West Point Reimposes Travel Restrictions on Unvaccinated Cadets

U.S. Military Academy cadets attend the 2020 graduation ceremony at West Point, New York, on June 13, 2020. Timothy A. Clary/AFP via Getty Images

Unvaccinated cadets at the U.S. Military Academy in West Point, New York, are facing travel restrictions again, despite the military lifting its COVID-19 vaccine mandate earlier this month, according to reports.

Military attorney R. Davis Younts told Just the News on Jan. 30 that reimposing the restrictions despite the mandate being dropped by the Department of Defense “feels like coercion” to push cadets into getting the shots, which has been prompted by the Biden administration.

The lawyer questioned the justification behind the policy but acknowledged that West Point ultimately has the authority to make such a change.

“Is there suddenly a crazy spike in COVID deaths in West Point, New York,” or is it because there isn’t “anything left to coerce [the cadets] into compliance?” the attorney told the publication.

According to Younts, at the height of the pandemic, West Point implemented a policy banning cadets from traveling or taking part in sports or other events.

However, once vaccines were available, West Point declared that the ban on travel only applied to those cadets who were unvaccinated, according to Younts.

Cadets walk across 'The Plain' before the Oath of Allegiance ceremony during Reception Day at the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York on June 27, 2016. Drew Angerer/Getty Images

Pentagon Drops Military Vaccine Mandate

Last semester, though, when the military vaccine mandate was still in place, West Point reportedly dropped the policy and allowed unvaccinated cadets to travel and take part in sports events.

It has since reimposed the travel mandate for unvaccinated cadets, according to Younts, despite the U.S. Department of Defense withdrawing the vaccine mandate earlier this month. A provision to drop the mandate was included in this year’s $858 billion National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA).

In a statement to the Washington Examiner, a spokeswoman with the U.S. Military Academy Office of Public Affairs and Communications said: “The U.S. Military Academy at West Point continues to follow Department of Defense’s guidance regarding unvaccinated service members.

“U.S. Army policy states unvaccinated service members are not eligible for official travel without prior approval from the Under Secretary of the Army. Until the policy is rescinded, West Point will continue to follow it,” the statement continued.

The Epoch Times has contacted the U.S. Military Academy Office of Public Affairs and Communications for comment.

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin had mandated that all U.S. military members get the initial COVID-19 vaccine in August 2021—after the Pfizer vaccine was approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA)—citing the need to protect military readiness.

Preventative Medicine Services NCOIC Sgt. First Class Demetrius Roberson prepares to administer a COVID-19 vaccine to a soldier in Fort Knox, Kentucky, on Sept. 9, 2021. Jon Cherry/Getty Images

Over 8,000 Troops Discharged Under Vaccine Mandate

Roughly 8,500 troops have been discharged or “separated” for declining to get a COVID-19 vaccine or failing to get an approved exemption since the mandate went into effect, although obtaining the latter proved to be extremely difficult.

Just 0.5 percent of religious accommodation requests have been approved by the Marines, while 1 percent have been approved for the Navy and 2.3 percent for the Air Force. Roughly 6 percent of religious accommodation requests were approved by the Army.

Younts told Just the News that he believes the number of discharges is even higher than 8,500 when you take into consideration those who “voluntarily” separated, retired, or were unable to reenlist.

The Department of Defense has not said what will happen to the thousands of military members who were kicked out for failing to get the shot or those who were part way through the “separations” process.

A memo signed by Austin on Jan. 10 (pdf) states that the department will “continue to promote and encourage Covid-19 vaccination for all service members,” and that all commanders have the responsibility and authority to maintain unit readiness and a healthy force.

The memo adds, however, that other department policies, including mandates for other vaccines, remain in place and include the “ability of commanders to consider, as appropriate, the individual immunization status of personnel in making deployment, assignment, and other operational decisions, including when vaccination is required for travel to, or entry into, a foreign nation.”