WEBVTT 00:02.440 --> 00:04.607 Hey , good evening marines . Uh , it's 00:04.607 --> 00:06.829 good to see you again . I , I hope that 00:06.829 --> 00:08.829 uh I'm talking to some marines that 00:08.829 --> 00:11.210 were here last week and uh , and if not , 00:11.220 --> 00:13.164 maybe a few of you had a chance to 00:13.164 --> 00:15.250 watch the facebook live recording 00:15.250 --> 00:17.306 that's been hung for the past week . 00:17.306 --> 00:19.306 But I'm also certain that there's a 00:19.306 --> 00:21.417 number of you that are joining us for 00:21.417 --> 00:23.528 the first time tonight . So I want to 00:23.528 --> 00:25.639 kind of frame what we're trying to do 00:25.639 --> 00:27.750 here . Right . This is a conversation 00:27.750 --> 00:29.750 between marines as I , as I offered 00:29.750 --> 00:31.917 last week , I see this is no different 00:31.917 --> 00:34.028 than Any number of formations . We've 00:34.028 --> 00:36.470 all been in on a Friday break formation , 00:36.480 --> 00:38.480 bringing in Titan School Circle and 00:38.480 --> 00:40.424 Talk about what's on your mind and 00:40.424 --> 00:42.536 clearly what's on your mind right now 00:42.536 --> 00:44.591 is the COVID-19 vaccine . And that's 00:44.591 --> 00:46.813 the way I'm approaching this . We had a 00:46.813 --> 00:48.924 number of questions last week . We've 00:48.924 --> 00:50.980 had a number of questions since last 00:50.980 --> 00:52.758 week that you submitted to have 00:52.758 --> 00:54.702 answered . So I think I have a , I 00:54.702 --> 00:56.813 personally have a pretty good idea of 00:56.813 --> 00:58.980 what it is you want to talk about . Um 00:58.980 --> 01:01.091 kind of the rules as we frame this is 01:01.091 --> 01:02.980 that if you are currently serving 01:02.980 --> 01:04.980 Marine and Marine Forces Reserve or 01:04.980 --> 01:07.100 Marine forces South , you can type 01:07.100 --> 01:09.060 questions in the chat just say I'm 01:09.060 --> 01:11.282 currently serving marine and this is my 01:11.282 --> 01:13.393 question and we'll do the best we can 01:13.393 --> 01:15.616 to get to you . Um , and I know this is 01:15.616 --> 01:17.504 gonna be a really heavy topic and 01:17.504 --> 01:19.504 that's okay . Right . I did want to 01:19.504 --> 01:21.671 share one thing with you before before 01:21.671 --> 01:23.893 we just went on the air , I was able to 01:23.893 --> 01:25.893 walk down to the track here And the 01:25.893 --> 01:27.960 marines of the , of the command have 01:27.970 --> 01:30.980 decided they're going to run a 246 mile 01:30.990 --> 01:33.101 marathon in celebration of the Marine 01:33.101 --> 01:35.323 Corps birthday and to go down there and 01:35.323 --> 01:37.379 spend some time with them tonight as 01:37.379 --> 01:39.601 they were doing that , it just reminded 01:39.601 --> 01:39.090 me , you know , how blessed we actually 01:39.090 --> 01:41.330 are . And it also reminded me of the 01:41.330 --> 01:43.441 pause at the very beginning of this . 01:43.441 --> 01:45.663 Regardless of the difficult topic we're 01:45.663 --> 01:47.886 gonna talk about , I want to wish you a 01:47.886 --> 01:50.430 very , very happy birthday . Yeah . And 01:50.430 --> 01:53.860 why ? Because like I started last week , 01:54.340 --> 01:56.673 each and every one of you matters to me . 01:56.673 --> 01:58.618 I'm not being ordered to do this , 01:58.618 --> 02:00.729 nobody's telling me to do this . This 02:00.729 --> 02:02.729 isn't part of some program each and 02:02.729 --> 02:04.896 every one of your service matters . It 02:04.896 --> 02:06.840 doesn't mean that we can't , or we 02:06.840 --> 02:09.007 don't have to make hard decisions . We 02:09.007 --> 02:11.390 have to . But I'm very , very familiar 02:11.400 --> 02:13.622 being a drilling reservist for almost a 02:13.622 --> 02:15.789 quarter century myself . The amount of 02:15.789 --> 02:17.830 sacrifice that you put into uh to 02:17.830 --> 02:21.330 abiding by your service obligation and 02:21.330 --> 02:23.552 the amount of friction that enters into 02:23.552 --> 02:25.719 that all the time . And this is one of 02:25.719 --> 02:27.830 those moments . So I'm trying to work 02:27.830 --> 02:29.830 hard for you tonight to answer your 02:29.830 --> 02:31.997 questions in the room with me here . I 02:31.997 --> 02:34.219 got Sergeant major Ruiz off to my right 02:34.219 --> 02:36.274 and then there's a team here with me 02:36.274 --> 02:38.497 also so that if questions come in and I 02:38.497 --> 02:40.663 don't have ready access to the precise 02:40.663 --> 02:42.719 information you need , then they can 02:42.719 --> 02:44.886 help me with that desired end state is 02:44.886 --> 02:46.940 not to coerce you or threaten you 02:47.040 --> 02:48.984 nothing like that . It's simply to 02:48.984 --> 02:51.450 empower you to make the best decisions 02:51.480 --> 02:54.090 possible for you . As the looming 02:54.090 --> 02:56.820 deadlines come at us last week , I 02:56.830 --> 02:58.770 guessed that I probably had a 02:58.780 --> 03:01.520 disproportionate number of leaders on 03:01.520 --> 03:03.742 the call who were trying to frame their 03:03.742 --> 03:05.853 understanding of the issues that they 03:05.853 --> 03:07.687 could coach and mentor . They're 03:07.687 --> 03:09.798 marines . Um , and kind of looking at 03:09.798 --> 03:11.853 who might have been on last week . I 03:11.853 --> 03:14.076 think that was right . Master sergeants 03:14.076 --> 03:16.131 and captains and majors and guns and 03:16.131 --> 03:18.353 staff sergeants and ngos . So I'm going 03:18.353 --> 03:20.464 to frame most of my comments targeted 03:20.464 --> 03:22.687 to that audience if I'm wrong or if I'm 03:22.687 --> 03:24.853 missing the mark , just let us know in 03:24.853 --> 03:27.020 the comments section . I can't see the 03:27.020 --> 03:29.131 comments but with those who get to me 03:29.131 --> 03:31.353 and we'll try to address your questions 03:31.353 --> 03:33.353 so we'll go ahead and get started . 03:33.353 --> 03:35.353 First question that we have go over 03:35.353 --> 03:36.560 some of it fine . 03:38.940 --> 03:41.450 Okay , so the deadlines , I think most 03:41.450 --> 03:43.450 of us , you know , certainly for me 03:43.450 --> 03:45.283 when I was out there drilling on 03:45.283 --> 03:47.228 reserve as a reserve as one orders 03:47.228 --> 03:49.061 right now , I would have thought 03:49.061 --> 03:50.894 December 28 , that's my deadline 03:50.894 --> 03:54.250 December 28 . But in reality December 03:54.250 --> 03:56.570 28 is the date that the Secretary of 03:56.570 --> 03:58.990 the Navy has said . All reservists 03:58.990 --> 04:01.157 within the Department of the Navy must 04:01.157 --> 04:03.730 be fully vaccinate . That means two 04:03.730 --> 04:07.440 weeks plus your last vaccination . So 04:07.450 --> 04:09.561 you're talking december 14th for your 04:09.561 --> 04:11.728 vaccination . You're either you're J . 04:11.728 --> 04:14.210 And J one shot series or if you're if 04:14.210 --> 04:16.630 you select the moderna series , Your 04:16.640 --> 04:18.570 real deadline actually back it up 04:18.570 --> 04:20.626 another month . You're talking about 04:20.626 --> 04:22.737 November 17 for your first deadline . 04:22.737 --> 04:24.792 Those are the gates that you have to 04:24.792 --> 04:27.014 understand . That's your decision space 04:27.014 --> 04:29.014 and decision space that you have to 04:29.014 --> 04:32.260 explain to your marines question we 04:32.260 --> 04:34.360 received general was talking about 04:34.840 --> 04:37.650 marines volunteered . Bye . 04:38.040 --> 04:41.840 Okay so the I . R . R . Uh 04:41.850 --> 04:44.072 look at this in two different ways . If 04:44.072 --> 04:46.017 you're an obligated marine , which 04:46.017 --> 04:47.961 means that you're on probably your 04:47.961 --> 04:50.017 first contract and you're working on 04:50.017 --> 04:52.350 your first six year enlistment contract , 04:52.350 --> 04:54.628 let's say . Or you're an R . O . C . P . 04:54.628 --> 04:54.270 Reserve officer commissioning program . 04:54.270 --> 04:56.214 Lieutenant or captain . And you're 04:56.214 --> 04:58.580 still working off your initial uh 04:58.590 --> 05:02.280 contract , you cannot voluntarily drop 05:02.290 --> 05:04.910 to the I . R . R . You will be in 05:04.910 --> 05:07.077 voluntarily dropped to the I . R . R . 05:07.077 --> 05:09.243 When the deadlines are missed . If you 05:09.243 --> 05:11.577 elect not to take the vaccine . However , 05:11.577 --> 05:13.743 if you have commit that completed your 05:13.743 --> 05:15.854 initial contract and you're out there 05:15.854 --> 05:18.077 as a non obligated marine which most of 05:18.077 --> 05:20.780 you know what that is than at any time 05:20.780 --> 05:23.300 you can voluntarily drop to the I . R . 05:23.300 --> 05:25.380 R . A couple of questions from a 05:25.380 --> 05:27.491 lieutenant colonel . I'll just assume 05:27.491 --> 05:29.436 that lieutenant colonel has say 18 05:29.436 --> 05:32.290 years of service , good service in and 05:32.300 --> 05:34.690 if he or she dropped to the I . R . R . 05:34.700 --> 05:36.950 And they could finish their service of 05:36.950 --> 05:38.950 the last two years . They could get 05:38.950 --> 05:41.117 points . Get good years and make it to 05:41.117 --> 05:43.283 a 20 year retirement without having to 05:43.283 --> 05:45.394 take the vaccine . There are a number 05:45.394 --> 05:47.561 of caveats here and I imagine I'll get 05:47.561 --> 05:49.228 some questions on those about 05:49.228 --> 05:51.117 ramifications and consequences of 05:51.117 --> 05:53.228 dropping to the I . R . But I'll wait 05:53.228 --> 05:56.780 to get the questions yeah drop into the 05:56.780 --> 05:59.590 IR voluntarily . Is it true that they 05:59.590 --> 06:03.320 need to do ? Yes . Okay so so that's 06:03.320 --> 06:05.710 key . So think about these deadlines we 06:05.710 --> 06:08.410 talked about you know you cannot you 06:08.410 --> 06:11.660 cannot officially refuse the vaccine , 06:11.670 --> 06:13.392 notify the service that you're 06:13.392 --> 06:15.392 officially refusing the vaccine and 06:15.392 --> 06:17.170 then still expect to be able to 06:17.170 --> 06:19.550 voluntarily drop . So if you're still 06:19.560 --> 06:22.830 wrestling with your decision you need 06:22.830 --> 06:24.997 to understand your decision space here 06:25.340 --> 06:27.810 And understand these first gates that 06:27.810 --> 06:30.032 we are talking about . If you blow past 06:30.032 --> 06:32.199 all the gates and you haven't received 06:32.199 --> 06:34.380 your your shot and it's December 21 I 06:34.380 --> 06:36.780 would say you probably are placing your 06:36.780 --> 06:38.780 ability to drop into the are are in 06:38.780 --> 06:42.140 jeopardy . Okay . However if you say by 06:42.140 --> 06:45.790 november 15th you decide I'm not 06:45.800 --> 06:47.967 ready to commit one way or the other . 06:47.967 --> 06:49.911 I need more time or I can take the 06:49.911 --> 06:52.022 vaccine and I'm trying to preserve my 06:52.022 --> 06:54.133 retirement . And also I don't want to 06:54.133 --> 06:56.300 give up the title of of serving marine 06:56.300 --> 06:56.160 at this time . You can drop to the I . 06:56.160 --> 06:58.700 R . R . But you can't do it until you 06:58.700 --> 07:00.940 cannot do it after the deadline passes 07:00.940 --> 07:03.107 then you will be involuntarily removed 07:03.107 --> 07:06.760 to the I . R . R . Over 18 . 07:07.240 --> 07:09.760 Your service There is a 12 year service 07:10.740 --> 07:14.160 john are voluntary IR 07:14.540 --> 07:17.460 requirement for a vaccine 19 07:18.340 --> 07:20.396 Come back and finish their service . 07:20.396 --> 07:23.570 Yeah . So uh we did some research on 07:23.570 --> 07:25.737 this uh anticipating this question and 07:25.737 --> 07:27.792 we got a few of these questions . So 07:27.792 --> 07:30.014 let's take that marine let's say you've 07:30.014 --> 07:32.126 got 10 or 12 years and and you've got 07:32.126 --> 07:34.237 almost a decade left to get to 20 the 07:34.237 --> 07:36.459 consequences of dropping to the I . R . 07:36.459 --> 07:38.840 You can't be promoted . You won't be 07:38.840 --> 07:41.062 screened for any schools . You can't go 07:41.062 --> 07:43.284 to P . M . E . Resident P . M . E . You 07:43.284 --> 07:45.229 gotta make good years for the next 07:45.229 --> 07:46.951 decade or so in order to reach 07:46.951 --> 07:49.062 retirement and then you might reach a 07:49.062 --> 07:51.620 mandatory time and grade problems that 07:51.630 --> 07:53.630 where you're going to get separated 07:53.630 --> 07:57.050 anyway . So the I . R . R . Option if 07:57.050 --> 07:59.161 you're close enough to retirement say 07:59.161 --> 08:01.161 within three years . For example if 08:01.161 --> 08:03.161 we're talking about that lieutenant 08:03.161 --> 08:05.106 colonel or a master sergeant is it 08:05.106 --> 08:07.217 could be a viable option for you . If 08:07.217 --> 08:09.217 you are probably you know say eight 08:09.217 --> 08:11.272 years out or more . It will be in my 08:11.272 --> 08:13.494 opinion it will be difficult for you to 08:13.494 --> 08:15.328 reach 20 years to receive a full 08:15.328 --> 08:17.550 retirement in your case the I . R . R . 08:17.550 --> 08:19.661 Is probably what I would characterize 08:19.661 --> 08:22.080 as a waiting area where you can get , 08:22.090 --> 08:24.670 you can collect more facts , you can 08:24.680 --> 08:26.736 you can assimilate information as it 08:26.736 --> 08:28.791 comes and then you can make the best 08:28.791 --> 08:30.920 decision possible . But if you intend 08:30.920 --> 08:33.142 to reach a retirement you're gonna have 08:33.142 --> 08:35.260 to return either to the cinema or to 08:35.260 --> 08:36.260 the SMC are 08:38.540 --> 08:41.630 yeah , if you're coming back you have 08:41.630 --> 08:43.950 to be vaccinated . So essentially this 08:43.950 --> 08:45.950 is giving you time to make the best 08:45.950 --> 08:47.940 decision possible . But just to 08:47.940 --> 08:50.480 preserve all of your benefits and 08:50.480 --> 08:52.702 retirement , you ultimately have to get 08:52.702 --> 08:54.758 vaccinated and return to the SMC are 08:54.758 --> 08:56.758 the island . So this question comes 08:56.758 --> 09:00.450 from 4th talking about , okay 09:00.840 --> 09:04.160 use the vaccine process for separation . 09:04.740 --> 09:07.590 They have six or more years . Like 09:07.600 --> 09:10.670 would they rate opportunity for an ad 09:10.670 --> 09:13.050 set ? Yeah , this is a great question 09:13.060 --> 09:15.440 from the mall . So yes , the Marine 09:15.440 --> 09:17.662 Corps separations manual applies here . 09:17.662 --> 09:19.607 If you have more than six years of 09:19.607 --> 09:21.662 service , if you ask for it , you're 09:21.662 --> 09:24.180 entitled to a hearing . All right . So , 09:24.180 --> 09:28.170 so that is your right now . If if you 09:28.170 --> 09:30.630 go through the hearing and uh and the 09:30.630 --> 09:33.830 service decides not to separate you at 09:33.830 --> 09:35.997 this time . You still cannot be in the 09:35.997 --> 09:38.163 Fleet Marine Force last week we talked 09:38.163 --> 09:40.330 about this . Think of the Fleet Marine 09:40.330 --> 09:42.441 forces for four legs on a chair , you 09:42.441 --> 09:45.510 have uh one meth to meth three meth and 09:45.520 --> 09:48.340 MfR those are the four legs of the 09:48.340 --> 09:50.820 chair and it's it's the operational arm 09:50.820 --> 09:52.709 of the Marine corps . It's who we 09:52.709 --> 09:54.876 deploy and the time of war . So if you 09:54.876 --> 09:57.630 have not , if you have not received a 09:57.630 --> 10:00.820 vaccine and you're you're going to be 10:00.820 --> 10:02.876 sent to the I . R . R . And you will 10:02.876 --> 10:05.150 not be able to , even if you retained 10:05.160 --> 10:07.550 the separations hearing , you'll still 10:07.550 --> 10:09.883 be involuntarily place in the I . R . R . 10:09.883 --> 10:11.550 And then the other issues and 10:11.550 --> 10:13.606 consequences will still apply to you 10:15.240 --> 10:18.950 the F . Y . As it's currently written 10:19.340 --> 10:21.396 and then in the center . So it's not 10:21.396 --> 10:23.830 law . Now this individual is saying 10:23.830 --> 10:26.380 that there is covid vaccination refusal 10:26.390 --> 10:28.870 would result in a characterization of 10:28.870 --> 10:31.310 service of honorable . Are you willing 10:31.310 --> 10:33.477 to exercise tactical patience and wait 10:33.477 --> 10:35.366 until the India is passed to give 10:35.366 --> 10:37.254 marines their characterization of 10:37.254 --> 10:39.790 service ? So I'll give you my my 10:39.790 --> 10:41.568 understanding , my personal and 10:41.568 --> 10:43.457 professional understanding of the 10:43.457 --> 10:45.568 likely characterizations of discharge 10:45.568 --> 10:47.790 you would receive if you elected not to 10:47.790 --> 10:50.012 get the vaccine and were processed from 10:50.012 --> 10:52.234 the Marine Corps , you'll either get an 10:52.234 --> 10:54.910 honorable uh discharge which is what 10:54.910 --> 10:57.030 we're talking about here or a general 10:57.040 --> 10:59.207 discharge under honorable conditions . 10:59.207 --> 11:01.930 So there's no talk of you getting an O . 11:01.930 --> 11:03.763 T . H . And other than honorable 11:03.763 --> 11:05.652 discharge unless the rest of your 11:05.652 --> 11:07.708 service merits that so if you've had 11:07.708 --> 11:09.819 honorable service you're going to get 11:09.819 --> 11:11.930 one or one or two of those discharges 11:11.930 --> 11:14.097 the language that you're talking about 11:14.097 --> 11:15.986 in the proposed N . D . A . Would 11:15.986 --> 11:17.930 mandate an honorable discharge but 11:17.930 --> 11:20.460 that's not law at this time . So a 11:20.460 --> 11:22.490 prudent professional will will plan 11:22.490 --> 11:24.601 based on what the precise language of 11:24.601 --> 11:26.601 the current order is and there's no 11:26.601 --> 11:28.712 guarantee whether you would receive a 11:28.712 --> 11:30.601 general discharge under honorable 11:30.601 --> 11:32.768 conditions or an honorable discharge . 11:33.740 --> 11:35.750 Dovetailing on that saying thought 11:35.750 --> 11:38.960 process potentially could have 11:40.040 --> 11:42.290 Exemption to previous infection of 11:42.300 --> 11:45.240 COVID-19 with anti bodies or 11:45.240 --> 11:48.000 serological testing that would align it 11:48.000 --> 11:49.910 with you . So would you support 11:49.910 --> 11:53.710 exemptions Sense of exemption 11:53.710 --> 11:57.690 authority resigned your support at 11:57.690 --> 12:00.020 this time . The more admin that applies 12:00.030 --> 12:02.030 specifically calls out that the 12:02.030 --> 12:04.630 antibodies exception does not apply in 12:04.630 --> 12:05.630 this instance . 12:10.540 --> 12:12.630 This is from the 4th f . l.g . I 12:12.630 --> 12:14.720 received an early shipment bonus of 12:14.730 --> 12:17.550 $3,000 before tax . Would that have to 12:17.560 --> 12:21.020 be paid back ? Okay so so bonuses this 12:21.020 --> 12:24.090 is another common question . Think of 12:24.090 --> 12:26.368 it this way if you're obligated marine , 12:26.930 --> 12:30.560 if you're an obligated marine and you 12:30.940 --> 12:32.996 elect not to get meaning , you're on 12:32.996 --> 12:35.107 your first contract and you elect not 12:35.107 --> 12:37.051 to take the vaccine . And remember 12:37.051 --> 12:39.273 you're going to be involuntarily placed 12:39.273 --> 12:41.384 in the IR and separated and any bonus 12:41.384 --> 12:43.607 you received is going to be recovered . 12:43.607 --> 12:45.607 Kind of pro rated for the amount of 12:45.607 --> 12:47.718 time . So if you if you've done three 12:47.718 --> 12:49.884 years of a six year contract you could 12:49.884 --> 12:52.051 expect to have to pay back 50% of your 12:52.051 --> 12:54.162 bonus and that applies kind of across 12:54.162 --> 12:56.273 the board for obligated marines . Non 12:56.273 --> 12:58.384 obligated marines . Marines have been 12:58.384 --> 13:00.329 incentivized if you've received an 13:00.329 --> 13:02.496 incentive to sign , let's say you're a 13:02.496 --> 13:04.607 pilot or something else for a certain 13:04.607 --> 13:06.829 amount of time and you've only executed 13:06.829 --> 13:08.996 a percentage of that time . You should 13:08.996 --> 13:11.218 expect to have to pay back whatever the 13:11.218 --> 13:13.218 balance of that would be . It's pro 13:13.218 --> 13:16.360 rated . This is another 4th questions 13:16.740 --> 13:19.010 do have a play in the decision for 13:19.010 --> 13:22.960 exemptions . Well , yeah , no , 13:23.740 --> 13:25.851 No for a number of reasons . But just 13:25.851 --> 13:27.962 to keep it very simple by law , as we 13:27.962 --> 13:30.018 talked about last week . By law , we 13:30.018 --> 13:32.018 are the nation's 911 force . We are 13:32.018 --> 13:33.830 designed to be a moment notice 13:33.830 --> 13:37.150 deployment uh in response to crisis . 13:37.160 --> 13:39.940 So as an expeditionary force , the way 13:39.940 --> 13:41.996 it works , I'm sure some of you have 13:41.996 --> 13:44.051 been mobilized in the past have been 13:44.051 --> 13:46.273 deployed for contingencies every time I 13:46.273 --> 13:48.384 have . This hasn't been a single unit 13:48.384 --> 13:50.496 that I've been a part of whether it's 13:50.496 --> 13:52.662 on active duty or in the reserves that 13:52.662 --> 13:54.662 gets alerted to go and respond to a 13:54.662 --> 13:56.884 contingency . That is what we call 100% 13:56.884 --> 13:58.996 T . O . It has all of the marines and 13:58.996 --> 14:01.218 sailors that it's a lot under the table 14:01.218 --> 14:03.162 of organization . So once you were 14:03.162 --> 14:05.384 identified for deploying typically what 14:05.384 --> 14:07.607 happens is All of these marines come in 14:07.607 --> 14:09.662 from around the Marine Corps to plus 14:09.662 --> 14:12.660 you up to be 100% or close to table of 14:12.660 --> 14:15.220 organization . So there are no non 14:15.220 --> 14:17.498 deployable billets in the Marine Corps . 14:17.498 --> 14:19.664 There's where you work right now . You 14:19.664 --> 14:21.942 might not be deployed from that Philip . 14:21.942 --> 14:21.170 But there's a very good chance in the 14:21.170 --> 14:23.520 time of crisis you'd be pulled into a 14:23.520 --> 14:25.631 deploying unit . And so the answer to 14:25.631 --> 14:28.240 that question is now , This one comes 14:28.240 --> 14:30.830 from the 4th marine . What is the core 14:30.830 --> 14:32.880 doing to help names who have become 14:32.890 --> 14:34.834 hospitalized after receiving their 14:34.834 --> 14:36.960 vaccines after being on the line of 14:36.970 --> 14:39.670 duty for injury myself . I know 14:39.680 --> 14:41.847 firsthand process that getting marines 14:41.847 --> 14:44.380 enrolled into a lot of them . The care 14:44.380 --> 14:47.430 they could be difficult processes , so 14:47.430 --> 14:49.374 lengthy and arduous . Most reserve 14:49.374 --> 14:51.319 Marie's just use their own medical 14:51.319 --> 14:53.640 provider . This is not answer and we 14:53.640 --> 14:55.862 should look into taking care of marines 14:55.862 --> 14:58.800 and processes . Yeah , I agree with you . 14:58.960 --> 15:01.170 I mean look again , you know , I have 15:01.180 --> 15:03.360 walked in your boots . I've been that 15:03.360 --> 15:05.193 drilling reservist . I have been 15:05.193 --> 15:07.750 exasperated by being unable to get 15:08.240 --> 15:10.770 travel . Came claims paid . I've spent 15:10.770 --> 15:13.420 way a ton of uncompensated personal 15:13.420 --> 15:16.020 time in my leadership billets . I have 15:16.020 --> 15:18.260 done spend my own money to make targets 15:18.260 --> 15:20.371 and everything else . So I understand 15:20.840 --> 15:23.320 it's frustrating . It's exceptionally 15:23.320 --> 15:26.360 frustrating this life . It's tough . Um 15:26.370 --> 15:28.580 in this case if you have a marine 15:28.580 --> 15:30.730 that's gotten ill from receiving a 15:30.730 --> 15:33.730 vaccine . It's a mandated vaccine . So 15:33.730 --> 15:35.952 the presumption is that you would be in 15:35.952 --> 15:38.140 the line of duty . And even if you're 15:38.140 --> 15:40.307 not , if you do not have the paperwork 15:40.307 --> 15:42.529 at the time , like the actual orders to 15:42.529 --> 15:44.584 place you in the line of duty , then 15:44.584 --> 15:46.640 then uh that paperwork would be done 15:46.640 --> 15:48.751 and you will be brought into the line 15:48.751 --> 15:50.973 of duty . So administratively you would 15:50.973 --> 15:53.084 be covered and your expenses would be 15:53.084 --> 15:55.370 covered . Dr that would be the same . 15:55.380 --> 15:57.436 What you just described for somebody 15:57.436 --> 15:59.547 that maybe felt something a few hours 15:59.547 --> 16:01.213 after the vaccine two weeks . 16:01.213 --> 16:03.324 Absolutely . I mean , the bottom line 16:03.324 --> 16:05.269 is if if if the connection is made 16:05.269 --> 16:07.380 medically that you have become ill or 16:07.380 --> 16:09.436 compromised because of the vaccine , 16:09.840 --> 16:11.951 you're in the line of duty and you're 16:11.951 --> 16:14.007 entitled to be compensated and taken 16:14.007 --> 16:16.284 care of . The question comes from four . 16:16.940 --> 16:19.940 If someone is And they are within 180 16:19.950 --> 16:22.190 days of their s why should they get the 16:22.190 --> 16:24.134 vaccine ? They have asked not to , 16:24.440 --> 16:26.440 they're not deployable nor the even 16:26.440 --> 16:28.551 keep before we mentioned , would they 16:28.551 --> 16:32.160 do out an exemption ? So I think what 16:32.160 --> 16:33.993 you're asking about is a blanket 16:33.993 --> 16:36.049 exemption meaning you're out , there 16:36.049 --> 16:38.216 you're 180 days out and your pending a 16:38.216 --> 16:40.049 med board , there are no blanket 16:40.049 --> 16:42.290 exemptions . However , there's a 16:42.290 --> 16:44.600 medical exemption and you could apply 16:44.600 --> 16:46.656 under the medical exemption with the 16:46.656 --> 16:49.050 same facts that you just related in 16:49.050 --> 16:51.330 this question . And there's a chance at 16:51.330 --> 16:53.790 that time that because other vaccines 16:53.790 --> 16:55.512 have been in the same types of 16:55.512 --> 16:58.120 scenarios . In my experience marines 16:58.120 --> 17:00.287 and sailors have been been allowed not 17:00.287 --> 17:02.231 to be vaccinated in these types of 17:02.231 --> 17:04.176 situations . You can't promise you 17:04.176 --> 17:06.342 every board is unique but that there's 17:06.342 --> 17:08.287 no blanket exception . But you can 17:08.287 --> 17:10.560 apply for medical exemption . Let's see 17:11.040 --> 17:14.270 Theme also from 4th maw . Can you 17:15.040 --> 17:17.151 outstanding court case of the harmful 17:17.151 --> 17:19.207 effects the vaccine is causing . Two 17:19.207 --> 17:21.262 marines and peak health specifically 17:21.262 --> 17:23.096 aviators . Some of us know these 17:23.096 --> 17:24.984 marines and their health problems 17:24.984 --> 17:27.040 personally . And this is kind of the 17:27.040 --> 17:29.318 article submitted with Myocardial itis . 17:29.540 --> 17:32.600 Yeah . Myocarditis . Yeah . So look in 17:32.600 --> 17:34.433 my other life , I'm a recovering 17:34.433 --> 17:36.890 attorney . So I'm very leery too to 17:36.890 --> 17:39.057 comment on case law . That's certainly 17:39.057 --> 17:41.279 not my position right now as an officer 17:41.279 --> 17:43.540 of marines . But uh , I mean in general 17:43.550 --> 17:45.772 in this case , you know , myocarditis . 17:45.772 --> 17:48.060 When this question came in , uh I went 17:48.070 --> 17:50.140 to the fourth surgeon , double board 17:50.140 --> 17:53.940 certified surgeon . Uh and uh 17:53.950 --> 17:56.590 and the facts are that while there may 17:56.590 --> 18:00.360 be some instances of the vaccine that 18:00.370 --> 18:03.360 is linked to myocarditis , you're much 18:03.370 --> 18:06.200 more likely to get myocarditis as a 18:06.200 --> 18:09.050 result of having covid . So you know , 18:09.640 --> 18:11.529 we have to all be careful because 18:11.529 --> 18:13.696 there's such a very difficult decision 18:13.696 --> 18:15.918 for some people . And and the facts and 18:15.918 --> 18:17.918 information that come before us . I 18:17.918 --> 18:20.084 would say information , not facts that 18:20.084 --> 18:22.084 we are bombarded with every day . I 18:22.084 --> 18:24.196 would say do your homework . I try to 18:24.196 --> 18:26.362 maintain a very objective mind . And I 18:26.362 --> 18:28.362 asked subject matter experts and in 18:28.362 --> 18:30.473 this particular case when it comes to 18:30.473 --> 18:32.473 myocarditis . I was surprised , Not 18:32.473 --> 18:34.710 surprised . But I was concerned that 18:34.710 --> 18:37.490 some of our top warriors are pilots 18:37.500 --> 18:39.640 might believe that the risk at this 18:39.640 --> 18:41.807 time the data would show that the risk 18:41.807 --> 18:43.862 is higher from the vaccine than from 18:43.862 --> 18:45.529 covid itself . And my current 18:45.529 --> 18:47.418 understanding is that the risk is 18:47.418 --> 18:50.830 actually higher from Covid . You're 18:50.830 --> 18:53.660 kind of moving over to medical to 18:53.660 --> 18:55.920 religious accommodations . One marine 18:55.920 --> 18:57.920 from the 4th Marine Division wanted 18:57.920 --> 18:59.976 their when reservists needed to have 18:59.976 --> 19:02.142 their medical religious accommodations 19:02.142 --> 19:04.570 requested . Okay , the deadline for the 19:04.570 --> 19:06.681 religious accommodation request is 24 19:06.681 --> 19:08.940 November . Then follow up on that 19:08.940 --> 19:12.480 question . This person from the fourth 19:12.490 --> 19:14.490 M . L . G . Believe that a chaplain 19:14.490 --> 19:18.210 actually endorses exemption as it goes 19:18.210 --> 19:20.377 up . But his question is why would the 19:20.377 --> 19:23.880 general court martial authorities not 19:23.890 --> 19:26.230 to religious exemptions endorsed by a 19:26.230 --> 19:29.090 chap ? Okay , so uh it might be helpful 19:29.090 --> 19:31.630 if I kind of explain how the process 19:31.630 --> 19:33.830 actually works . So if you're placing 19:33.830 --> 19:35.886 if you're putting in for a religious 19:35.886 --> 19:37.830 exemption , you get interviewed by 19:37.830 --> 19:41.030 Chaplin and that chaplain's role by the 19:41.040 --> 19:43.980 order is to simply assess your 19:43.980 --> 19:46.950 sincerity not to provide an opinion , 19:46.950 --> 19:50.320 not to endorse it , but simply to uh 19:50.330 --> 19:52.497 for lack of better word to assess your 19:52.497 --> 19:54.608 sincerity . And that's the comment in 19:54.608 --> 19:56.497 my assessment is that this marine 19:56.497 --> 19:58.608 believes this . It's sincere and then 19:58.608 --> 20:00.790 it goes up to it goes past the general 20:00.790 --> 20:03.012 court martial convening authority which 20:03.012 --> 20:03.010 for those of you that don't know is 20:03.010 --> 20:05.390 typically the first general officer in 20:05.390 --> 20:07.446 your chain of command . If you're at 20:07.446 --> 20:09.668 the wing , it's the it's the commanding 20:09.668 --> 20:11.668 general of the wing division . Same 20:11.668 --> 20:13.834 thing . It goes up to the headquarters 20:13.834 --> 20:15.890 Marine corps to a level known as the 20:15.890 --> 20:18.001 deputy commandants . There is a level 20:18.001 --> 20:19.890 just below the commandant and the 20:19.890 --> 20:22.057 assistant commandant called the deputy 20:22.057 --> 20:23.779 commandants . There's a deputy 20:23.779 --> 20:25.723 commandant who is the adjudication 20:25.723 --> 20:27.834 authority for these . And the process 20:27.834 --> 20:29.779 that goes through there is he gets 20:29.779 --> 20:31.890 reviewed by another chaplain and then 20:31.890 --> 20:31.690 it goes in front of a board and that's 20:31.690 --> 20:33.746 the adjudicator . That's how the the 20:33.746 --> 20:35.968 religious exemptions were adjudicated . 20:38.240 --> 20:40.407 You know , just looking at some of the 20:40.407 --> 20:40.360 questions , 20:45.840 --> 20:48.060 one that we kind of see popping up is 20:49.440 --> 20:52.670 both from inside rez but also maybe 20:53.340 --> 20:56.170 this is the this order could still 20:56.640 --> 20:58.950 awful . And so is there a reason ? 21:00.340 --> 21:03.430 Yeah . So again marines , I'm giving 21:03.430 --> 21:05.263 you my personal and professional 21:05.263 --> 21:07.208 opinion here and I understand that 21:07.208 --> 21:09.319 whenever you get these highly charged 21:09.319 --> 21:11.486 issues , you know , and think back for 21:11.486 --> 21:13.652 those of you that deployed whether its 21:13.652 --> 21:13.500 rules of engagement . Last week , I 21:13.500 --> 21:15.667 talked about the rules of engagement , 21:15.667 --> 21:17.444 escalation of forest measures , 21:17.444 --> 21:19.611 positive identification requirements , 21:19.611 --> 21:21.778 all the complexities that we deal with 21:21.778 --> 21:23.778 when we are operational . Those are 21:23.778 --> 21:25.778 hard to deal with . Especially when 21:25.778 --> 21:27.944 your fellow marines , they're paying a 21:27.944 --> 21:30.200 steep price because of them in words 21:30.200 --> 21:32.367 like unlawful order or thrown around . 21:32.540 --> 21:34.596 I'm trying to think right now as I'm 21:34.596 --> 21:36.707 sitting here answer this question , I 21:36.707 --> 21:38.873 don't know and I'm in my fourth decade 21:38.873 --> 21:40.873 of service . I don't know that I've 21:40.873 --> 21:42.984 ever , I can't think of a single time 21:42.984 --> 21:45.096 when an order was actually determined 21:45.096 --> 21:47.318 to be unlawful in my personal service . 21:47.318 --> 21:49.540 So it doesn't mean that I didn't get an 21:49.540 --> 21:51.707 unlawful order here or there someplace 21:51.707 --> 21:53.651 that uh , probably in the moment I 21:53.651 --> 21:55.762 confronted and was corrected . But if 21:55.762 --> 21:57.429 you're planning on this being 21:57.429 --> 21:59.880 adjudicated as an unlawful order , I 21:59.890 --> 22:02.057 don't see that happen . I'll go over . 22:02.057 --> 22:04.168 I want to go over a couple of numbers 22:04.168 --> 22:06.279 while we're waiting for the team here 22:06.279 --> 22:08.390 to process some , some questions . So 22:08.390 --> 22:10.557 last week I talked about the facts and 22:10.557 --> 22:13.410 the data . Uh , so here's where MFR 22:13.420 --> 22:16.020 Marco Torres is right now . As of today , 22:16.020 --> 22:18.960 72% of the forces vaccinated . 22:20.030 --> 22:22.197 That's climbed up a little bit . Since 22:22.197 --> 22:25.960 last week , Only 25% of the 22:25.960 --> 22:29.060 force has actually refused the vaccine . 22:29.640 --> 22:31.410 So there's a lot of , a lot of 22:31.410 --> 22:33.632 information turning around out there as 22:33.632 --> 22:35.743 if there's going to be a massive wave 22:35.743 --> 22:37.743 of marines were going to reject The 22:37.743 --> 22:41.160 vaccine . So 2.5 right now have have 22:41.160 --> 22:43.327 rejected the vaccine and made it clear 22:43.327 --> 22:45.549 they're not going to take the vaccine . 22:45.549 --> 22:47.700 The other 25% are undeclared or 22:47.700 --> 22:49.950 undecided And and that's who we're 22:49.950 --> 22:51.894 really talking to tonight . I mean 22:51.894 --> 22:54.117 obviously if you tuned in here , you're 22:54.117 --> 22:56.228 you're probably in that 25% or you're 22:56.228 --> 22:58.283 trying to figure out the best way to 22:58.283 --> 23:00.506 lead your marines who are in that 25% . 23:00.506 --> 23:02.810 So what I explained last week and what 23:02.810 --> 23:05.032 I'll offer here tonight is it's been my 23:05.032 --> 23:08.340 experience as a reservist that at the 23:08.350 --> 23:10.461 end of the day we end up looking very 23:10.461 --> 23:12.683 much like the active duty and by that , 23:12.683 --> 23:15.630 I mean we may go to make it activated 23:15.630 --> 23:17.797 and go to our internal location and we 23:17.797 --> 23:19.908 may not be on par with an active duty 23:19.908 --> 23:22.241 squadron or battalion or whatever it is , 23:22.241 --> 23:24.408 but very quickly before we deploy , we 23:24.408 --> 23:26.186 get up on par pretty well . And 23:26.186 --> 23:27.908 certainly when we're out there 23:27.908 --> 23:30.130 operating at least it was my experience 23:30.130 --> 23:32.241 in Iraq and Afghanistan by the end of 23:32.241 --> 23:34.352 that deployment were , you know , all 23:34.352 --> 23:36.352 the real variables apply quality of 23:36.352 --> 23:38.463 leadership , quality of the N . C . O 23:38.463 --> 23:40.686 corps , the value of the training ahead 23:40.686 --> 23:42.686 of time . Those are the things that 23:42.686 --> 23:44.630 determine the efficacy and the the 23:44.630 --> 23:47.330 competence of a unit . So in this case 23:47.690 --> 23:50.870 I look at the numbers of one method to 23:50.870 --> 23:53.420 meth and three meth and all three of 23:53.420 --> 23:55.730 those maths kind of our pacing partner 23:55.740 --> 23:58.890 as MfR are in the mid nineties for 23:58.890 --> 24:02.770 vaccinated marines , 95th 96 percentile . 24:03.340 --> 24:05.690 So it's my assessment that just based 24:05.690 --> 24:07.746 on my personal experience that we're 24:07.746 --> 24:09.912 going to end up in the same place . So 24:09.912 --> 24:13.400 we're sitting at a 2.5% rejection rate 24:13.400 --> 24:15.930 right now . We're closing on our first 24:15.930 --> 24:17.874 gate , say November 17 , if you're 24:17.874 --> 24:19.960 gonna take the modern a series . My 24:19.960 --> 24:22.550 guess is that that number 2.5 is going 24:22.550 --> 24:24.717 to go up . But at the end of the day , 24:24.717 --> 24:26.939 it's probably gonna be relatively close 24:26.939 --> 24:29.106 to what the other myths are because at 24:29.106 --> 24:28.910 the end of the day of marines of marine 24:28.910 --> 24:31.310 to marine and there was a lot of 24:31.310 --> 24:34.050 cynical comments out there about both 24:34.050 --> 24:36.760 reservists and active duty . But from 24:36.760 --> 24:38.593 my personal experience that just 24:38.593 --> 24:40.760 doesn't turn out to be true . You know 24:40.760 --> 24:42.982 the answer that call the service , they 24:42.982 --> 24:42.640 go through the same training , they 24:42.640 --> 24:44.584 have the same values and they make 24:44.584 --> 24:48.020 similar decisions general we have a 24:48.030 --> 24:51.240 question fourth mar it might be one 24:51.240 --> 24:55.040 that we have . Research Question is 24:55.050 --> 24:57.480 has mark for Rez Mar four South 24:57.490 --> 25:01.160 established a watch request to hold 25:01.540 --> 25:04.800 quote media as defined in the Under 25:04.800 --> 25:08.220 secretary believe there is an abundance 25:08.220 --> 25:11.760 of confusion . What constitutes . Mm 25:12.440 --> 25:13.670 This is Uh huh . 25:16.640 --> 25:19.630 Yes . You mean the exception that goes 25:19.630 --> 25:23.460 to the secretary conference . Anything 25:23.470 --> 25:27.170 other than Okay , 50 50 It's 50 . Yeah . 25:27.540 --> 25:30.300 Okay . So if I understand the question 25:30.300 --> 25:33.010 correctly , so the Secretary of the 25:33.010 --> 25:36.320 Navy has has and this is basically what 25:36.320 --> 25:38.820 happened with the balls has issued a 25:38.820 --> 25:42.620 prohibition against any meetings or 25:42.620 --> 25:45.730 conferences . They have 50 service 25:45.730 --> 25:47.840 members or more without getting a 25:47.840 --> 25:50.062 waiver from the Secretary of the Navy . 25:51.640 --> 25:53.940 That's that's the current uh that's the 25:53.940 --> 25:56.107 current order as I understand it . And 25:56.107 --> 25:57.884 of course that's when you start 25:57.884 --> 25:59.940 thinking about balls , you know , uh 25:59.940 --> 26:02.260 that's what causes us to cancel balls , 26:02.840 --> 26:05.970 the way the reserve force is able to 26:05.970 --> 26:08.370 still have balls is that if we , we 26:08.370 --> 26:10.740 determined was , and we understand how 26:10.740 --> 26:12.851 important the balls are to you and to 26:12.851 --> 26:15.018 your marines and your sailors and your 26:15.018 --> 26:16.962 families . So we looked at the law 26:16.962 --> 26:19.350 carefully and what we determined was if 26:19.350 --> 26:21.850 it was not an official event meaning we 26:21.850 --> 26:24.270 weren't paying drills to attend the 26:24.270 --> 26:26.930 balls and we weren't mandating it . 26:26.930 --> 26:29.560 Those are the two big hurdles . Then we 26:29.560 --> 26:31.727 were probably outside the authority of 26:31.727 --> 26:33.671 that order and marines could still 26:33.671 --> 26:35.838 celebrate the birthday . And so that's 26:35.838 --> 26:38.171 how balls are being conducted this year . 26:38.171 --> 26:40.060 But as far as actual training and 26:40.060 --> 26:42.282 venues where we're compensating you for 26:42.282 --> 26:44.870 your time . Uh , and we're mandating 26:44.870 --> 26:47.370 that people at 1050 is the limited has 26:47.370 --> 26:50.560 to go to the secretary of the Navy and 26:50.560 --> 26:52.727 I look over filling a friend here real 26:52.727 --> 26:54.727 quick . My Alison , my answer , his 26:54.727 --> 26:56.727 question is , there is confusion on 26:56.727 --> 27:00.660 what his versus versus a conference I 27:00.670 --> 27:03.860 will take . Okay . Okay . So okay , 27:03.870 --> 27:05.870 tracking . So hopefully when I just 27:05.870 --> 27:07.814 that long answer that maybe didn't 27:07.814 --> 27:10.148 apply , there's still some value to you , 27:10.148 --> 27:12.092 but we'll get back and look at the 27:12.092 --> 27:14.314 actual language and help you define and 27:14.314 --> 27:16.537 understand what , uh , what's your left 27:16.537 --> 27:16.270 and right letter one , which I think 27:16.270 --> 27:18.500 what you're asking , Okay . Somebody 27:18.500 --> 27:22.460 had dropped in our news FDA 27:22.470 --> 27:26.000 october 20 nine fact sheet about the 27:26.010 --> 27:28.620 Pfizer vaccine and they were claiming 27:28.630 --> 27:30.850 that it's different than the one that 27:30.940 --> 27:33.990 service members are . Yeah . Okay . So 27:33.990 --> 27:35.823 this is a , this is another good 27:35.823 --> 27:37.934 question . I took a stab at this uh , 27:37.934 --> 27:40.046 last week and I kind of meandered the 27:40.046 --> 27:41.934 contact on this . I think I was a 27:41.934 --> 27:44.157 little sloppy . So , so I went back and 27:44.157 --> 27:46.323 uh and went back to the subject matter 27:46.323 --> 27:48.434 experts And this is what I understand 27:48.434 --> 27:52.260 right now . So fighter and co minority 27:52.640 --> 27:56.390 are essentially the same drug . The 27:56.390 --> 27:58.940 difference here in the fact sheet from 27:58.940 --> 28:01.060 it came out in October 29 . Was that 28:01.540 --> 28:05.520 The the dosage difference ? So for 28:05.530 --> 28:08.640 for folks that are 18 and younger , the 28:08.650 --> 28:12.150 dosage profile for that person is 28:12.150 --> 28:15.160 different for those that are 18 or over . 28:15.940 --> 28:17.940 And so that's the difference in the 28:17.940 --> 28:20.210 fact sheet as I understand it . Okay , 28:20.220 --> 28:22.387 so when from rains , I mean everyone's 28:22.387 --> 28:24.387 18 or over that's going to get this 28:24.387 --> 28:26.498 vaccine . So my current understanding 28:26.498 --> 28:28.387 is they're exactly the same . I'm 28:28.387 --> 28:30.387 looking over at my fourth surgeon . 28:30.387 --> 28:32.553 He's giving me the North South . Yes , 28:32.553 --> 28:34.831 that's . that's the understanding . So , 28:34.831 --> 28:36.998 so if if you're and I understand , you 28:36.998 --> 28:39.109 know , everyone is turning over every 28:39.109 --> 28:38.900 rock and they're looking for every 28:38.900 --> 28:41.720 potential vulnerability here or or way 28:41.720 --> 28:44.520 around this difficult decision . But if 28:44.520 --> 28:46.464 that is the reasoning , my current 28:46.464 --> 28:48.687 understanding is that factually it will 28:48.687 --> 28:51.320 not apply because of that very thing . 28:51.350 --> 28:53.461 If you're 18 or over , you're getting 28:53.461 --> 28:55.572 the exact same shot because the doses 28:55.572 --> 28:59.440 are the same . No , this is 28:59.470 --> 29:02.680 sergeant was asking recently . I spoke 29:02.680 --> 29:04.902 with a qualified marine for retention . 29:05.240 --> 29:07.630 His only disqualifying factor was he 29:07.630 --> 29:09.880 refused vaccination ? Should 29:09.880 --> 29:12.047 vaccination be a part of the screening 29:12.047 --> 29:14.270 process for marines to come back in or 29:14.270 --> 29:16.430 can we look at taking it out as a 29:16.430 --> 29:18.708 requirement for a continuation service ? 29:18.708 --> 29:21.060 Get them back in and then try convince 29:21.060 --> 29:23.080 them to take the vaccine . Now the 29:23.090 --> 29:26.200 current policy is especially for a 29:26.210 --> 29:28.210 second term marines or marines were 29:28.210 --> 29:30.321 coming off that duty or coming out of 29:30.321 --> 29:32.360 the I . R . You cannot enter the 29:32.360 --> 29:34.416 operating forces without being fully 29:34.416 --> 29:36.082 vaccinated because you're not 29:36.082 --> 29:38.138 deployable in the eyes of the Marine 29:38.138 --> 29:40.970 Corps . Fair question Staff Sergeant . 29:40.980 --> 29:43.091 That's the reality . I'm looking over 29:43.091 --> 29:45.500 here . Okay get the north south again . 29:45.510 --> 29:47.560 Okay , very likely to be the same . 29:49.720 --> 29:52.480 Yeah . So start major reason side . I 29:52.480 --> 29:54.702 think that is the fact . Now you cannot 29:54.702 --> 29:56.758 go to P . M . E . So one of the ways 29:56.758 --> 29:59.180 that marines in the I . R . R . Get 29:59.180 --> 30:01.510 good years as they will go to resident 30:01.520 --> 30:03.800 P . M . E . That is not an option in 30:03.800 --> 30:05.967 this case . So even if you voluntarily 30:05.967 --> 30:08.510 you qualify for voluntarily dropping to 30:08.510 --> 30:12.000 the I . R . R . You cannot do funeral 30:12.000 --> 30:14.167 honors . You cannot do the resident PM 30:14.167 --> 30:16.278 me . You'll have to get your Goodyear 30:16.278 --> 30:18.222 through non resident P . M . E . I 30:18.222 --> 30:20.333 don't know that there's any other way 30:20.333 --> 30:22.333 to get points for a good year . I'm 30:22.333 --> 30:24.500 looking around . I don't think so . So 30:24.500 --> 30:26.778 you're left with nonresident P . M . E . 30:26.778 --> 30:26.450 Or a language study or something like 30:26.450 --> 30:28.670 that . Sure 30:29.140 --> 30:32.750 regarding exemptions guidance was 30:32.760 --> 30:34.980 pushed down . If our exemptions were 30:34.980 --> 30:37.350 approved we'd be placed in a non 30:37.350 --> 30:40.920 deployed E . Support style . So based 30:40.920 --> 30:42.920 off of what you said now we are the 30:42.920 --> 30:46.220 nation's 911 force . You just said that 30:46.230 --> 30:48.341 everyone is deployable ? My questions 30:48.341 --> 30:50.563 are one . Are you aware of the guidance 30:50.563 --> 30:53.000 of a non deployable status and two if 30:53.000 --> 30:54.944 that guidance is true , how do you 30:54.944 --> 30:57.200 reconcile guidance and what you say as 30:57.200 --> 31:01.190 well ? Instance . So so 31:01.200 --> 31:03.478 let's remember that the two exceptions . 31:03.478 --> 31:05.478 We're talking about our medical and 31:05.478 --> 31:07.589 religious exemptions . Right . And so 31:07.589 --> 31:09.700 if there's a medical exception , just 31:09.700 --> 31:11.756 like any other medical assumption if 31:11.756 --> 31:13.533 you if you are deemed to be not 31:13.533 --> 31:15.700 physically qualified to deploy at that 31:15.700 --> 31:17.867 time but you are deemed to have future 31:17.867 --> 31:17.640 service meaning you're probably going 31:17.640 --> 31:19.930 to recover , then you're going to be 31:19.930 --> 31:22.160 placed in a non deployable status in 31:22.160 --> 31:24.271 the reserve component . We don't have 31:24.271 --> 31:27.500 any non deployable billets . Think of 31:27.500 --> 31:30.730 it this way if you are if you decide 31:30.730 --> 31:32.619 not to take the vaccine or if you 31:32.619 --> 31:35.260 receive a medical exemption for in the 31:35.260 --> 31:37.204 reserves , chances are very good . 31:37.204 --> 31:39.371 You're gonna be dropped to the I . R . 31:39.371 --> 31:41.149 R . And we're back in that same 31:41.149 --> 31:43.070 scenario if on the other hand you 31:43.070 --> 31:45.700 refuse the vaccine obviously then 31:45.700 --> 31:47.811 you're going to be non deployable and 31:47.811 --> 31:50.033 you're gonna be involuntarily placed in 31:50.033 --> 31:52.144 the Ir uh did I miss anything in that 31:52.144 --> 31:54.367 question ? I wanna make sure I hit it . 31:55.840 --> 31:58.760 Looking around the room here . Okay . 31:59.740 --> 32:01.962 You won't read it to me one more time . 32:01.962 --> 32:04.184 I want to make sure the marine gets his 32:04.184 --> 32:03.560 question is I don't feel like answered . 32:03.570 --> 32:06.160 Well work a little bit here gives me 32:06.160 --> 32:09.170 one more time , did you ? 32:10.240 --> 32:12.462 So here's the other piece of this too . 32:12.462 --> 32:14.930 Is that you know , if if uh if you go 32:14.930 --> 32:17.041 through the ad set process , remember 32:17.041 --> 32:19.152 the earlier question we had about the 32:19.152 --> 32:21.319 market except manual and you ask for a 32:21.319 --> 32:23.541 board and you're retained , then you'll 32:23.541 --> 32:25.486 still be placed in the I . R . R . 32:25.486 --> 32:27.486 Because you're not deployable . You 32:27.486 --> 32:29.652 can't be in a unit of employment um in 32:29.652 --> 32:31.819 the in the reserve if you're not fully 32:31.819 --> 32:34.160 vaccinated . So so yeah , the questions 32:34.540 --> 32:36.490 it was Questions are one . Are you 32:36.490 --> 32:38.490 aware of the guidance that somebody 32:38.490 --> 32:41.460 could flyable status PM me school . 32:42.440 --> 32:44.384 That guidance is true . How do you 32:44.384 --> 32:46.607 reconcile that with the fact that we're 32:46.607 --> 32:49.190 supposed to all was employed ? Yeah , 32:49.200 --> 32:51.200 if you're in a P . M . E . School , 32:51.200 --> 32:53.533 obviously you're not doing before . Yes , 32:53.533 --> 32:55.367 I'm aware of that guidance . You 32:55.367 --> 32:57.920 understand my intent here ? Yeah . Okay . 32:57.930 --> 33:00.770 All right . Thanks awesome . Listen , 33:02.540 --> 33:04.750 what exactly is happening to reserve 33:04.750 --> 33:07.570 and active ? I have some religious 33:07.570 --> 33:10.780 accommodation . Waiting receive their 33:10.780 --> 33:12.724 final status of their submission . 33:13.040 --> 33:16.530 Master Sergeant was on annual training 33:16.540 --> 33:19.550 with said that About 3500 already 33:19.550 --> 33:21.860 submitted ? As of October just 33:21.860 --> 33:23.971 accommodations ? Only eight have been 33:23.971 --> 33:25.860 approved ? Is that an accurate 33:25.860 --> 33:27.890 statistic . And if so , what is the 33:27.900 --> 33:30.790 acting role the option of a religious 33:30.790 --> 33:33.910 accommodation number like that ? Yeah . 33:33.920 --> 33:37.010 So to be straight with you , I asked 33:37.010 --> 33:39.177 this question before and I'm not aware 33:39.177 --> 33:41.066 of any religious accommodations . 33:41.066 --> 33:42.843 Haven't been granted within the 33:42.843 --> 33:45.066 Department of the Navy meaning the Navy 33:45.066 --> 33:47.232 or the Marine Corps in this instance , 33:47.540 --> 33:49.770 we grant religious accommodations all 33:49.770 --> 33:53.120 the time for things like diet , relaxed 33:53.120 --> 33:55.060 grooming standards at times even 33:55.070 --> 33:58.360 recently , um for religious dress . 33:58.740 --> 34:00.950 Uh And the difference here , The 34:00.950 --> 34:02.950 difference here . First of all , in 34:02.950 --> 34:05.061 those three instances , for example , 34:05.061 --> 34:07.172 uh the marine is still deployable and 34:07.172 --> 34:09.339 american go fight . I mean , it's that 34:09.339 --> 34:11.930 simple if you if you get a religious 34:11.930 --> 34:14.152 exemption , if a religious exemption in 34:14.152 --> 34:16.208 this case was granted , the question 34:16.208 --> 34:17.930 would be , you know , are they 34:17.930 --> 34:20.041 deployable ? And I believe the answer 34:20.041 --> 34:22.041 is no . But more importantly , it's 34:22.041 --> 34:24.374 important to understand how the service , 34:24.374 --> 34:26.263 how the Department of the Navy is 34:26.263 --> 34:28.430 actually evaluating this critique . So 34:28.430 --> 34:31.090 there's two , there's two facets of 34:31.090 --> 34:33.423 this . The first gets back to sincerity . 34:33.423 --> 34:36.280 Is this an actual belief that's really 34:36.280 --> 34:38.613 held by the service member in this case , 34:38.613 --> 34:40.836 the marine and it can be religious . It 34:40.836 --> 34:42.947 can be moral . It can be across three 34:42.947 --> 34:45.002 different grounds . But in this case 34:45.002 --> 34:46.947 we're talking religious . And then 34:46.947 --> 34:49.058 finally , is there an underpinning is 34:49.058 --> 34:51.360 there a compelling government interest 34:52.420 --> 34:55.170 that this violates . And so far the 34:55.170 --> 34:57.281 findings within the Department of the 34:57.281 --> 34:59.580 Navy As I understand it is the 34:59.590 --> 35:01.646 compelling government interests here 35:01.646 --> 35:03.770 outweighs the religious exemptions . 35:03.780 --> 35:05.810 You may be very sincere and I know 35:05.810 --> 35:07.699 there are lots of greens that are 35:07.699 --> 35:09.810 struggling with this from a religious 35:09.810 --> 35:11.866 perspective or a moral perspective . 35:11.866 --> 35:13.977 But at the end of the day , under the 35:13.977 --> 35:17.330 religious exemption review , the the 35:17.340 --> 35:20.230 the compelling government interest is 35:20.230 --> 35:21.897 trumping all of the religious 35:21.897 --> 35:24.230 exemptions to date . I'm looking over 35:24.230 --> 35:26.452 the chaps . Get that right , chaplain . 35:26.452 --> 35:29.740 She's Yes . Yeah . So , so there are at 35:29.740 --> 35:31.851 least restrictive means that also can 35:31.851 --> 35:34.070 be applied here . That at the end of 35:34.070 --> 35:36.126 the day , simply at the end of day , 35:36.126 --> 35:38.390 it's not being granted . Same marine 35:38.390 --> 35:40.670 had a second question . Yeah . Those 35:40.670 --> 35:42.892 marines like myself that have submitted 35:42.892 --> 35:45.250 a religious exemption , no negative 35:45.260 --> 35:48.380 paperwork . Good jape pass for that 35:48.380 --> 35:50.450 will play , Will that play a role in 35:50.450 --> 35:52.630 the type of discharge religious 35:52.640 --> 35:56.130 exemption . Yeah . I mean , like if you 35:56.130 --> 35:58.130 go back to what we had talked about 35:58.130 --> 36:01.300 before , you know , if you have had 36:01.310 --> 36:03.890 honorable service , if you get 36:03.900 --> 36:07.250 honorable service , the lowest possible 36:08.230 --> 36:10.397 discharge you can get is general under 36:10.397 --> 36:12.341 honorable conditions . And you can 36:12.341 --> 36:14.350 absolutely receive an honorable 36:14.350 --> 36:17.440 discharge so far that is left to the 36:17.440 --> 36:19.630 board process . It's your fellow 36:19.630 --> 36:21.463 marines determining based on the 36:21.463 --> 36:23.463 totality of your service . But each 36:23.463 --> 36:25.463 individual board is different . And 36:25.463 --> 36:27.463 those are the two options that they 36:27.463 --> 36:30.510 will have to choose from this kind of a 36:30.520 --> 36:33.420 leadership question , why isn't the 36:33.430 --> 36:36.660 leadership or to do right by marines 36:37.430 --> 36:39.700 from not getting the shot ? Don't we 36:39.700 --> 36:42.370 take care of our own true we are taking 36:42.380 --> 36:44.590 care of our own . Why is Congress 36:44.590 --> 36:47.400 considering passing built to protect 36:47.400 --> 36:50.350 the discharges of marines ? Yeah . So 36:50.350 --> 36:54.200 look , this is a question 36:54.210 --> 36:56.230 that you know , I think there's 36:56.230 --> 36:58.563 probably at whether you intended or not . 36:58.563 --> 37:00.786 You're certainly at least I'm inferring 37:00.786 --> 37:03.008 that that somehow and this is a kind of 37:03.008 --> 37:05.119 a common conversation right now . Why 37:05.119 --> 37:07.230 are all the senior marines abandoning 37:07.230 --> 37:07.020 the junior marines and why don't we 37:07.020 --> 37:09.430 care ? It's not the case . We received 37:09.430 --> 37:11.590 an order . We received an order from 37:11.590 --> 37:13.368 the Department of Defense , the 37:13.368 --> 37:15.146 secretary defense that has been 37:15.146 --> 37:17.146 seconded and placed with the actual 37:17.146 --> 37:19.423 deadlines by the secretary of the navy . 37:19.423 --> 37:21.670 The service has no options . We get 37:21.670 --> 37:24.350 orders . It's not on the service to 37:24.350 --> 37:27.120 challenge the legality of an order or 37:27.120 --> 37:29.120 to try and undermanned the civilian 37:29.120 --> 37:31.064 oversight that that is part of the 37:31.064 --> 37:33.231 constitution that we all take our oath 37:33.231 --> 37:35.910 to abide by . We get orders and the 37:35.910 --> 37:38.710 orders are that the vaccine is 37:38.710 --> 37:41.080 mandatory and the processing will ensue 37:41.080 --> 37:43.191 for those service members who refused 37:43.191 --> 37:45.413 to take the vaccine . It has nothing to 37:45.413 --> 37:47.636 do with how much senior marines whether 37:47.636 --> 37:49.802 it's a staff sergeant to a corporal or 37:49.802 --> 37:52.300 a general to to a major . It has 37:52.300 --> 37:54.522 nothing to do with how much we love and 37:54.522 --> 37:56.578 respect you . It's just that this is 37:56.578 --> 37:58.744 our job . Those are the orders . These 37:58.744 --> 38:00.633 are our legal authorities and our 38:00.633 --> 38:02.840 obligations . It's that simple . Our 38:02.840 --> 38:05.150 last question . If someone has caught 38:05.150 --> 38:07.180 Covid to my understanding the body 38:07.180 --> 38:09.380 makes a more potent immunity than the 38:09.380 --> 38:12.050 vaccine itself , why was this not made 38:12.060 --> 38:14.060 as an exemption for those that have 38:14.060 --> 38:16.227 caught cold this ? I think this is the 38:16.227 --> 38:18.930 antibodies question is , Yeah . So , so 38:18.930 --> 38:21.570 the mar admin specifically calls out 38:21.570 --> 38:23.626 that antibodies don't apply . So you 38:23.626 --> 38:25.848 know , I think it's too personal here . 38:25.848 --> 38:28.150 I had Covid and You know , I'm 56 years 38:28.150 --> 38:30.480 old and I can tell you for the first 38:30.480 --> 38:32.780 time in my life , um leading a pretty 38:32.780 --> 38:35.002 active life . Let's just say , yeah , I 38:35.002 --> 38:37.058 would say it's the first time I ever 38:37.058 --> 38:39.169 had to ask myself , how is this going 38:39.169 --> 38:41.391 to change the rest of my life ? How I'm 38:41.391 --> 38:43.558 living my life . I have the antibodies 38:43.558 --> 38:45.280 now I'm still dealing with the 38:45.280 --> 38:48.710 aftermath of Covid and And I'm not 100% 38:48.710 --> 38:51.380 sure that the antibodies are enough and 38:51.380 --> 38:54.260 by that I mean if if a booster shot 38:54.260 --> 38:57.290 comes , around I'm taking it myself and 38:57.300 --> 38:59.467 for those of you that haven't had it . 38:59.467 --> 39:01.244 And I know there's some young , 39:01.420 --> 39:03.730 athletic , very strong marines out 39:03.730 --> 39:05.790 there and I know when I was at your 39:05.790 --> 39:08.150 stage of service , I felt like I was 39:08.150 --> 39:10.650 bulletproof . Um , if I'm talking to 39:10.650 --> 39:12.706 myself and I'm back then I would say 39:12.706 --> 39:14.817 you don't , this is not something you 39:14.817 --> 39:16.928 want to mess with , You don't want to 39:16.928 --> 39:19.039 take it into chance and if there is a 39:19.039 --> 39:18.980 vaccine that can prevent you from 39:18.980 --> 39:21.240 getting this disease or this this uh 39:21.250 --> 39:23.710 this virus in my personal opinion you 39:23.710 --> 39:25.543 take it . I understand you might 39:25.543 --> 39:28.340 disagree and I respect that this time . 39:29.120 --> 39:32.570 Yes . So let me turn over to start 39:32.570 --> 39:34.903 major Ruiz here . Anything you an offer . 39:34.920 --> 39:38.530 Just how you started this morning 39:39.220 --> 39:41.740 this morning . We saw C . A . T . V . 39:41.750 --> 39:45.540 Conducted color school the track we see 39:45.550 --> 39:48.570 cake cutting set . Okinawa is waking up 39:48.580 --> 39:51.490 to their birthday all across the Marine 39:51.490 --> 39:55.390 Corps sir . Yes , I wish 39:55.390 --> 39:58.910 there was a magical can say those who 39:58.910 --> 40:00.910 will choose not to take the vaccine 40:01.810 --> 40:05.230 make you feel just not there just 40:06.210 --> 40:08.377 bottom of my heart . That mistake your 40:08.377 --> 40:11.630 decision and your service to see you . 40:12.510 --> 40:14.677 Yeah . So we talked about this all the 40:14.677 --> 40:16.843 time . So here's what I would offer to 40:16.843 --> 40:19.560 you . Um first of all , regardless of 40:19.560 --> 40:21.671 what your decision is and whether you 40:21.671 --> 40:23.893 continue service or not , you've earned 40:23.893 --> 40:26.060 the title of marine . That's something 40:26.060 --> 40:25.930 you'll have for the rest of your life . 40:26.410 --> 40:29.210 And uh and it's it's so you know 40:29.210 --> 40:31.400 sometimes we as marines forget about 40:31.410 --> 40:33.577 what a tiny percentage of the american 40:33.577 --> 40:36.610 population is willing to sign their 40:36.610 --> 40:39.650 name and submit themselves to service . 40:39.890 --> 40:42.910 Right ? But that really rare few that 40:42.910 --> 40:44.799 actually chooses the Marine Corps 40:44.799 --> 40:47.730 intentionally . That is a the term I 40:47.740 --> 40:50.060 use is an irrational call to service 40:50.060 --> 40:52.850 and you have it . So regardless of what 40:52.850 --> 40:55.017 you do , you know it's our major and I 40:55.017 --> 40:57.072 talked about this all the time . You 40:57.072 --> 40:59.017 know , we we want to thank you for 40:59.017 --> 40:58.270 everything you've done already . And I 40:58.270 --> 41:00.590 mean that you put yourself potentially 41:00.590 --> 41:02.646 into harm's way . So if you have put 41:02.646 --> 41:04.757 yourself in harm's way and it means a 41:04.757 --> 41:07.040 ton . So I have reflected uh like I 41:07.040 --> 41:09.262 said , I've had a ton of friction to my 41:09.262 --> 41:11.207 service . So if you think about 25 41:11.207 --> 41:13.096 years it's never ending . I guess 41:13.096 --> 41:15.373 that's why they call it service . Well , 41:15.373 --> 41:17.484 I'll just share one memory that comes 41:17.484 --> 41:19.707 around to me every so often . I was the 41:19.707 --> 41:21.707 company commander for Alpha Company 41:21.707 --> 41:25.140 fourth LR . On september 10th 2001 . 41:25.610 --> 41:27.721 And I had done everything I wanted to 41:27.721 --> 41:29.554 do in the Marine Corps . I never 41:29.554 --> 41:31.721 expected to stay in the Marine Corps . 41:31.721 --> 41:33.666 In fact I just went to O . C . S . 41:33.666 --> 41:33.540 Because I in part because I needed a 41:33.540 --> 41:35.651 summer job and I wasn't gonna take my 41:35.651 --> 41:37.873 commission took my commission was going 41:37.873 --> 41:39.818 to do one tour . Got out after two 41:39.818 --> 41:41.818 tours joined the reserves . Fell in 41:41.818 --> 41:44.060 love with marines uh particularly the 41:44.060 --> 41:46.282 marines of Alpha Company fourth L . A . 41:46.282 --> 41:48.504 Are particularly the staff and ceos and 41:48.504 --> 41:50.449 I hung out to get a shot to be the 41:50.449 --> 41:52.616 company commander and I did . I had it 41:52.616 --> 41:54.727 for over two years and I was supposed 41:54.727 --> 41:56.949 to give it up that next drill weekend . 41:56.949 --> 41:59.116 9 11 happens . And we had drilled that 41:59.116 --> 42:01.227 weekend . Typically what happened was 42:01.227 --> 42:03.227 the first heart would go out and he 42:03.227 --> 42:05.282 would call formation on friday . You 42:05.282 --> 42:07.449 would take accountability and then you 42:07.449 --> 42:09.671 would turn the formation over to me . I 42:09.671 --> 42:11.893 would say dismissed , bringing in close 42:11.893 --> 42:13.893 and we'll have a quick conversation 42:13.893 --> 42:16.116 about what happens this drill weekend . 42:16.116 --> 42:18.116 So I remember putting on my uniform 42:19.100 --> 42:21.480 that friday before I went to drill and 42:21.480 --> 42:23.640 I remember thinking holy cow , this 42:23.640 --> 42:25.751 uniform , this uniform has never felt 42:25.751 --> 42:27.918 so good . I went to drill , we drilled 42:27.918 --> 42:29.973 at a place called camp to leg on the 42:29.973 --> 42:32.140 northern end of camp Pendleton at that 42:32.140 --> 42:34.196 time . And I take the formation from 42:34.196 --> 42:36.251 the first sergeant before I can even 42:36.251 --> 42:38.307 look up and say dismissed . Like all 42:38.307 --> 42:40.473 200 marines were right here in my face 42:40.473 --> 42:42.680 and I could feel it , I could feel , 42:42.690 --> 42:44.912 you know , you could have asked them to 42:44.912 --> 42:47.900 do anything at that moment . One force , 42:47.910 --> 42:49.930 just one single heartbeat , just 42:49.940 --> 42:52.051 burning holes in me with their eyes . 42:52.120 --> 42:54.176 I'll never forget it until the day I 42:54.176 --> 42:56.342 die . And uh , and I remember thinking 42:56.342 --> 42:58.509 as I left that formation , thank God , 42:58.509 --> 43:01.000 thank God I'm still a marine . And then 43:01.000 --> 43:03.480 in the ensuing decades , a number of 43:03.490 --> 43:05.712 tours to Iraq and Afghanistan and other 43:05.712 --> 43:08.490 places , no , what I can share with you . 43:08.490 --> 43:11.120 Now in this moment of like frustration 43:11.120 --> 43:13.380 and friction as I near the end of my 43:13.380 --> 43:16.380 service , all these troubles we go 43:16.380 --> 43:18.547 through as part of our service , there 43:18.547 --> 43:21.320 is no doubt in my mind that all of this 43:21.700 --> 43:24.550 hardship and more importantly , you and 43:24.550 --> 43:26.717 marines like you have simply made me a 43:26.717 --> 43:28.939 better person than I would have been on 43:28.939 --> 43:31.106 my own . And that's the value . You're 43:31.106 --> 43:33.106 not gonna get rich doing this , you 43:33.106 --> 43:35.272 gotta juggle multiple lives when these 43:35.272 --> 43:37.328 moments come around , you gotta take 43:37.328 --> 43:39.328 stock and why we do this . It's our 43:39.328 --> 43:41.494 call to serve and and I have plenty of 43:41.494 --> 43:43.606 friends who elected to get out . They 43:43.606 --> 43:45.828 kicked themselves to this day that they 43:45.828 --> 43:48.161 weren't in the ranks on the day of 9 11 . 43:48.161 --> 43:50.383 So I just offer that to you . It was in 43:50.383 --> 43:52.383 my heart today to talk to you about 43:52.383 --> 43:52.140 that and that's how close this . And 43:52.150 --> 43:54.317 again , I want to wish you all a happy 43:54.317 --> 43:53.970 birthday .