U.S. Navy officials argue they have ‘lost confidence’ in the unnamed commander’s ‘ability to lead’ after the officer joined a class-action lawsuit challenging the military branch's COVID jab mandate.
The chaplain faces the loss of his retirement benefits after rejecting the COVID-19 vaccine, but he said 'this is a fight worth fighting. I do not think this is a lawful order.'
The demotion comes just days after Federal District Judge Reed O'Connor ruled in favor of the U.S. Navy SEALs who are seeking an exemption to the COVID-19 vaccine mandate.
Marines who decline the vaccine risk losing their pensions and other benefits, as well as forced separation or court martial, although court proceedings for thousands or tens of thousands of individual service members would likely overload the military’s disciplinary system.