The Department of War is extending the deadline for troops discharged over refusing a COVID-19 vaccine to rejoin the military, officials said March 20.
The new deadline is April 1, 2027, or a year beyond the prior deadline.
“We’re extending this to make sure that anybody who wants to take advantage of it has additional time to take advantage of it,” Secretary of War Pete Hegseth said in a video statement. “Maybe you were waiting to see whether we meant it or not. We do.”
Some 8,700 troops were discharged for not taking a COVID-19 vaccine after the military imposed vaccination requirements in 2021 during the COVID-19 pandemic….