Amid recruitment challenges, US Army sends letters to members dismissed for vaccine refusal – IndiaTimes

NEW DELHI: Amid reports of challenges in Army recruitment, former service members of US Army, who were removed from the service after they refused to take the COVID-19 vaccine have now received letters from the US Army. The letter informs them that they have the option to request corrections to their discharge records. The letter has been circulating on social media notified former members of "new Army guidance regarding the correction of military records for former members of the Army following the rescission of the COVID-19 vaccination requirement." It is signed by Brigadier General Hope C Rampy, of the U. Army Director of the Military Personnel Management Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff The letter states, "as a result of the rescission of all current COVID-19 vaccination requirements, former Soldiers who were involuntarily separated for refusal to receive the COVID-19 vaccination may request a correction of their military records from either or both the Army Discharge Review Board (ADRB) or the Army Board for Correction of Military Records (ABCMR)." As per the letter, "individuals can request a correction to military personnel records, including regarding the characterization of discharge." It further stated, "Individuals who desire to apply to return to service should contact their local Army, US Army Reserve (USAR) or Army National Guard (ARNG) recruiter for more information." However, an Army spokesperson clarified that the letter, dated November 1, does not specifically request former Army members, who were dismissed for refusing the COVID-19 vaccine, to return to service. Additional information on this matter was provided by the Army on Monday. Lieutenant Colonel Ruth Castro, Army spokesperson in an email to Fox News Digital wrote, "As part of the overall COVID mandate recession process mandated by Congress, the Army mailed the letters following Veterans Day weekend to approximately 1,900 individuals who had previously been separated for refusal to obey the mandatory COVID vaccination order. The letter provides information to former service members on how to request a correction of their military records." On October 3, the US Army unveiled a comprehensive transformation of its recruiting approach, highlighting the formidable challenges posed by "the most challenging recruiting environment in a generation" for the armed forces. During a press conference at the Pentagon, Secretary of the Army Christine Wormuth and Chief of Staff of the Army Randy George outlined significant changes in how the Army plans to identify and recruit talent. This involves expanding the focus beyond high schoolers to encompass a broader segment of the youth labor market and establishing "an increasingly permanent and specialized talent acquisition workforce." The officials revealed that the Army anticipates concluding fiscal year 2023 with nearly 55,000 recruiting contracts, including approximately 4,600 for the Armys Delayed Entry Program, covering recruits slated to ship in the 2024 fiscal year. Consequently, the Army asserted that it will achieve its end-strength goal of 452,000 for active-duty soldiers.

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Amid recruitment challenges, US Army sends letters to members dismissed for vaccine refusal - IndiaTimes