FOLLOW ON COVID-19 VACCINE RESCISSION ACTIONS

[Tony]

CLASSIFICATION: UNCLASSIFIED// 
ROUTINE 
R 061627Z MAR 23 MID200080785328U 
FM CNO WASHINGTON DC 
TO NAVADMIN 
INFO CNO WASHINGTON DC 
BT 
UNCLAS 
 
NAVADMIN 065/23 
 
MSGID/GENADMIN/CNO WASHINGTON DC/N1/MAR// 
 
SUBJ/FOLLOW ON COVID-19 VACCINE RESCISSION ACTIONS// 
 
REF/A/DOC/NDAA-FY23/HR 7900// 
REF/B/DOC/SECDEF/10JAN23// 
REF/C/MSG/SECNAV/201839ZJAN23// 
REF/D/MSG/CNO/112139ZJAN23// 
REF/E/MSG/CNO/152142ZFEB23// 
REF/F/DOC/DEPSECDEF/24FEB23// 
REF/G/DOC/SECNAV/24FEB23// 
 
NARR/REF A IS THE NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2023.   
REF B IS SECDEF MEMO, TITLED RESCISSION OF COVID-19 VACCINATION REQUIREMENT 
FOR MEMBERS OF THE ARMED FORCES.  
REF C IS ALNAV 009/23, RESCISSION OF COVID-19 VACCINATION REQUIREMENT FOR 
MEMBERS OF THE ARMED FORCES.   
REF D IS NAVADMIN 005/23, REMOVAL OF COVID-19 VACCINATION MANDATE.   
REF E IS NAVADMIN 038/23, U.S. NAVY COVID-19 STANDARDIZED OPERATIONAL 
GUIDANCE 8.0.   
REF F IS DEPSECDEF MEMO, GUIDANCE FOR IMPLEMENTING RESCISSION OF 24 AUGUST 
2021 AND 30 NOVEMBER 2021 CORONAVIRUS DISEASE 2019 VACCINATION REQUIREMENTS 
FOR MEMBERS OF THE ARMED FORCES.   
REF G IS SECNAV MEMO, DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY ACTIONS TO IMPLEMENT CORONAVIRUS 
19 VACCINE RESCISSION.// 
 
RMKS/1.  References (a) through (g) rescinded the Navy's COVID-19 
vaccine mandate.  COVID-19 vaccination is no longer required for 
Navy Service members, and refusing the COVID-19 vaccine is no longer 
a basis for separation from the Navy. 
 
2.  Reference (d) ended administrative separations based solely on 
COVID-19 vaccine refusal.  Separation processing may continue in 
cases where there are other reasons for separation. 
 
3.  In line with reference (e), COVID-19 vaccination status shall 
not be a consideration in assessing individual Service member 
suitability for deployment or other operational assignments.  Navy 
Service members who are unvaccinated against COVID-19 and are 
approaching, in, or past their assignment window should contact 
their detailer if not already being processed for their next 
assignment. 
 
4.  Reference (b) directed the military services to cease processing 
requests and appeals seeking religious accommodation from the COVID- 
19 vaccine.  Such requests and appeals by Navy Service 
members are now closed and are considered returned without action. 
Navy Service members who submitted requests or appeals seeking 
relief from other mandatory vaccinations along with a COVID-19 
vaccine request that have not yet been adjudicated will be contacted 
individually in line with reference (g). 
 
5.  In line with reference (g), the records of currently serving 
Navy Service members who requested religious accommodation from 
COVID-19 vaccination are being centrally reviewed to identify and 
remove any adverse information related to vaccine refusal, should it 
exist.  Other current and former Navy service members 
may petition the Board for Corrections of Naval Records regarding 
COVID-19 vaccination related matters. 
 
6.  In line with reference (g), selection board precepts will 
include language that precludes consideration of adverse 
information regarding COVID-19 vaccine refusal in the case 
of Service members who submitted religious accommodation requests. 
 
7.  Released by Vice Admiral Richard J. Cheeseman, Jr., N1.// 
 
BT 
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CLASSIFICATION: UNCLASSIFIED//