Military Service Members Face Job Loss Over Denied Religious Exemptions to Flu Vaccine Mandates

As the heavy-handedness of the Biden-era military bureaucracy administration continues enforcement of vaccine mandates, another disturbing trend has emerged—faithful military personnel are being forced out of their careers for refusing to compromise their religious convictions.

According to recent reports, multiple service members have had their religious exemption requests for the flu vaccine denied, leaving them vulnerable to disciplinary action, including potential discharge. This alarming pattern highlights the growing hostility toward religious liberty within our armed forces, where woke ideology now trumps constitutional rights.

Just the News reported:

Marine First Lieutenant Schuyler Skipper, who has served in the military for 15 years, submitted an RAR for the flu and tetanus/diphtheria shots in December 2022. It was denied in March 2023, according to a report of misconduct reviewed by Just the News. He appealed the denial the following month, and his appeal was denied in February 2024.

The next month, Skipper was ordered to take the vaccines “within 10 working days,” the report reads. He then filed a complaint with the Headquarters of the Marine Corps Equal Employment Opportunity office alleging religious discrimination and requested an extension to the vaccine order. Skipper’s extension request was denied in April 2024, and he was informed that he had violated a lawful order. His attorney, R. Davis Younts, told Just the News on Thursday that the religious discrimination complaint was also denied.

Last month, Skipper was recommended for separation from the Marine Corps and “is in a nondeployable status due to his refusal to obtain required vaccinations.”

Religious Freedom Under Fire

These brave men and women, who have sworn to defend our nation, are now being punished for standing by their deeply held beliefs. The military’s dismissive attitude toward religious exemptions is nothing short of a betrayal—especially when many of these same service members have already received other vaccines or have natural immunity.

This isn’t about health—it’s about control. The same administration that claims to champion “diversity and inclusion” has no qualms about sidelining patriotic Americans whose only “crime” is living out their faith.

A Pattern of Discrimination

This isn’t an isolated incident. Over the past year, we’ve seen countless service members, from Navy SEALs to Air Force pilots, fight for their right to religious exemptions from COVID-19 mandates—only to face retaliation from an increasingly politicized military leadership.

Now, the flu vaccine is being weaponized in the same way. The message is clear: submit to the progressive agenda or lose your career.

The Conservative Response

Republicans in Congress must demand accountability. The military exists to defend our freedoms, not to strip them away. If the Pentagon continues down this path, it risks alienating some of the most dedicated patriots in uniform—men and women who joined the military to serve their country, not to be bullied into violating their conscience.

It’s time to push back against this authoritarian overreach. Our military should honor religious liberty, not punish those who exercise it.

What’s Next?

Service members affected by these unjust policies should have every legal avenue available to fight back. Organizations like First Liberty Institute and the Thomas More Society have already stepped up to defend religious freedoms in the military—but the battle is far from over.

If the Biden administration won’t respect the rights of those who defend our nation, then Congress must intervene. The future of our military’s integrity depends on it.

Bottom Line: The left’s war on religious liberty has reached our armed forces, and patriotic Americans are paying the price. It’s time to stand with our troops—before more careers are destroyed in the name of political correctness.