OPINION:
The greatest threat to military readiness is not an unvaccinated soldier. It is the Biden administration’s ham-handed orchestration of the abrupt separation of tens of thousands of active and reserve component troops. Neither the active component nor the National Guard can maintain readiness with the loss of so many troops due to administrative discharges.
This policy will do more harm to readiness than allowing reasonable exemptions. President Biden is once again failing his troops and his duties to the American people as commander in chief. I heartily endorse Oklahoma Brig. Gen. Thomas Mancino’s refusal to enforce Mr. Biden’s radical vaccination orders for his troops. The Biden administration’s extremist vaccine mandates must end, and states are the best positioned to stand up and put a stop to it.
Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt and Mr. Mancino have taken a commonsense stand against absurd dictates not supported by science or experience. Their refusal is solidly grounded in fulfilling their responsibilities to their troops and their state. Adjutants general follow legal, ethical and moral orders. While the legality of the mandate may be up for debate, it is unquestionably unethical to threaten to fire tens of thousands of unvaccinated members of America’s already-stretched-thin Armed Forces by terminating them with a less than honorable discharge. It is indisputably immoral to force the vaccine on our service members over their objections.
A less than honorable discharge will have life-changing long-term effects on these brave service members and their families. Most members would be entitled to either an administrative discharge hearing or court-martial before separation. Setting aside the illegality of Mr. Biden’s mandate, logistics associated with separating tens of thousands of unvaccinated service members will strain military resources and further distract attention away from its primary duty — defending the nation.
Subjecting our warfighters to such adverse action would be a stain on our armed forces, destroy morale and substantially hinder future recruiting and retention efforts at a time when we have lost more service members to suicide than to COVID-19. To involuntarily and adversely discharge service members who have taken a principled stand of conscience, which we demand from them in all other aspects of their service, is morally corrupt.
It is patently false that 100% vaccination is necessary to ensure readiness. There has never been a time in our nation’s history that 100% of troops were ready to deploy at a moment’s notice. There are longstanding procedures that allow troops exemptions from medical or administrative readiness requirements. If properly handled, vaccination exemptions can be granted while maintaining the readiness of the total force. Mr. Biden’s scientifically unfounded, illegitimate and irresponsible policy is nothing but political grandstanding by a weak leader.
In response, the Pentagon has threatened to defund state militias and remove their federal recognition, but I remain hopeful that these intimidation tactics are all bark and no bite. In an Oct. 18 letter to Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, Sen. James Inhofe of Oklahoma, the ranking member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, denounced the vaccine mandate and demanded the Pentagon explain the military necessity behind this self-inflicted morale and readiness catastrophe. Mr. Inhofe made it perfectly clear that he will not abandon America’s “always ready, always there” heroes.
On Jan. 8, in response to the events of Jan. 6, Pentagon leadership solicited every state to send National Guard troops to police the citizens of Washington, D.C. Fifty-three of the 54 U.S. states and territories granted that request. As the commanding general of the Arizona National Guard, I refused because the request was clearly unlawful. The laws and standards to deploy United States military personnel against their fellow citizens are clear and unambiguous. I would not support the illegal use of extraterritorial National Guard soldiers and airmen as a domestic police force against our citizens. While Arizona stood alone in opposition that day, when the Pentagon later requested those states extend their mission, 42 states followed Arizona’s lead and refused to comply.
Like Mr. Mancino, Mr. Stitt, and Mr. Inhofe, our states must not abandon America’s “always ready, always there” heroes. I’m confident that if other states follow Oklahoma’s lead and hold the line, the unconscionable and likely illegal mandate for our troops, and even the unconstitutional workplace mandate, will collapse.
• Maj. Gen. Mick McGuire is the former adjutant general of Arizona and a current candidate for the U.S. Senate in Arizona.
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