine cleared the FDA on a full level that was not experimental then the Pentagon was fully legal and within its rights to mandate the vaccine be administered.

The Vaccine is a choice. Period. I did it, when it first became available, to protect not just myself but my loved ones and my community. Could there be complications? Yep, but the chances of that are low and outweigh the higher risk that either I or someone I care about, know or interact with could or would catch it.

I know good men and women who have been relieved of their positions for refusing to be guinea pigs. I am all for military and UCMJ - however mandating medical procedures that may or may not hurt you I firmly believe are unlawful orders. NO soldier should have to vaccinate period. I for one am vaccine injured because of over vaccination in the military.