“The Department of Defense’s mandatory Covid-19 policy is damaging the health and morale of those in service to our country and dissuading others from enlisting in all branches of the armed forces,” according to Ronald J. Scott., Ph.D., Colonel, USAF, Retired and STARRS President and CEO. “This is the time to announce that the Covid-19 vaccine is now voluntary for members of the military.”
To gain support of this initiative, STARRS has written a letter to Dr. Rochelle P. Walensky, CDC Director, asking for their support in making the “Vax voluntary for the military.”
See letter below (click to enlarge).
ABOUT STARRS:
Established in the Spring 2021, STARRS is a 501(c)3 approved organization which operates primarily to provide educational information, assistance and materials related to racism and radicalism in the military. [Note: radicalism in the organization’s title is based on Michigan State University’s definition: “the beliefs or actions of individuals, groups, or organizations who advocate for thorough or complete social and/or political reform to achieve an alternative vision of American society.”]
STARRS MEDIA CONTACT
STARRS
+1 719-651-5943
TEXT:
Dr. Rochelle P. Walensky
Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
1600 Clifton Road
Atlanta, GA 30329-4027
Dear Dr. Walensky,
STARRS (Stand Together Against Racism and Radicalism in the Services, Inc.) is a group of nearly 3,000 primarily retired military officers dedicated to defending members of the armed forces against racism and radical policies that adversely affect mission readiness and the health and welfare of the men and women serving their country.
Of all the service oriented support organizations, STARRS has been in the forefront of denouncing racism and providing legal and moral support to service men and women who object to the Department of Defense’s mandatory Covid-19 vaccine policy— either for religious or medical reasons.
Our professions have much in common: Both entail an enormous responsibility for human lives and the swearing of an oath to ensure we do not fail those who depend upon us.
Physicians pledge to do no harm as specified in the Hippocratic Oath, and we vow to support and defend the Constitution.
The medical and military professions are joined in our adherence to the ten principles of the Nuremberg Code, which protects the rights of patients against coercive medical interventions without proper informed consent.
In these dangerous and unsettled times, the military fell short of recruitment goals, and the service academies experienced a precipitous drop in qualified applications.
Twenty thousand highly qualified men and women now serving their country face discharge from the armed services for refusing the Covid-19 vaccination.
Physicians and military commanders must work together and accurately assess rapidly changing conditions.
At this juncture there is little medical justification for mandatory Covid-19 vaccines for young, healthy soldiers, sailors, and air personnel serving in the military. The vaccine neither prevents acquisition or transmission of the disease.
There is no recent study demonstrating a marked medical benefit for vaccinating the military aged cohort against the prevailing Omicron variant. As the virus mutates and becomes less virulent, the argument to demand vaccination becomes progressively more feeble.
While the vaccine’s benefits diminish, the risks compound. Mounting evidence from Europe, VAERS, DMED, and V-Safe all demonstrate a risk profile that has been underestimated both terms of the number of cases and the severity of adverse events.
The Department of Defense’s mandatory Covid-19 policy is damaging the health and morale of those in service to our country and dissuading others from enlisting in all branches of the armed forces.
Arguments justifying the Covid-19 vaccine policy are based on obsolete data from viral variants that existed only in the early stages of the pandemic.
Stating that mandatory vaccination is a “military necessity” or “a valid military requirement” cannot be demonstrated empirically and demeans the credibility of the department’s leadership.
Courage separates those physicians and military leaders who risk their reputations and livelihoods in defense of the truth and in defiance of sinister forces that undermine our two vaunted professions.
This is the time to announce that the Covid-19 vaccine is now voluntary for members of the military, and that those who choose to be vaccinated will receive proper informed consent, so they understand the risks and benefits of the vaccine.
For the DOD, “Make the Vax Voluntary.” It is just the right thing to do. Can we count on you?
We look forward to hearing from you: dr ronscott@protonmail.com or 719.482.5997.
Very respectfully,
Robert D. Bishop, Jr.
Lieutenant General, USAF, Retired
Chairman
Ronald J. Scott, Jr., Ph.D.
Colonel, USAF, Retired
President and CEO
Michael T. Rose
Exec VP & General Counsel
Scott Sturman, M.D.
Member, Board of Advisors
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