COVID vaccine is "optional" says the big Army, but cant your commander or unit make it mandatory?

SGT Suraj Dave — Tue, 19 Jan 2021 16:19:50 -0500

Had a conversation with my family about military members and the COVID vaccination. They informed me that the news said it was optional for soldiers, but I told them it doesnt matter what the big army says. It matters what your unit and your commander say. The Army isnt a very centralized organization. Commanders have a very high degree of independence. Rules and policy are vastly different from company to company, battalion to battalion, and division to division. The only uniformity in the Army is the uniform itself. Every different command in the Army is a different planet compared to where you just came from.

I remember during deployment, A soldiers refused to to take his combat patch off from another unit. He quoted the regulation that said its optional to wear and its the soldiers choice of which one to wear. Then before we knew it there was a brigade policy letter that all soldiers must wear the current units patch as their combat patch. It was explained to us that when the big Army says something is optional, they are essentially saying "Commanders decision".

I am not an anti vaxxer. I am actually a medical student. Is my thinking correct though? The big army says its optional, but if your commander says it is not than its not optional.

Response by SSG Steven Borders made Jan 19 at 2021 4:36 PM

SSG Steven Borders — Tue, 19 Jan 2021 16:36:52 -0500

As of right now with the Reserves it is optional because it is not approved by the FDA yet. According to our BDE commander. So until it is has been approved by the FDA they cannot make you take the vaccine. At least to my knowledge but I am not JAG and I am only making an educated guess.

Response by WO1 Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 19 at 2021 4:54 PM

WO1 Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 19 Jan 2021 16:54:17 -0500

"Some" commanders have tried to make it mandatory I've seen from other social media posts.

While this vaccine is under an EUA from the FDA it is 100% voluntary. The only person who can make it mandatory under the EUA is the president. Please don't let commanders bully you or other into receiving something you don't have to just to "be green".

This is based on the DODI 6200.02. As well as the director for the DoD health Dept LTG Place during a press conference where he/team were asked multiple times on if it was voluntary (yes) and if any administrative actions could come of the service members (no)

Response by SSG Brian G. made Jan 19 at 2021 5:48 PM

SSG Brian G. — Tue, 19 Jan 2021 17:48:32 -0500

Here is the thing. The "optional" really is not. The whole notion of "optional" went out the window when you signed on the dotted line and took the oath. If a commander orders you to take the vaccine you have no defense for not taking it.

It is a preventative measure against a known threat to preserve mission capability. Sure, you can decline to take it citing "voluntary" and all fine... but bear in mind, it is a valid and legally binding order and if you fail to take the vaccine and later get COVID-19. You are then subject to discipline under UCMJ.

You can balk but I saw soldiers disciplined for failing to take the PB tablets during Desert Shield. Likewise soldiers that were ordered to use sunscreen and failed to and got sunburn etc. If your actions degrade the mission readiness of the unit, you can be held accountable for it.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 19 at 2021 7:26 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 19 Jan 2021 19:26:12 -0500

The reason the COVID vaccine is still optional is that it is an experimental vaccination at this point. If a Soldier were to try to reject any other mandated vaccine they would be separated.

Your comparison to uniform items isn't really applicable because the commander is the ultimate approval authority on uniform items. This is why RI's, SF Cadre, and Airborne Instructors have tabs sewn on their PCS and why your company can have Hawaiian Shirt Fridays or costume runs on Halloween.

There is a saying they teach in BLC that goes you can add to but never take away. That is incorrect. The Army provides left and right limits for Commanders but they must stay within those parameters. Attempting to force Soldiers to take a vaccine the Army has not mandated would only end with the Commander looking foolish because the Soldier can't be punished. It's more along the lines of a situation where a Commanders says the minimum APFT is 210, they can't actually flag or punish the Soldier for failing to achieve that

Response by Col Tri Trinh made Jan 19 at 2021 9:49 PM

Col Tri Trinh — Tue, 19 Jan 2021 21:49:37 -0500

I think there will be definitive guidance coming down soon with regards to COVID-19 vaccination, if not already. Policy will come through Directives making it easy for Commanders to not have this be an issue.
In my view, it’s just like Individual Medical Readiness requirements. Military members will be directed to take whatever vaccines atre needed to protect the force.
I don’t know what the current situation is regarding COVID-19 vaccine guidance. As a former Commander, I would not direct my troops to get vaccination without a directive. All the support structures have to be in place to have an orderly COVID-19 immunization program. A prudent Commander wouldn’t just arbitrarily mandate COVID-19 vaccination. He/she would have no authority or means to mandate it.

Response by Capt Private RallyPoint Member made May 23 at 2021 10:56 PM

Capt Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 23 May 2021 22:56:43 -0400

No, they cannot.

Response by SSG William Jones made Sep 20 at 2021 11:07 AM

SSG William Jones — Mon, 20 Sep 2021 11:07:35 -0400

Whether anyone thinks the Covid vaccines are a good idea or a bad idea is beside the point. The federal government has no power under our Constitution to inject anything into citizens' bodies. It's an outrage that this even needs to be said.

Response by Lt Col Scott Shuttleworth made Sep 20 at 2021 6:01 PM

Lt Col Scott Shuttleworth — Mon, 20 Sep 2021 18:01:12 -0400

It is not optional any longer in DoD. All uniformed members have been ordered to get the vaccine unless you have a medical or religious exemption by the Sec of Defense.