The newly appointed commander of the Oklahoma National Guard is refusing to enforce the Department of Defense’s coronavirus vaccine mandate for troops.
Army Brig. Gen. Thomas Mancino wrote in a memo that no member of the Oklahoma National Guard will be required to get vaccinated, according to The Oklahoman, which obtained the memo.
The memo further states “no negative administrative or legal action will be taken” against guardsmen who refuse to get vaccinated.
Lt. Col. Geoff Legler, a spokesman for the Oklahoma National Guard, told the newspaper that the memo is intended to allow guardsmen to serve in the state without fear of being punished.
However, “it does not provide any protection should they need to attend any military school or training activity run by an active-duty component or the Department of Defense,” Legler added.
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Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt (R) announced Wednesday that he appointed Mancino to serve as the state’s Adjutant General and National Guard commander. However, he still has to be confirmed by the state Senate.
Stitt has been vocally opposed to vaccine mandates; earlier this month, he wrote a letter asking Austin to suspend the mandate for members of the Oklahoma National Guard, arguing that it violates their personal freedoms.
Pentagon Press Secretary John Kirby told The Hill in a statement that the department is aware of Mancino’s memo and Stitt’s letter, adding that the agency will “respond to the governor appropriately.”
“That said, Secretary Austin believes that a vaccinated force is a more ready force,” Kirby said. “That is why he has ordered mandatory vaccines for the total force, and that includes our National Guard, who contribute significantly to national missions at home and abroad.”
- Discussion
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New commander of Oklahoma National Guard refuses to enforce vaccine mandate https://t.co/Hy1biGRE4E pic.twitter.com/nQw1vvNbq5
— The Hill (@thehill) November 14, 2021
It is difficult to imagine this level of stupidity and defiance of a Governor and State AG to a sensible order of the Sec Def. Covid is killing the unvaccinated by the tens of thousands. These brave Guard Forces must be ready to deploy. Ignorance. https://t.co/soTXENKWji
— Barry R McCaffrey (@mccaffreyr3) November 13, 2021
Man, I am old enough to remember – no, really, because it was the 80s – when conservatives blew a gasket over liberal governors like Mike Dukakis refusing to let Reagan send Guard units anywhere near Central America.
(Dukakis lost in court.)
Times change. https://t.co/dGkAQYDrEc— Tom Nichols (@RadioFreeTom) November 13, 2021
The relevant precedent is Perpich v. Department of Defense, 496 U.S. 334 (1990), in which the Supreme Court unanimously “recognize[d] the supremacy of federal power in the area of military affairs.” https://t.co/vAC7gsFUmz https://t.co/Gcx1Es6pD8
— Phillip Carter (@Carter_PE) November 13, 2021
Pentagon remains firm on vaccine mandate for Oklahoma National Guard https://t.co/offJ5NHS2J pic.twitter.com/L84mJN5IeC
— The Hill (@thehill) November 17, 2021
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