House Republicans continue dismantling the COVID regime. Rep. Cory Mills (R-FL) grills Under Secretary Gil Cisneros on the dismissal of military service members for refusing the COVID-19 vaccine. Rep. Mills goes so far as to call it an "unlawful purge."
Rep. Mills first touches upon what colleague Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) mentioned in his questioning.
He cites DD Form 3176 and its companion 3177; which are requests for medical exemptions, namely in this case the COVID-19 vaccine; are being "reviewed in a timespan of about twelve minutes per."
Under Secretary Cisneros answers that he is "not familiar with that form," but has "seen some of the packets that have gone through the process of being evaluated."
Rep. Mills is quick to follow up by asking if the lengthiness of the questions contained in the form, pertaining to why the requesting servicemember should be granted the exemption; can truly be reviewed in a mere twelve minutes.
Cisneros simply says that he "doesn't think it was twelve minutes."
Moreover, Mills quotes Cisneros as saying our military is "as strong as ever" despite the discharge of approximately 8,400 personnel and steep drop in recruiting, 25,000 below projected numbers.
"The COVID-19 vaccine allowed us to go out and train, it allowed us to operate, it allows us to deploy around the world, and keep up our mission and carry out the national defense strategy and defend the nation," Cisneros replies.
"By increasing battle fatigue?" Mills sharply retorts, citing his own personal military service.
"Maybe you haven't experienced battle fatigue because there wasn't recruitment shortages to the level they are right now, but they do exist," he adds.
Furthermore, if illness-related deaths in the military have been declining since 2000 according to the Defense Casualty Analysis System, how did the COVID vaccine have any impact on this number?
Cisneros gives approximately the same response as he did when asked if the military is truly as "strong as ever."
Lastly, Mills also notes that the vaccine exemptions were primarily given if the requesting service member was leaving within six months.
"I can tell you this, sir, as a military combat veteran and proud service member, I will be pushing; as well as, I'm sure, our Chairman as well as the Armed Services Chairman; to allow these individuals who were unlawfully purged, in my opinion, to be reentered into the military with their full benefits, their backpay, and be granted what they should've been given, which is the chance to serve the United States military," Mills concludes.
