The move adds to longstanding concern among health experts that chaos and political interference under Kennedy—a staunch anti-vaccine activist who has long falsely maligned COVID-19 vaccines—is deeply undermining science at federal agencies and beyond.

"The COVID-19 virus keeps changing. That's why we have a new vaccine to match the virus strains that are making people sick now," said Jeannine Pickrell, RN, Director of Population Health, TRICARE Health Plan, at the Defense Health Agency. "The benefits of getting vaccinated far outweigh the risks. Even if you do get COVID-19 after vaccination, you're much less likely to get seriously ill."

A settlement hearing between lawyers for the Special Warfare community members and Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin and Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro took place Wednesday. Details were not immediately available on PACER, the online site for federal court documents. The lawsuit was initially filed on behalf of the 36 Special Warfare community members but was turned into a class suit, according to a news release from First Liberty, the law firm that handled the case for the plaintiffs.

COVID-19 vaccination status cannot be considered when determining if someone can be deployed, according to the new standardized guidance for COVID-19, released as a NAVADMIN in response to a Congressional action that removed the requirement as part of the Fiscal Year 2023 National Defense Authorization Act.

Austin officially rescinded the COVID-19 vaccination mandate on Jan. 10 after the order’s removal passed as part of the Fiscal Year 2023 National Defense Authorization Act.

During arguments before the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans, attorney Heather Hacker said the service members still face the possibility of discipline over their refusal to get vaccinated and the government has not ruled out taking vaccination status into account when doling out future assignments.

In a Jan. 11 naval administrative message, Chief of Naval Personnel Vice Adm. Rick Cheeseman noted that all commands will “immediately discontinue administrative separation processing of Navy Service Members solely for refusing the COVID-19 vaccine, including those with approved separation letters.”

The action, which was announced this week by Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and is required by the defense authorization bill passed last month, doesn’t address damage to military careers or restore the faith of service members sidelined by their refusal to take the vaccine, said Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Caroline Crumbacker.

Austin’s memo has been widely anticipated ever since legislation signed into law on Dec. 23 gave him 30 days to rescind the mandate. The Defense Department had already stopped all related personnel actions, such as discharging troops who refused the shot.

A provision in the Fiscal Year 2023 National Defense Authorization Act, signed by President Joe Biden on Dec. 23, removed the COVID-19 vaccine mandate for active-duty service members.

Congressional Republicans negotiated with the Democrat-led House and Senate to include language that would rollback the military’s COVID-19 mandate as part of the Fiscal Year 2023 National Defense Authorization Act, according to a bill released late Tuesday.

The $858 billion plan (which includes roughly $817 billion in Department of Defense spending) also includes plans for a 4.6% pay raise for troops starting next month and nearly $19 billion in extra funding to deal with extra inflation costs on construction, fuel prices and other military purchases

The Navy has separated a total of 1,544 active-duty sailors and 327 reservists for refusing to get the mandatory two-shot vaccine for COVID-19. Another 22 sailors were also released in their first 180 days of service, bringing the Navy’s total of separated sailors to 1,893.

MSGID/NAVADMIN/CNO WASHINGTON DC/CNO/OCT//

SUBJ/U.S. NAVY COVID-19 STANDARDIZED OPERATIONAL GUIDANCE 7.0//

REF/A/MSG/CNO/111536ZAPR22//
REF/B/DOC/USD(PR)/08AUG2022//
REF/C/MSG/CNO/241805ZNOV21//
REF/D/DOC/NMCPHC/27DEC2021//
REF/E/DOC/NMCPHC/14MAY2021//
REF/F/DOC/NMCPHC/19MAR2021//
REF/G/MSG/CNO/041827ZAUG21//
REF/H/MSG/CNO/231718ZAUG21//
REF/I/OPNAVINST F3100.6K/10AUG21//

NARR/REF A is NAVADMIN 093/22, U.S. NAVY COVID-19 STANDARDIZED OPERATIONAL
GUIDANCE 6.0 (CORRECTED COPY).
REF B is USD P&R CONSOLIDATED DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE CORONAVIRUS DISEASE 2019
FORCE HEALTH PROTECTION GUIDANCE-REVISION 2 available at
https://www.defense.gov/Explore/Spotlight/Coronavirus/Latest-DOD-Guidance/
(Select "Health Protection Conditions Levels" tab from the site menu on the
left).
REF C is NAVADMIN 268/21, REQUIRED COVID-19 TESTING FOR UNVACCINATED SERVICE
MEMBERS.
REF D is NAVY AND MARINE CORPS PUBLIC HEALTH CENTER COVID-19 OMICRON VARIANT
AND BOOSTER EFFECTIVENESS.
REF E is NAVY AND MARINE CORPS PUBLIC HEALTH CENTER U.S. NAVY FORCE HEALTH
PROTECTION WITH CONSIDERATIONS FOR VACCINE EFFICACY.
REF F is NAVY AND MARINE CORPS PUBLIC HEALTH CENTER DOCUMENT ASSESSING REAL
COVID-19 RISK.
REF G is NAVADMIN 165/21, SOVEREIGN IMMUNITY POLICY.
REF H is NAVADMIN 180/21, UPDATE 3 TO NAVY COVID-19 REPORTING REQUIREMENTS.
REF I is OPNAVINST F3100.6K, SPECIAL INCIDENT REPORTING PROCEDURES.
 
POC/OPNAV/COVID CELL TEAM LEAD, (703) 571-2822//EMAIL:
OPNAV_COVID_CRISIS_RESPONSE_CELL@US.NAVY.MIL.

RMKS/ 1.  Purpose.  This NAVADMIN provides updated COVID-19 Standardized
Operational Guidance (SOG 7.0) and replaces reference (A).

2.  Summary.  SOG 7.0 driving objectives remain the health and safety of our
sailors and civilians while preserving operational readiness. The virus is
still with us and it is still dangerous, and the combination of vaccines,
boosters, command engagement and personal accountability continue to be or
best defense.
SOG 7.0 should be read in its entirety.  Clarifying edits based upon fleet
feedback have been incorporated throughout. Notable changes include guidance
for training personnel (paragraph 5.e), definition of close contacts
(paragraph 5.j), use of N3N5 as Navy Component Commander (NCC) for commands
with non-operational reporting chains (paragraph 5.e), guidance on meetings
with greater than 50 participants (paragraph 8.k), and cancels reference
(H), Special Incident Reporting requirements (paragraph 10).

3.  Applicability.  SOG 7.0 applies to all service members (active duty and
ready reserve) assigned to or supporting operational units as defined in
paragraph 5.e below (Operational and Non-Operational Forces).
Non-operational forces, civilian employees and contractor personnel should
follow the latest Department of Defense (DOD) Force Health Protection,
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and state/local area
guidance and seek policy clarification via local command Human Resource
channels.  Additionally, higher echelon Commanders guidance may apply.

4.  Evolving Guidance.  The CDC is the authority for COVID-19 measures on
behalf of the general public.  The Navy Surgeon General remains the
authority for Navy COVID-19 measures and advises the Chief of Naval
Operations (CNO) on how best to apply CDC guidance across the spectrum of
unique Navy operating environments, and may include additional measures not
required by the general public.  Accordingly, and except when specifically
referred to the CDC website (e.g., booster approval and guidance), evolving
CDC guidance related to virus behavior and mitigations shall first be
evaluated by the Navy Surgeon General prior to Fleet implementation.
Questions regarding applicable COVID-19 measures may be directed to the
point of contact POC listed above.

5.  Definitions.  CDC definitions regarding COVID-19 are kept current on the
CDC website (https://www.cdc.gov).  The following additional DoD definitions
are provided:

5.a.  Fully Vaccinated:  Term for an individual who has completed a primary
COVID-19 vaccine series as defined in reference (C).  Applies two weeks
after the final dose is received.  During the time period from initial dose
until two weeks after the final dose, an individual is considered partially
vaccinated.

5.b.  Up-to-Date (UTD) COVID-19 Vaccination:  Term for an individual who has
also received all CDC recommended COVID-19 vaccine dose(s), including
booster dose(s), when eligible.  UTD COVID-19 Vaccine and booster guidance
is subject to change and is available on the CDC website.

5.c.  High-Risk Personnel:  Those individuals designated by a medical
provider who meet CDC criteria for increased risk of severe illness.
Qualifying conditions are included on the CDC website.

5.d.  Commander:  For the purposes of this NAVADMIN, the term Commander
includes Commanding Officers, Officers-in-Charge, Masters, and Aircraft
Commanders.

5.e.  Operational and Non-Operational Forces:  For the purposes of this
NAVADMIN, operational forces and non-operational forces are defined by the
applicable NCC.  For operational forces, this might include deployed forces,
forces in sustainment, or other operational elements that the NCC determines
to fall within the intent and context of this NAVADMIN.
Personnel conducting training in underway or airborne Navy platforms are
considered operational forces.  OPNAV N3N5 shall act as the NCC for units
that do not report via an operational NCC (e.g., USS CONSTITUTION, USNA,
ROTC units, etc.).

5.f.  Restriction of Movement (ROM):  Term for limiting personal interaction
to reduce risk to a broader population. Personnel executing directed ROM
remain in a duty status and will not be charged leave.
ROM-sequester, when directed, is the Navy term for preemptive ROM in order
to reduce risk of infection in advance of movement.  Because of the Navy
vaccination policy, ROM and ROM-sequester are now rare, but may be required
in specific cases or in concert with movement to a foreign country.  For
tracking and trending purposes, report instances of ROM and ROM-sequester to
N3N5 via the POC of this message.

5.g.  Isolation.  The separation of an individual or group infected or
reasonably believed to be infected with a communicable disease from those
who are healthy in such a place and manner to prevent the spread of the
communicable disease.

5.h.  Health Protection Measures (HPM):  Comprehensive term for mitigation
measures that reduce the spread of COVID-19.  This includes physical
distancing, wearing masks, and enhanced environmental cleaning and
disinfection.  Recommended HPMs are included on the CDC website and in
paragraph 8 below.

5.i.  Viral Test:  For the purposes of this NAVADMIN viral test may refer to
either a test that measures the antigens (antigen test) or a test that
measures viral RNA (nucleic acid amplification test (NAAT) to include
Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) test).

5.j.  Close Contact:  The definition of a close contact has become more
discretionary (no longer strictly within 6 feet for greater than 15 min
within 24 hrs.).  A close contact is now identified through contact tracing
and exposure risks per reference (B).  Exposure risks are based upon
multiple factors that can result in higher transmission risk, including:
length of time and distance from an infected person; if that infected person
was coughing, singing, shouting, or breathing heavily; if that infected
person had symptoms at the time of exposure; if either or both persons were
wearing a mask or respirator; and, how well-ventilated the space was.

6.  ACTION:  Per reference (B), all personnel assigned to operational Navy
units shall be fully vaccinated against COVID-19.  To ensure continuing
protection, all personnel assigned to operational units are encouraged to
also receive recommended vaccine boosters.  Unvaccinated personnel shall not
execute orders to operational Navy units.  Commanders of operational units
shall temporarily reassign unvaccinated personnel from their commands with
the concurrence of the first flag officer in the chain of command.
Exceptions will be managed case-by-case by the applicable NCC and reported
to the POC listed above.

6.a. Actions for personnel suspected of being infected:

6.a.1. Symptomatic.  Test immediately those individuals exhibiting
COVID-19 symptoms.  If positive, isolate the individual per paragraph

6.b. and identify close contacts per reference (B).

6.a.2. Close Contact.  Wear a mask for 10-days starting on the day
identified as a close contact, and test on day 5 if practicable.  If
symptoms develop, isolate until tested and carry out the actions of
paragraph 6.a.1.

6.a.3.  Isolation.  Isolate individuals who test positive for five days or
until symptoms are clearing, whichever is longer, including 24 hours with no
fever and without fever-reducing medication (day zero is date of positive
test or symptom onset, whichever occurred first).  Isolation may be
conducted either ashore or afloat.  Once released, individuals will wear a
mask for an additional five days (minimum 10 days total).
No exit testing is required and, absent symptoms, prior positives should not
be PCR tested again for 90 days (per paragraph 7.b).

6.b.  Actions for Unvaccinated Personnel.  In addition to the actions in
paragraphs 6.a above, if a person who is unvaccinated,  partially
vaccinated, or unwilling to disclose their vaccination status develops
symptoms or is identified as a close contact (e.g., during the transfer
process), refer to medical providers.

7.  COVID-19 Testing.

7.a.  Test Procurement.  Demand for testing supplies remains high.
To ensure uninterrupted operations, and as feasible, commands will
coordinate with their supporting supply activities to obtain testing
supplies 60 days in advance of need. This should include additional tests
required for U.S. testing of personnel during anticipated port calls.

7.b.  Testing of Persons Previously Infected with COVID-19. Because of
lingering non-infectious virus activity, persons have tested positive for up
to 90-days following diagnosis.  Accordingly, viral retesting is neither
required nor recommended within 90 days of initial diagnosis.
If symptoms develop at any time during this same 90-day period, isolate
until evaluated by a medical provider.

7.c.  Surveillance / Ship-Wide Testing.  Surveillance or ship-wide testing
is not required or recommended and has previously identified large numbers
of asymptomatic persistent false positives.

7.d.  Testing Priority.  Personnel exhibiting COVID-19 symptoms are the
highest priority for testing. If testing asymptomatic close contacts per
paragraph 6 will stress testing supplies, or if operations preclude testing
(e.g., small, remote teams or depleted testing supplies), Commanders are
authorized to forego testing asymptomatic close contacts regardless of
vaccination status. This prioritization is consistent with CDC guidance
(https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/php/
contact-tracing/contact-tracing-plan/prioritization.html).

8.  Operating in a COVID-19 Environment.  The guidance in this section
endeavors to balance risk to force and risk to mission with the real or
potential risk of operating in a COVID-threat environment.  Broad latitude
is afforded both NCCs and their subordinate Commanders.

8.a.  Up-to-date (UTD) COVID-19 Vaccination.  Commanders should encourage
UTD COVID-19 Vaccination of personnel at least 30-days prior to
deployment-related movements or operations.

8.b.  Medical Screening.  Medically screen newly reported personnel and
conduct a command-wide monthly data review and assessment, as directed by
the NCC.  Complete an additional pre-deployment screening seven days prior
to deployment.  Screening shall be conducted by medical providers and
reported to the unit Commander to assist in assessing risk and mitigations.
Screening will include, at a minimum, vaccination and vaccine booster
status, review and assessment of
COVID-19 exposure history (those under the 90-day rule), and underlying risk
factors.

8.c. Military Sealift Command (MSC).  Commander MSC will exercise such
exceptions and associated mitigations with regard to Civil Service Mariners
(CIVMARs) and contract personnel for deployment on MSC vessels as necessary
for operational reasons, in accordance with existing MSC Quality Management
System processes and procedures.

8.d.  Fully vaccinated High-Risk Personnel.  The decision to operate and
deploy with fully vaccinated high-risk personnel rests with the Commander,
as advised by medical providers, who must report intentions to their
immediate superior in command.  High-risk personnel shall be PCR viral
tested within three days prior to embarking.

8.e.  Pre-Deployment ROM-sequester.  Fully vaccinated personnel should not
normally ROM-sequester ahead of planned operations.
However, Geographic Combatant Commanders and some host nations may direct
ROM-sequester prior to deploying to specific areas of operation. NCCs will
follow ROM-sequester guidance of the applicable Geographic Combatant
Commander and host nation.
Per paragraph 5.f, and for tracking and trending purposes, report instances
of ROM and ROM-sequester to N3N5 via the POC of this message.

8.f.  Underway HPM.  As a result of demonstrated vaccine effectiveness, a
100% fully vaccinated operational force, and a healthy demographic, serious
illness or death resulting from COVID-19 for fully vaccinated individuals is
statistically very unlikely, and modeling contained in references (E), (F),
and (G) indicates this will continue in the context of current variants.
UTD COVID-19 Vaccination reduces the risk even further.  However, the
increasing contagious nature of evolving variants, combined with the
isolation requirements of paragraph 6, can result in unmanageable numbers of
even mild illnesses and increased risk to force or risk to mission.  The
following HPM, at a minimum, are required as practicable:

8.f.1.  Medical screening as outlined above in paragraph 8.b.

8.f.2.  Masks.  Following in port periods, Commanders should consult with
medical providers regarding the in port threat environment and consider
wearing masks for the first 10-days at sea following departure from port.
Similarly, Commanders should consider wearing masks in response to the onset
of onboard COVID-19 cases.

8.f.3.  Educate and reinforce the importance of both s elf-monitoring for
symptoms and prompt reporting.

8.f.4.  Educate and reinforce the importance of frequent hand-washing or
sanitizing and social distancing, when possible.

8.f.5.  Aggressively isolate COVID-19 positive individuals per paragraph 6
above.

8.f.6.  Ensure adequate ventilation in spaces routinely manned.

8.f.7.  Educate and reinforce focused cleaning efforts on high-touch
surfaces, at least daily or more frequently, depending upon usage (e.g.,
tables, hatch latches, ladder handrails, phones, watch console keyboards and
buttons, toilets, faucets, sinks, etc.).  Although remote, there is evidence
of surface spread of COVID-19 and other viruses with similar symptoms.

8.g.  Considerations for Adding or Relaxing HPM.  NCCs and Commanders should
consider for any unit the operational impact resulting from the number of
sailors in isolation, either ashore or afloat, regardless of percentage of
immunized personnel, UTD COVID-19 Vaccinations, or severity of symptoms.
Commanders may elevate or relax HPM at any time in support of operational
safety and effectiveness and retain the latitude to temporarily apply
alternate HPM in lieu of isolation.  An example might be a rapid spread that
compels a Commander to employ asymptomatic or mildly symptomatic positives
to manage watch-bill impact while recovering others in isolation, applying
additional alternate measures as needed to minimize spread.  The following
should be considered before adjusting HPM:

8.g.1.  Overall number of individuals in isolation and trend.
The general rule of thumb for a COVID-19 outbreak trending in a favorable
direction is that the number of those exiting isolation matches (flattening
curve) or exceeds (lowering curve) those entering isolation, combined with
the assessment that the total number of symptomatic individuals is
manageable and improving, and watch-bill (operational) impact is manageable
and improving.

8.g.2.  In the presence of onboard COVID 19, if less than 75% of the total
eligible crew is UTD for vaccinations (meaning more than 25% of the crew
meets the criteria for, but has not received, a vaccine booster and is
therefore at increased risk), implement the requirements of 8.f.2 (mask
wearing) until the impact and trend (8.g.1) are determined.

8.g.3.  Proximity to shore or afloat Medical Treatment Facilities, balanced
with HPM and onboard trend.  For example, crews that are 100 percent fully
vaccinated with a manageable COVID-19 case load may operate in locations
within a one week timeline to a Medical Treatment Facility, while crews with
a growing caseload may more prudently move to a 72-hour or less timeline.

8.h.  Port Visits.  Liberty is an important mission and should be pursued
within the context of this NAVADMIN. Geographic Navy Component Commanders
(GNCC) will set conditions for foreign port off-base liberty in coordination
with country teams and local authorities, taking into account host country
requirements, vaccination and booster status, sovereign immunity per
paragraph 9 below, COVID-19 prevalence and mission requirements.

8.i.  Aircraft Operations. On a case-by-case basis, Squadron Commanders may
exempt aircrews and aircraft maintainers from this guidance in order to meet
emergent operational or NATOPS currency requirements.  Exemptions and
mitigation plans must be approved by the Squadron Commander.  This authority
may be delegated to Officers in Charge of deployed detachments. For aviation
units embarked on surface ships, mitigation plans will be coordinated with
the ships health protection plan and approved by the ships Commanding
Officer or Master.

8.j.  Post-Deployment.  Personnel returning to homeports from deployment
shall follow CDC and U.S. Department of State travel and testing
requirements.  If return travel includes foreign countries, personnel shall
follow the travel and testing requirements for those individual countries,
subject to sovereign immunity concerns (see below). Updated travel
information is on the following website: https://travel.
state.gov.

8.k.  50+ Participant Meetings.  Reference (B) directs additional approval
requirements for Navy sponsored in-person gatherings with more than 50
participants.  When CDC COVID-19 community level is categorized as "high",
Under Secretary of the Navy approval is required.  All meeting organizers
should require all attendees to follow requirements of exposure risk,
including distance. Meeting requests for Under Secretary of the Navy
approval shall be routed through the resource owner to the Director of Navy
Staff.

9.  Sovereign Immunity.

9.a.  It is U.S. Government policy to protect the sovereign immunity of
warships, naval auxiliaries, and aircraft, including protecting crew
information to the maximum extent possible. Within the context of COVID-19,
host nations may request or require crew or ship information that exceeds
that authorized by U.S. policy or international law.  NCCs will ensure
appropriate training and guidance on protecting U.S. sovereign immunity and
on the protection of health information as part of OPSEC/personal security.

9.b.  GNCCs should endeavor to determine in advance those host nations that
may challenge U.S. sovereign immunity and, as able, avoid them. See
reference (H) for additional guidance.  In all cases, GNCCs shall authorize
the minimum information necessary in order to meet operational requirements.
The Navy Declaration of Health (NAVMED 6210/3) is the only authorized form
for providing health information to foreign officials.  If required by the
host nation, and with GNCC concurrence, Commanders, at their discretion, may
include on the NAVMED 6210/3 that their unit is 100% vaccinated, those
disembarking have tested negative within the required timeframe, or that
those disembarking have received a vaccine booster.

9.c.  Exceptions to Policy (ETP).  On a case-by-case basis, and to support
operations, OPNAV N3N5 may grant an ETP to mitigate the operational impact
of host nation COVID-19 requirements.  Any action that may constitute or 
require a waiver of sovereign immunity must be coordinated by the applicable 
GNCC with OPNAV N3N5 for ETP approval no later than five days ahead of need.
To avoid precedence beyond COVID-19, an ETP will be messaged to the host
nation as explicitly linked to the pandemic.  Requests shall include
justification for port selection, host nation mitigation and testing
requirements, alternate port options, impact to mission if the request is
denied, medical, legal, collection and privacy risk, and feedback from
country team coordination. Notifications and requests may be sent via record
message traffic, email to the POC provided above, or both.

9.d.  Guidance for Commanders.  Per the direction of their GNCCs, Commanders
shall comply with domestic and foreign quarantine regulations for port entry
and document compliance on NAVMED 6210/3.  Absent GNCC approval in advance,
Commanders will not submit to host nation COVID-19 testing nor provide
individual or collective medical data, copies of health records, nor any
supplementary or locally-demanded health forms, and shall not grant access
to ship or crew health records or allow the same to be searched or inspected
by host nations.  If compelling circumstances require a Commander to
acquiesce to additional host nation requirements without obtaining an ETP or
GNCC concurrence (e.g., personnel emergency, weather avoidance), report the
event and circumstances as soon as practicable to OPNAV N3N5 via the chain
of command.

10.  Reporting Procedures.  Reference (H) is cancelled.
All COVID-19 cases for Navy service members, dependents, civilian employees,
and contractors shall be reported to Senior Navy Leadership via the OPNAV
COVID-19 SharePoint; access and instructions are available at
[https://portal.secnav.navy.mil/cop/crc/COVID]. OPREP-3 Navy Blue messages 
are required for: 1) COVID-19 related deaths; 2) Service Member MEDEVACs 
associated with COVID-19; 3) COVID-19 media interest events, and 4) 
Significant operational impacts due to COVID-19. Format messages per 
reference (I).

11.  Released by VADM W. R. Merz, Deputy Chief of Naval Operations for
Operations, Plans and Strategy, OPNAV N3/N5.//

BT
#0001
NNNN
UNCLASSIFIED//

The Navy separated 177 active-duty sailors over the past month, according to the monthly COVID-19 update. The sea service also separated two members of the reserve for refusal to get vaccinated against COVID-19.

With the most recent separations, the Navy has dismissed 1,712 sailors from the Navy, all of whom have received an honorable discharge, according to the update.

A military judge in Japan, Navy Cmdr. Ben Robertson, on Monday delayed Arnett’s special court-martial after her lawyer cited an Aug. 18 order by a federal judge temporarily barring the Corps from punishing or discharging Marines who refused the vaccine on religious grounds.

Unlike the vaccines produced by Pfizer or Moderna, which use mRNA, the Novavax shot uses a SARS-CoV-2 recombinant spike protein to produce an autoimmune reaction in order to protect against further infection. The Novavax shot is more traditional and similar to other vaccines against disease like tetanus or HPV.

Of the total 1,466 separations, 1,121 are active-duty sailors, while 323 are reservists. Another 22 separations are sailors who were in their first 180 days of service.

The Navy has the second highest number of separations of the Department of Defense military branches. The Marine Corps, which leads the services, has separated more than double the number of service members.

RMKS/1. Purpose. As supplemental guidance to reference (a), this ALNAVRESFOR provides separation processing and administrative protocols for Navy Reserve Personnel with approved exemptions or who have submitted requests for religious accommodation from the COVID-19 vaccination requirement consistent with references (b) and (c). For this ALNAVRESFOR, the term “Navy Reserve Personnel†includes the following: all Selected Reserve (SELRES) members, Individual Ready Reserve (IRR) members assigned to a Volunteer Training Unit (VTU), any IRR members currently performing active duty orders, Strategic Sealift Officers (SSOs) in the IRR, and other IRR members in the Active Status Pool (ASP).

2. Action.

2.a. Members with Approved or Pending Exemption Requests. Navy Reserve Personnel with approved or pending COVID-19 exemption requests or appeals have not refused the vaccine as defined in references (d) and (e), and shall not be processed for separation or be subject to adverse actions as outlined in references (d) – (j). 

2.b. Members with Religious Accommodation Requests Denied or Disapproved on Appeal. Navy Reserve Personnel whose request for religious accommodation from the COVID-19 vaccine requirement has been denied or disapproved on appeal shall be subject to the guidance set forth in reference (a) and as that guidance, specific to Navy Reserve Personnel, is further supplemented herein.

3. Transfer and Assignment.

3.a. Cognizant Navy Reserve Activities (NRAs) and related authorities will continue to consider the unvaccinated status of Navy Reserve Personnel when making deployment, assignment, and other operational decisions, per reference (a).

3.a.1. Commander, Navy Reserve Force N1, may consider timelines for commissioned unit deployment and will take into account those units identified as operating forces of the U.S. Navy in the Standard Navy Distribution List of reference (k) when making assignments of unvaccinated members. Navy Reserve Personnel in operational units who are reassigned may be supported via Personnel Move Request (PMR) to modify Projected Rotation Date (PRD) to allow for those members to find new billets and to provide for the ability to advertise the vacated billet.

3.a.2. Commander, Navy Reserve Force N1, and Active Component supported commands shall collaborate and determine appropriate assignment for unvaccinated Navy Reserve Personnel in units not included in Paragraph 3.a.1.

3.b. Navy Reserve Personnel with Remaining Military Service Obligation (MSO). Navy Reserve Personnel separating from active duty, whose request for religious accommodation from the COVID-19 vaccine requirement has been denied or disapproved on appeal and who have remaining MSO, may either be transferred to the IRR-ASP or may request assignment to the Selected Reserve as applicable.

3.c. Transfer between Reserve Component Categories and Navy Reserve Readiness Unit (NRRU) Assignment. Unvaccinated Navy Reserve Personnel whose request for religious accommodation from the COVID-19 vaccine requirement has been denied or disapproved on appeal may request transfer between the Selected Reserve and the IRR in accordance with separate governing issuances, and may seek other administrative actions, such as a TRUIC change.

4. Inactive Duty Training (IDT), Inactive Duty Training – Travel (IDTT), and Annual Training (AT)/Active Duty for Training (ADT).

4.a. Subject to applicable travel restrictions identified in reference (l), unvaccinated Navy Reserve Personnel with approved exemptions or religious accommodation exemption requests pending, denied or disapproved on appeal may perform on-site IDTT, ADT and AT, and unvaccinated SSOs may perform on-site ADT and non-paid IDT drills.

4.b. In addition to the direction in Subparagraph 4.a., unvaccinated Navy Reserve Personnel with an approved exemption or with religious accommodation exemption requests pending, denied or disapproved on appeal may perform virtual or telework IDT drills, ADT, and AT. Those members may also reschedule IDT drills when NRRU Commanding Officers and the cognizant supported command determine that such performance sufficiently promotes mobilization readiness and permits those personnel to satisfy Reserve Component participation requirements.

4.c. NRAs shall not disapprove AT waiver requests solely because an unvaccinated member with an approved exemption or with a religious accommodation exemption request pending, denied or disapproved on appeal is unable to complete his/her AT participation requirement due to reference (l) travel restrictions. If not already done, Navy Reserve Personnel with an approved exemption or a religious accommodation exemption request pending, denied or disapproved on appeal, who are seeking an AT waiver for the balance of Fiscal Year 2022, shall submit a waiver request no later than Thursday, 30 June 2022.

5. Reporting. Database reporting IAW references (m) and (n) continue to apply. Commanding Officers are directed to continue updating the CCDA database with the appropriate entry each time there is a change in vaccination status. Navy Reserve Centers (NRCs) and Region Readiness and Mobilization Commands (REDCOMs) will utilize the Navy Reserve SharePoint ADSEP Portal to report COVID-19 vaccination and separation status and other related data. REDCOMs will request portal permissions from the POC listed in paragraph 9. REDCOMs will grant portal permissions to NRCs. CNAFR and CNIFR will report separation status via Enterprise Task Management System 2.0 (ETMS2).

6. If in doubt as to how to adjudicate issues related to separation of a Navy Reserve Personnel consistent with this interim guidance, Commanders should seek guidance from their chain of command, their staff judge advocate, and/or the CCDA before acting. Commands without an assigned legal advisor may seek legal advice from a Region Legal Service Office or the Office of the Staff Judge Advocate for the cognizant REDCOM/ECH IV. In all cases, Commanders are accountable to ensure the health and safety of their command while treating every Navy service member with dignity and respect.

7. Points of contact.
PERS-8 Active/FTS enlisted separations:
*832vaccineadseps.fct(at)navy.mil*
PERS-8 Officer separations:
*PERS-834(at)navy.mil*
PERS-8 Active/FTS/TAR enlisted retirements:
*Enlisted_Active_Duty_Retirements(at)navy.mil*
PERS-8 Active/FTS/TAR officer retirements:
*pers_835_retirements(at)navy.mil*
PERS-8 Officer and enlisted promotion delays:
NPC_promotionwithholds.fct(at)navy.mil*
PERS-92 Officer and enlisted definite recalls:
*PERS-92(at)navy.mil*
PERS-9 Reserve enlisted separations:
*913vaccineadseps.fct(at)navy.mil*
PERS-9 Retirement (non-regular) outreach:
CDR Sarah C. McGann, sarah.c.mcgann.mil(at)us.navy.mil
PERS-97 Officer transitions:
*cto.officer(at)navy.mil*
PERS-97 Enlisted transitions:
*cto.enlisted(at)navy.mil*
BUPERS-32 Selective Reenlistment Bonuses:
mill_incen_pays.fct(at)navy.mil
OPNAV POC:
CAPT Jason D. Grizzle,
*ALTN_N1_NAVY_SCR.FCT(AT)NAVY.MIL*
CNRFC N12:
CDR Florence L. Yarbrough,
florence.l.yarbrough.mil(at)us.navy.mil
CNR/CNRF Force JAG:
CAPT William J. Bailey, Jr.,
william.j.bailey.mil(at)us.navy.mil
CNRFC JAG:
CDR Catheryne E. Pully,
catheryne.e.pully.mil(at)us.navy.mil
ADSEP Portal:
CDR Stephanie L. Speakman,
stephanie.l.speakman.mil(at)us.navy.mil

8. Released by RADM John A. Schommer, Deputy
Commander,
Navy Reserve Force.//
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