(Coast Guard) By Kathy Murray, Senior Writer, MyCG
The Coast Guard announced the process to allow members who separated because of the COVID-19 vaccine mandate to return to the Service.
Under the Presidential executive order released Jan. 27, 2025, reinstatement is allowed whether you were involuntarily discharged or left voluntarily, solely due to the COVID-19 vaccination.
To qualify for reinstatement, however, you must be willing and qualified to return to active service for at least four years in most cases.
Involuntary separations
Former Coast Guard members who were discharged solely for refusal to receive the COVID-19 vaccine are eligible to seek reinstatement.
These servicemembers will be automatically included in a group application to the Board for Correction of Military Records (BCMR) to have their records corrected to reflect continued service during their period of separation.
After the BCMR orders awarding constructive service credit, the Coast Guard will calculate and make back pay, benefits, bonus payments, or other compensation, subject to required offsets available.
Information on how back pay will be calculated is here. Be aware if you earned income similar to your military pay during separation, you will likely not qualify for back pay.
Note: Eligible servicemembers will be notified of their inclusion in the group BCMR application and may opt out. You can also seek alternate or additional relief through an individual application to the BCMR.
Voluntary separations
If you’re a former Coast Guard member who voluntarily left the service, allowed your service to lapse, or retired according to appropriate procedures rather than be vaccinated for COVID-19, you are eligible to seek reinstatement with no impact on your service status, rank, or pay.
You must submit a sworn attestation that you voluntarily left the service rather than be vaccinated. A sample attestation is available here.
Re-accession under this policy will not include back pay, credit for lost service, or similar relief associated with reinstatement.
Members who voluntarily left the service will not be included in the group application to the BCMR but can seek alternate or additional relief through an individual application to the BCMR.
Pre-screening
The Coast Guard’s Return to Service Team (R2ST) has been contacting former servicemembers, as well as members that previously returned to Service, who were involuntarily separated solely for refusal to receive the COVID-19 vaccine to discuss reinstatement.
Individuals will have until April 1, 2026, to take advantage of this offer.
Upon confirmation that a former servicemember is interested in seeking reinstatement, the R2ST will conduct a reintegration screening (criminal records and credit check, security clearance initiation) followed by a prescreening evaluation of the member’s physical and medical eligibility.
When a former servicemember meets those prescreening requirements, the R2ST will work with Coast Guard medical staff to schedule a more thorough physical to ensure all interested members meet medical retention standards outlined in Medical Standards for Military Service: Retention, DoDI 6130.03, Volume 2.
Pre-Reinstatement Assistance
For those former members whose records are corrected to reflect a backpay or other benefits owed to the former member, the R2ST will coordinate with the Pay and Personnel Center (PPC) to facilitate an expedited estimate of all pay and benefits.
The R2ST, via the Virtual Recruiting Center (VRC), will encourage and facilitate pre-submission of relevant information and documentation (e.g., tax returns, medical expenses) by any former servicemember who expresses a desire to return to facilitate faster calculation and processing of compensation payments.
Returning to Service
Returning members should prepare to accept a minimum four year active-duty commitment and permanent change of station (PCS) orders.
A two-year minimum service obligation is available for individuals who would have become eligible for a regular or non-regular retirement in two years or less from the date of their separation if they had not been separated solely due to their refusal to comply with the COVID-19 vaccination mandate.
The Coast Guard will restore members to their former rank, and those who had promotions or advancements withheld solely due to their COVID-19 vaccination status will have those promotions or advancements restored during the reinstatement process.
Note: Former servicemembers discharged solely due to the COVID-19 vaccine mandate who choose not to reinstate will not be able to have their records corrected under this policy. Instead, these individuals may separately apply to the BCMR for alternate relief related to their COVID-19 vaccination discharge.
For questions, concerns, or reinstatement resources, please visit the R2ST website at https://www.uscg.mil/Return2Service/ or contact the R2ST at SMB-COMDT-Return2ServiceInquiries@uscg.mil.
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