US Air Force expedites reinstatement process for members separated over COVID vaccine refusal

Published Aug 12, 06:12 PM UTC

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The Department of the Air Force announced on August 12, 2026, an updated COVID-19 reinstatement process to accelerate the return of service members who were involuntarily separated in 2021 for refusing the COVID-19 vaccine. The new process runs medical certifications and Board for Correction of Military Records actions in parallel rather than sequentially, removing an average 30-day delay. Dedicated case managers will serve as single points of contact to help applicants with missing documents and ensure fast reintegration. The move aligns with the Pentagon's May 2026 establishment of a Reinstatement and Reconciliation Task Force. Despite these efforts, only about 3% of the 8,700 eligible separated service members have opted to return. The expedited program is under a one-year extension open until April 2027, as directed by Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth.

Source

Military TimesWestern

Original headline: Air Force expedites COVID reinstatement process for separated airmen, guardians

Original language: EN

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U.S. Air Force Expedites Reinstatement for COVID Vaccine Refusers

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Pete Hegseth Pentagon Department of Defense