A senior US Marine Corps general argues that the military mandate to vaccinate against COVID-19 is affecting recruitment efforts.
“Where it’s having an impact for sure is in recruiting, where in parts of the country there are still myths and misconceptions about the history behind it,” Marine Corps Commandant Gen. David Berger said of the mandate during a panel. in the Reagan National Defense. Forum in Simi Valley, California, according to a report by Military.com.
Berger said the vaccine mandate is necessary to keep troops healthy, but argued that the politicization of the issue early in the vaccine development process left many skeptical about its effectiveness.
“There was no accurate information from the beginning and it was very politicized and people make decisions and they still have those same beliefs. That’s hard to get over, really hard to work with,” Berger said.
MCCARTHY VOWS MILITARY VACCINE MANDATE WILL END OR NATIONAL DEFENSE BILL WON’T MOVE FORWARD
A United States Marine receives the Moderna coronavirus vaccine at Camp Foster April 28, 2021 in Ginowan, Japan.
(Photo by Carl Court/Getty Images)
Despite his belief that the vaccine has been a useful tool in stopping the spread of COVID-19, Berger admitted that the issue is not a start for many who may be interested in enlisting in the military.
“Small areas, big factor,” he said. “You talk to me in the cafeteria and one of my first questions is, ‘Do I have to get that shot?’ And you say, ‘Yes, you do.’ Ok, I’ll talk to you later. It’s that fast.”
Berger’s comments come as all branches of the military have faced a recruiting crisis, and the Army is having the hardest time filling its ranks, falling 25% short of its recruiting targets on last year.
As Republicans prepare to take control of the House next year, the party has made the military vaccine mandate a key issue. House Minority Leader kevin mccarthy, who could be the next Speaker of the House, said the new Republican majority would not allow a new National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) to pass unless the mandate was lifted.
House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy.
(AP Photo/Meg Kinnard, File)
GOP SENATORS DEMAND VOTE ON MILITARY VACCINE MANDATE IN EXCHANGE FOR ADVANCES IN NDAA
“We are working on what is the [NDAA], the national defense bill, we will ensure the lifting of that vaccine mandate in our military. Because what we’re finding is that they’re kicking out men and women who have been serving. … That’s the first win of having a Republican majority, and we’d like to have more of those wins, and we should start moving them now,” McCarthy said during an interview with Fox News Channel’s Maria Bartiromo on “Sunday morning futures.“
The White House has expressed a willingness to work with Republicans to lift the mandate. President Biden would prefer to keep the rule in place.
President Biden.
(Drew Angerer/Getty Images)
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“Leader McCarthy raised this with the president, and the president told him he would consider it,” White House spokeswoman Olivia Dalton told Fox News Digital when asked about McCarthy’s comments. “The secretary of defense has recommended retaining the mandate and the president supports his position. Discussions on the NDAA are ongoing.”
