Marine Corps Nears 400 Separations Over COVID-19 Vaccine Refusal

via USNI News

 Nearly 400 Marines have been separated due to continued refusal to get vaccinated against COVID-19, the service announced Thursday.

The Marine Corps separated 65 Marines in the past week, bringing the total number of separations to 399. The service’s weekly update does not clarify if the Marines are active-duty or in the reserves.

As of Jan. 26, 95 percent of the active-duty force is fully vaccinated, which did not change from the previous week, according to Thursday’s update. However, the percentage of Marines who are at least partially vaccinated — which includes those who are both partially and fully vaccinated — increased from 96 percent to 97 percent.

There were no changes for the reserve Marines, which remains 87 percent fully vaccinated and 88 percent at least partially vaccinated. The percentage of partially vaccinated reservists also includes those who are fully vaccinated.

The Marine Corps has approved 627 medical or administrative exemptions, as well as three religious exemptions. The Marine Corps is the only branch to approve religious exemptions so far.

The service received 3,428 requests for religious exemptions, with 3,377 adjudicated. All but the three were denied.

The Marine Corps is also the branch that has separated the most of its personnel. The Army has not involuntarily separated any soldiers, according to its COVID-19 update released Thursday.

Here 

Wow.

This covid thing is a opportunity for HQMC.  They were able to make a stealth cut without making a stealth cut in force.

Don't be fooled either.  The nearly 400 number has to be added to the 630 medical and religious exemptions.

That means you just saw a cut of over 1000 Marines.  The medical and religious exemptions will be denied further service at the very least, are definitely highlighted, can kiss promotions or schools goodbye and God forbid they need to deploy they're absolutely useless to the service.

This covid thing is a blessing and a curse for Force Design 2030.