By Victoria Manning | Restoration News
Actions taken by previous Democrat administrations have had negative impacts on current and former servicemembers, and the effectiveness of America’s warfighting services.
They are seeking relief from harm caused by the COVID vaccine mandate—deemed unlawful by Defense Secretary Hegseth—and racist DEI policies.
While recent progress has provided some hope, many more servicemembers need appropriate restitution.
STARRS (Stand Together Against Racism and Radicalism in the Services) is comprised of former military officers seeking to rectify the damage done by the Biden administration’s unlawful COVID vaccine mandate and woke policies.
They’ve received hundreds of cases regarding military members kicked out or otherwise harmed. STARRS’ lawyers have reviewed the cases, asking the Trump administration to correct records and give appropriate restitution.
Although the Trump administration gave a directive to reinstate servicemembers discharged for refusing the COVID shot, some personnel don’t qualify or have been stuck in bureaucratic paperwork.
STARRS provided Restoration News with an inside look into the cases they’ve received.
COVID Vaccine Mandate Retaliation
Here’s a look at a few of the actual cases:
- An ROTC student lost his scholarship because he had a religious objection to taking the shot. He was told he had to repay his tuition and was not permitted to commission into the military. He still desires to become a military pilot.
- A Space Force officer received two letters of reprimand for his refusal to take the shot. He received an Article 15 non-judicial punishment but exercised his right to a court martial trial instead of accepting the Article 15. The Space Force took no action toward the court martial but instead assigned him telework at home. When the vaccine mandate ended in 2023, the Space Force dropped the discharge actions but placed a “do not promote” recommendation into his file. Space Force then discharged him due to a lack of ability to promote.
- A military reservist nurse refused the vaccine due to an autoimmune disorder. Her civilian physician advised against taking the shot. She was ordered not to report for reserve drill, but her command would not put that order in writing. After the COVID vaccine mandate was rescinded, she was ordered to take a flu vaccine which she refused for the same medical reasons. She faces an administrative discharge board just eight days before she is eligible for retirement.
President Trump’s executive order directed the military to reinstate—with back pay—members involuntarily separated due to COVID refusal. However, that doesn’t help those whose records reflect voluntary separation. New leadership indicates movement toward a solution for these cases.
Stuart Scheller is a new senior advisor in the office of Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness serving under newly confirmed Anthony Tata, a retired Army brigadier general. Scheller indicated in a recent X post that cases deemed voluntary may also apply for reinstatement consideration.
Bruce Smith, a former JAG and military judge volunteering to help these servicemembers, told Restoration News:
“Vestiges of the pro-Biden military, civilians and active duty alike, are dug in deep, pushing back against changes ordered by the Commander in Chief and his Secretary of Defense.
The immediate task before the Administration is to ensure that all of its nominees to service branch leadership are confirmed by the US Senate ASAP.
Moreover, POTUS and SecDef ought to give serious consideration to the removal of those officers who are still seeking retribution against COVID vaccine refusers or who actively push the DEI agenda.”
Forced Out Over DEI
Not only did the military force out these honorable servicemembers over an unlawful vaccine mandate, but many also became victims of racist diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) ideology. Here are just a couple of those cases:
- A young Caucasian male officer serving on an ROTC candidate selection board became the subject of overt racial discrimination and retaliation. After he reported this discrimination to his commander, he received an immediate suspension from his duties. His chain of command won’t explain why he has been given menial tasks and why his promotion was redlined. He filed complaints with the inspector general and more, but none have proceeded to resolution, and he faces imminent discharge.
- A nurse was relieved of command after she was branded a racist. She ordered a black enlisted man to shave—he had no shaving waiver but complained to his commander anyway claiming racism. In another incident, a black, overweight female called the nurse racist for endorsing her failed physical fitness test. The nurse, who was on track to promote to O-6, has been relegated to a non-promotable job.
Restoration News previously reported in depth about Air Force Chaplain Curt Cizek—forced out of the military after he preached a sermon about the Biblical prohibition of extramarital sex. Cizek also seeks restitution over his forced military separation.
Thanks to watchdog groups like STARRS, dedicated to protecting the individual rights of American servicemembers, hope exists that justice will prevail.
Leaders have taken positions at the highest levels of government, like Undersecretary of the Air Force Matt Lohmeier, who understand first-hand the impacts of racist DEI agendas. Lohmeier was relieved of command in the Space Force after he spoke up about the dangers of critical race theory that is rooted in Marxism.
Now Lohmeier and other anti-woke leaders have taken positions as decision-makers and can take action to remedy the destruction caused by past administrations.
They must root out senior military leaders who espouse radical ideologies, like those highlighted at RestoreTheMilitary.com, a project of Restoration of America.
America’s military needs to focus solely on warfighting, not Marxist, anti-American propaganda.
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Victoria Manning is a Senior Investigative Researcher for Restoration News specializing in education freedom, immigration, and military issues. She is the author of Behind the Wall of Government Schools. Victoria served 8 years as an elected school board member and has a master’s degree in law. She also brings the perspective of a military spouse and mother to her reporting. Email Victoria HERE
First published on Restoration News
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