Army Chief of Staff Gen. Randy George has taken action to review the general officer memorandums of reprimand, known as GOMORs, issued to soldiers who resisted the Biden administration’s coronavirus vaccine mandate. This move comes after many soldiers faced serious career consequences due to their refusal to comply with the mandate.
Gen. George has reached out to some of these soldiers personally, letting them know that the Army is looking into their cases. The GOMORs were a form of administrative punishment that significantly impacted the careers of those affected. Over 8,000 troops were expelled from the military for not taking the vaccine, and many more chose to leave due to the mandate.
In December 2022, Republicans in Congress overturned the vaccine mandate, which had resulted in the dismissal of healthy troops during a critical time for military recruitment. The Pentagon officially ended the mandate in January 2023. Following this, former President Donald Trump issued an executive order allowing troops who were discharged due to the mandate to return to service, reinstating them at their previous ranks along with backpay and benefits.
Despite the changes, some soldiers still serving in the Army have GOMORs on their records due to their vaccine resistance, which has harmed their careers. Gen. George’s recent order aims to address the repercussions of the mandate and help repair the damage done to these soldiers’ careers.
Approximately 1,900 soldiers were forced out due to the mandate, and reports indicate that more than half of them have been contacted by Army officials. So far, around 200 of these soldiers have expressed interest in returning to service.
The recruitment numbers for the Army, Air Force, and Navy have been on the rise under the Trump administration, and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has prioritized improving recruitment efforts. Gen. George’s actions could play a significant role in restoring the careers of those affected by the vaccine mandate, which has been a contentious issue within the military.