The Louisville Courier-Journal reports:
Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., tweeted that members of the U.S. military have contacted him saying they will ‘quit’ if forced to get a COVID-19 vaccine. The tweet has caused controversy on Twitter as others on the platform informed Massie that members of the armed forces cannot simply “quit” the military.
Once a member of the military reports to their first duty station, they are contractually obligated to remain within the service of the U.S. armed forces according to the Military Benefits website.
Leaving without sanction or quitting is considered AWOL or absent without leave. If that military member leaves with no intent of returning, then it becomes a more serious charge of desertion.
Read the full article.
I’ve been contacted by members of our voluntary military who say they will quit if the COVID vaccine is mandated.
I introduced HR 3860 to prohibit any mandatory requirement that a member of the Armed Forces receive a vaccination against COVID-19.
It now has 24 sponsors. https://t.co/lbqYESmBYy
— Thomas Massie (@RepThomasMassie) July 3, 2021
Have you ever served, sir? All of us have gotten dozens of mandatory vaccinations for readiness sake…(It’s tough to fight on a ventilator). Would you support a bill allowing service members to opt out of deployments they disagree with? No. This is insanity.
— Nathan Freier (@NathanFreier) July 4, 2021
Thank you to the science-illiterate libs who boosted my military-vaccine tweet to 13 million impressions!
I’m no expert on the terms under which someone would be discharged from the military for refusing a vaccine, and I don’t give legal advice but there’s a history…
— Thomas Massie (@RepThomasMassie) July 5, 2021
1999-02-27 TRAVIS AFB — An airman who refused to receive a controversial anthrax vaccination will be discharged under “other than honorable conditions” instead of facing a court-martial, the U.S. Air Force announced last night.
— Thomas Massie (@RepThomasMassie) July 5, 2021
My legislation to prevent members of the military from being forced to take this novel vaccine (for which we are finding new adverse reactions every month) would prevent any discharges due to the vaccine — honorable, dishonorable, general, medical, or otherwise.
— Thomas Massie (@RepThomasMassie) July 5, 2021
A) SMs [servicemembers] can’t “quit,” they can only decline to re-enlist or go AWOL & get prosecuted and chaptered out.
B) Vaccine requirements are universal & mandatory, including add’l rqmts depending on the theater or situation.
C) Learn about troop readiness or retire.
— #UhOhIMustBeAntifa (@Terry_Wechsler) July 5, 2021
.@RepThomasMassie is a lying, treasonous, boot licking worm. I have a message for him, if you agree with me RT this and let’s make sure he and the GQP see this video. #Airborne pic.twitter.com/HBe3z4xmaZ
— Richard N. Ojeda, II (@Ojeda4America) July 5, 2021