US Navy to deny all vaccine religious exemptions, disciplining those that speak out

According to a document obtained by The Post Millennial from NAVSEA, the vaccine is mandatory for all US Navy personnel, both civilian and military, as a condition of employment.

"We are moving quickly towards a workforce where vaccinations are a condition of employment. Frankly, if you are not vaccinated, you will not work for the US Navy," Vice Admiral Bill Galinis said in a statement.

Galinis said that vaccination is mandatory in order to fully execute the Navy's missions and added that the pandemic negatively impacted the ability to effectively serve the fleet.

In documents obtained by conservative author Liz Wheeler, the United States Navy plans to issue blanket denial of all religious exemptions. They say granting COVID vaccine exemptions to service members that have taken other vaccinations in the past undermines the seriousness of exemption requests.

The document, which serves as an exemption disapproval template, was issued to the Deputy Chief of Naval Operations from Corry Station.

A couple examples of requests that are to be denied include:

• Good order and discipline: "This service member has taken previous Department of the Defense and Department of the Navy mandated vaccines; to allow an exemption for this one specific vaccine, undermines the seriousness of the religious accommodation request and fairness to those that complied and received the COVID-19 vaccine as ordered."

• Health and safety: "Unvaccinated Sailors pose a health risk to themselves and others; no current alternative exists to mitigate this global pandemic safety issue."

Wheeler also reported that despite the US Navy's claims that they need Sailors to be vaccinated in order to complete their missions, an email to IWTC Corry Station stated that mission was achieved despite being in a global pandemic.

Furthermore, Wheeler added that blanket denial of religious exemptions directly violates US Navy policy.

Religious exemption requests for vaccines must be "screened by a Chaplain, reviewed by the CO & fwd'd to the first O-6 in the chain of command for endorsement, then sent from O-6 to Chief of Naval Personnel, VADM John Nowell," Wheeler said.

According to two sworn affidavits from Sailors, CDR Schley said that Captain Ratkus ordered her to deny all religious exemptions which she knows is in direct violation of policy. The Sailors said they overheard her complain about CPT Ratkus forcing her to deny exemptions.

In addition, the United States Navy has been actively targeting service members that have spoken out against the vaccine mandate.

According to documents obtained by The Post Millennial, the Navy suspended high-level security clearance for service members voicing that they are unwillingly to comply.

"The purpose of this letter is to inform you of the intent to suspend your access to classified information and assignment to a sensitive position in the interest of national security," a commanding officer said in a letter.

The commanding officer also ordered them to surrender their security badges.