Top U.S. Naval Officer Says Navy Chaplains Are Blocking Religious Vaccine Exemption Requests

The Naval officer told NATIONAL FILE: “I am actively pursuing a religious exemption from the COVID jab…The Navy is essentially saying they have the ability to give a religious exemption as lip service to placate constitutional believers and followers! How ridiculous! There really is no intention of allowing COVID exemptions! They are merely broadcasting an illusion that exemptions exist! Sort of like the illusion that the vaccines will cure the pandemic” He added, “FYI, my command is pushing the shot HARD right now. They are talking about disobeying direct orders and NJP (non judicial punishment) if not done in the next 2 weeks! Why the rush?”

NAVY DOCUMENT 1 from August 15, 2020 is entitled “IMMUNIZATION EXEMPTIONS FOR RELIGIOUS BELIEFS.” The document states that a commander can suspend a religious exemption “if necessary due to an imminent threat to health or safety.”

The chaplains have to approve religious exemption requests: “Content of Commander’s Endorsement. In line with reference (b), COs must endorse every request for religious accommodation through waiver of immunization requirements. The content of the endorsement must include: a. An endorsement from a military chaplain in line with reference (d), b. A recommendation to approve or disapprove the request, c. Relevant information concerning the applicable operational or regional policies, d. Negative effect (if any) on mission accomplishment (i.e., military readiness, unit cohesion, good order, discipline, health, and safety), e. The number of Service members in the command that have been granted a similar exemption for non-religious purposes…”

Sailors who want the religious exemptions have to undergo “Applicant Counseling” which coaches them on “The additional risk to health on exposure to disease against which the applicant will not be protected by a military physician who informs Service member of disease concerned, and benefits and risks of vaccine;” and “The possibility that the applicant may be detained during travel across international borders due to international health regulations” and “The possibility that individuals granted such exemptions may have their waivers revoked if they are at imminent risk of disease (e.g., exposure to anthrax, measles, cholera, etc.) or due to international health regulations.”

The Navy also makes it clear that “COs may, without prior approval, revoke a Service member’s authorized immunization waiver in the event of imminent risk of disease due to exposure or as a result of international health regulations incident to foreign travel.”

Of course, the Navy threatens severe punishment including court martial against vaccine resisters who get their applications denied.

Here is the Format that religious exemption applicants must use: “I request a waiver of the (state the type) immunization. I hereby state that my request is based upon (religious objection to immunization or other reasons specifically described). I acknowledge having received the following counseling: 1. Failure to obtain immunization poses additional risk to my health upon exposure to disease. 2. In the event of foreign travel, I may be detained during travel across foreign borders due to international health regulations. 3. If granted, a waiver may be revoked by my commanding officer if I am at imminent risk of disease or due to international health regulations. 4. If my job duties change, I may need to route a new request. 5. If I am at my permanent change of station while my waiver is in effect, I may need to route a new request if my job duties change, my geographic region exposes me to the aforementioned disease, or other factors exist that could put me at imminent risk of disease.”

NAVY DOCUMENT 2 comes from Department of the Navy, Chief of Naval Personnel in Arlington, Virginia, and is dated March 16, 2020. The subject line is “STANDARDS AND PROCEDURES GOVERNING THE ACCOMODATION OF RELIGIOUS PRACTICES”

The document states: “Deputy Chief of Naval Operations (Manpower, Personnel, Training and Education) (CNO N1). CNO N1 is responsible for overseeing this religious accommodation policy and will review and act on religious accommodation requests that require waiver of Department of Navy (DON) policy and are routed to CNO N1 for approval as indicated in Tables 1 and 2”

The Navy makes sure to say “Many religious practices do not require an exception to Navy policy and can be accommodated at the command level.”