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Senator presses Army over backpay, religious freedoms for soldiers discharged for COVID vaccine refusal
Fox News
Republican Senator Eric Schmitt sent a letter to Army demanding answers over the recent letter sent to former service members discharged for refusing to get the COVID-19 vaccine.
In a letter to Secretary of the Army Christine Wormuth on Tuesday, Schmitt asked whether any soldiers would receive backpay if they decide to re-enlist, if they would be reinstated to their rank held before discharge, and whether the religious freedoms of service members will be protected moving forward. Peter Hasson is a senior politics editor for Fox News Digital. Story tips can be sent to Peter.Hasson@Fox.com and on Twitter: @peterjhasson
"These mandates certainly harmed our military’s readiness and tragically destroyed the careers of thousands of brave volunteers," the Republican Senator wrote in a letter obtained by Fox News Digital. "These members have faced negative implications for veterans benefits and employment outside of the military. It is likely that most of those former members will never return to the military and serve our nation."