President Joe Biden’s controversial purge of military members who refused to accept the mandatory COVID-19 vaccine has only seen a few attempts to rejoin the armed forces.
According to a new CNN report, only 43 out of the over 8,000 military personnel who were forced out have rejoined. The outlet said 19 have reenlisted the Army, 12 are back in the Marine Corps, one in the Air Force and two in the Navy.
CNN claimed the numbers proved that Republican assertions that the jab mandate hurt recruiting and retention were wrong.
Breitbart News, however, cited sources declaring that there is a different reason for troops resisting rejoining the military. Retired Air Force Master Sergeant Nick Kupper left the military after successfully fighting his discharge over the vaccine.
He told the outlet that the separated service members do not seek to rejoin because they feel betrayed by the armed forces.
He compared them to “a woman going back to her abusive husband. He promises that this time will be different,” but that’s not likely the truth.
LATEST: Only 43 of 8K Troops Discharged over Vaccine Mandate Want to Rejoin: Only 43 out of more than 8,000 service members who were discharged from the military over the Biden administration’s COVID-19 vaccine… #ConservativeNews #AmericaFirst #America https://t.co/nuHPUbCEq3
— America First Newswire™ (@Amfirstnewswire) October 6, 2023
Kupper said he spoke personally to thousands of troops and their families in the past two years. He said the overwhelming consensus was that they will not reenter the ranks under current leadership “which so readily broke the law and denied them their constitutional rights.”
The vaccine was mandated from Aug. 2021 through Jan. 2023 before it was rescinded under the National Defense Authorization Act. While in effect the requirement drew strong resistance from congressional Republicans.
It was Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin who issued the mandate after the Food and Drug Administration approved the vaccine. Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) declared that forcing soldiers to take the shot “damaged readiness” and “depleted the ranks.”
The military continues to have trouble filling its ranks with new recruits.
Kupper further predicted that the Biden administration will drag out the COVID vaccine mandate once again in 2024. “I believe that once this year’s [National Defense Authorization Act] passes the DOD will add the COVID shot to their annual list.”
He said this move would expose service members to the same treatment they just escaped. This, he said, will lead to a further “downward spiral.”
