Orange County Register: “Marines and sailors who choose not to get the COVID-19 vaccine by the end of November will be released from the service, in a general but honorable discharge, officials with those services have said, making them ineligible for some benefits from the GI Bill. An administrative order recently issued by Marine Corp leadership requires all Marines to receive the vaccine or they will be considered to have disobeyed an order. Active-duty personnel must be fully vaccinated by Nov. 28, and reservists must be fully vaccinated by Dec. 28.

“The message sent to the troops said ‘Marines refusing to take the vaccine absent medical exemptions, religious accommodations or pending appeal,’ will be processed for discharge and additional disciplinary action or even a court martial is not out of the question. The Navy has issued a similar message. In addition, the order says Marines who refuse the vaccine will not be promoted or deployed, and those in command will be removed. And, those who are not fully vaccinated won’t be deployed, but instead will be reassigned locally.

“‘The Marine Corps recognizes COVID-19 as a readiness issue,’ Capt. Andrew Wood, a Marine spokesman, said in a statement. ‘The rise of the highly transmissible Delta variant and the speed with which it transmits among individuals have increased risk to our Marines and the Marine Corps mission. We are confident the vaccine protects our Marines, our communities and our nation.’ Wood said no information is available at this time on how many exemption requests have been filed. A report on those numbers will be provided after the deadline has passed, he said.  To be eligible for the full benefits of the GI Bill, as it was updated after Sept. 11, 2001, a service member must have an honorable discharge. Marines and sailors who are discharged for not being vaccinated will lose tuition and housing allowances for pursuing education and possibly other benefits, according to the Veterans Administration.”