May 14, 2022 — 4 seniors on the U.S. Air Force Academy is probably not allowed to graduate as a result of they’ve refused to take a COVID-19 vaccine, The Related Press reported.
The Division of Protection mandated final yr that each one army service members, together with army academy college students, be vaccinated in opposition to COVID-19 until they’re granted an exemption. Service members are also required to take a number of different vaccines.
Air Force Academy spokesperson Lt. Col. Brian Maguire mentioned the state of affairs could change as a result of “there are nonetheless two weeks till commencement, so their standing might change because the cadets weigh their choices,” The Related Press mentioned.
Commencement is scheduled for May 25 on the Air Force Academy campus in Colorado Springs, Colo. Maguire additionally mentioned two juniors, one sophomore, and 6 freshmen have refused to take the vaccine.
One attainable consequence for the Air Force cadets is having to repay the federal government for tuition prices. The U.S. army academies typically require college students to repay these prices, which may be as a lot as $200,000, in the event that they go away throughout their junior or senior years, The Related Press mentioned.
The U.S. Navy Academy at West Level, N.Y., and the Naval Academy at Annapolis, Md., say none of their seniors will miss commencement due to vaccine refusal, The Related Press mentioned.
Mike Rose, a lawyer representing three of the senior cadets, mentioned they may graduate late and be commissioned as officers in the event that they went forward and obtained a dose of vaccine, however “they’ve received a restricted period of time to make that call, and so they’re working out of time,” The Colorado Springs Gazette mentioned.
Gordon Klingenschmitt, an Air Force Academy graduate who leads an evangelical ministry, mentioned the 4 seniors objected to the vaccine on spiritual grounds, in keeping with the Colorado Springs Gazette. “That’s why they gained’t take the vaccine,” he mentioned. “It’s not as a result of they hate all vaccines.
(*4*)
