Navy Commander cautions Pentagon’s vaccine mandate may cause significant readiness decline.
Defense Secretary’s Vaccine Mandate Weakened U.S. Military, Says Naval Officer
A senior naval officer warns that Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin’s military vaccine mandate in August 2021 has had lasting negative effects on the U.S. military. Navy Commander Rob Green, who currently serves and risks retaliation for his views, spoke to The Epoch Times about the mandate’s repercussions.
While acknowledging that his views do not represent the Department of Defense or Department of the Navy, Cmdr. Green believes that even though the mandate was officially rescinded in January, it may have caused irreparable harm and a “looming” readiness crisis.
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In his revealing book “Defending the Constitution Behind Enemy Lines,” Cmdr. Green shares compelling stories of those who resisted the military mandate and compares their actions to those of America’s Founding Fathers.
From the start, Cmdr. Green argued that the mandate was unconstitutional because service members were given vaccines authorized for emergency use only, without full FDA approval.
He criticizes the coercion used to encourage service members to take the vaccine, which further damaged the military’s credibility after the Afghanistan withdrawal.
Loss of Trust and Betrayal
According to Cmdr. Green, the military vaccine mandate and the subsequent removal of conscientious service members have caused a deep betrayal of trust. He highlights the media’s focus on the separation of tens of thousands of service members, while neglecting the hundreds of thousands who were forced to receive the vaccine against their will.
He predicts that recruitment and retention will suffer, leading to a massive readiness crash in the next few years.
Cmdr. Green also criticizes the lack of acknowledgment and support for service members who have experienced vaccine injuries, comparing it to the neglect of those affected by asbestos or Agent Orange.
Call for Accountability
In an op-ed, Cmdr. Green argues that military leadership must be held accountable for their failures. He points out the lack of accountability for the lives lost in the Global War on Terror, the botched Afghanistan withdrawal, and the separation of service members due to the vaccine mandate.
He highlights Senator Tommy Tuberville’s efforts to slow down promotions as a way to push for change in DOD policy and hold leaders accountable.
Loss of Individual Liberty
Cmdr. Green believes that senior military leaders have become enemies of the Constitution by trampling on individual rights. He criticizes the focus on political agendas, such as Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) training, which he believes weakens the armed forces.
He warns that the military wants compliant and malleable service members, and the purge of patriots will leave the military vulnerable.
Leaders Prioritize Political Agendas
Cmdr. Green argues that senior military leadership prioritizes political agendas over supporting individuals in defending the constitutional republic. He criticizes DEI programs that place institutional problems on groups of people instead of judging individuals based on their own words and actions.
Call for Accountability
Cmdr. Green calls for accountability at the highest levels of military leadership. He believes that without renewed commitment to the Constitution and the rule of law, the crisis of trust among service members and the American public will continue to worsen.
Chairman’s Message and Betrayal of Trust
General C.Q. Brown, the newly confirmed chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, emphasizes the importance of trust in the military. However, former U.S. Army lieutenant colonel Bradley Miller, who was relieved of command for refusing the vaccine, believes there has been a betrayal of trust in senior military leadership decisions.
The Epoch Times has reached out to the Navy and Pentagon for comment.
What are Cmdr. Green’s arguments regarding the constitutionality of mandating vaccines that were not fully approved by the FDA?
D accountable for their decision to implement and enforce the vaccine mandate without proper consideration of the potential consequences. He asserts that the trust between service members and their leadership has been severely damaged, and this needs to be addressed and repaired.
Cmdr. Green’s concerns regarding the vaccine mandate stem from the fact that the vaccines were only authorized for emergency use and did not have full FDA approval. He believes that it was unconstitutional to mandate vaccines that were not fully approved by the FDA, and that service members should have been given the choice to make their own decisions regarding their health.
Furthermore, he highlights the coercion tactics used to encourage service members to take the vaccine, which he claims further eroded trust in military leadership. He believes that the forced vaccination of service members against their will undermines the credibility of the military, especially in the aftermath of the Afghanistan withdrawal.
One major issue that Cmdr. Green emphasizes is the disparity in media coverage between the separation of service members who refused the vaccine and the forced vaccination of those who did not consent. He elucidates that while the media has focused on the removal of those who resisted the mandate, little attention has been given to the widespread violation of personal choice and autonomy experienced by service members who were forced to receive the vaccine.
In terms of long-term implications, Cmdr. Green warns of the potential negative impact on recruitment and retention of service members. He posits that the loss of trust and the perceived betrayal caused by the vaccine mandate and subsequent removals will dissuade potential recruits from joining the military and prompt current members to consider leaving, resulting in a significant readiness crisis in the future.
Additionally, Cmdr. Green criticizes the lack of acknowledgement and support for service members who have experienced vaccine injuries. He compares this neglect to the historical neglect faced by veterans affected by asbestos or Agent Orange, highlighting the need for comprehensive care and assistance for those who suffer vaccine-related injuries.
In conclusion, the military vaccine mandate implemented by Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin in August 2021 has had lasting negative effects on the U.S. military, according to Navy Commander Rob Green. The mandate, which has now been officially rescinded, is believed to have caused irreparable harm and a “looming” readiness crisis. Cmdr. Green raises concerns about the violation of personal choice, the erosion of trust, and the lack of support for service members affected by the mandate. He calls for accountability and a reevaluation of military leadership’s decision-making process.
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