Marines will get chance to comply on vaccines

Active-duty Marines who do not comply with the directive to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 by the department-mandated Nov. 28 deadline will be counseled and given the chance to comply before being forced out of the military, Navy Secretary Carlos Del Toro told reporters Wednesday.

Administrative messages to the Navy and Marine Corps, which both fall under the secretary’s authority, say sailors and Marines who do not comply with the military-wide vaccine mandate will be administratively separated and could face further administrative punishment unless they have an approved or pending waiver.

However, when asked about the Marine Corps during a phone conference with reporters Wednesday, Del Toro signaled there may be some deadline wiggle-room for those who change their minds.

“We’re going to ... offer them an opportunity to change their mind,” Del Toro said, adding that the service won’t just kick Marines out as soon as the deadline hits.

Del Toro didn’t directly address noncompliant sailors during Wednesday’s call, but during a recent visit to San Diego, he said the service will take a similar approach to noncompliant sailors.

“We’re going to work with those that decide not to get vaccinated for whatever reason,” Del Toro told reporters in San Diego on Nov. 8. “We’re going to counsel them, we’re going to talk to them and we’re going to give them opportunities first.”

Although the secretary did not say just how much lenience noncompliant sailors and Marines can expect upon missing the deadline, administrative messages issued by the services suggest it won’t be much. Both branches have been instructing their unit commanders on how to prepare for and proceed with administrative separations for those who refuse the vaccine.

The latest, issued Monday by the Navy, instructs commanders to begin preparing for administrative separation for any sailors refusing the vaccine and await further orders.