About 40,000 Army National Guard Soldiers, who are not vaccinated, risk losing their pay and being forced out of the service as the Covid-19 Vaccine deadline is fast approaching.
Guard members have until Thursday to get the jab or suffer the consequences.
That means that between 20%-30% of the soldiers in six states and more than 10% of Guardsmen and women in 43 other states face losing their jobs.
Guard leaders say states are trying to convince soldiers to get vaccinated,
“We’re not giving up on anybody until the separation paperwork is signed and completed. There’s still time.”
All active-duty, National Guard and Reserves were ordered to get the jab last year by Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin.
According to the Pentagon, after June 30 the federal government will not pay Guard members who aren’t vaxed when they are activated on federal status which includes their monthly drill weekends and two week annual training.
Nearly 10 governors petitioned Austin to drop the mandate with some filing lawsuits. However, Austin declined.
