- More than 10% of Army National Guard troops still haven't gotten the COVID-19 vaccine, putting them in violation of a federal mandate.
- "We're going to give every soldier every opportunity to get vaccinated and continue their military career," the Army Guard director said.
- About 37,000 soldiers have not received the COVID-19 vaccine as of Monday, officials said.
More than 10% of Army National Guard troops still haven't gotten the COVID-19 vaccine, now putting them in violation of a federal mandate — and the director of the military force said soldiers will be given "every opportunity" to get the jab.
"We're going to give every soldier every opportunity to get vaccinated and continue their military career," Lt. Gen. Jon Jensen, director of the Army Guard, said in a statement to Insider on Friday.
Jensen added, "We're not giving up on anybody until the separation paperwork is signed and completed."
The deadline for the approximately 330,000 total Army National Guard members to get the COVID-19 shot passed at midnight on Thursday. The mandate was announced last September.
According to the latest figures from the Army National Guard, 86.4% were fully vaccinated against the coronavirus and 88.59% received at least one dose of the vaccine as of Monday.
That means about 37,000 soldiers or 11.4% have not received the COVID-19 vaccine as of Monday and they could face punishments, including their potential removal from the Army National Guard.
"Unless otherwise exempted in accordance with Department policy, all members of the National Guard must be fully vaccinated for COVID-19 by the deadlines established by the Army or Air Force, as appropriate, or must subsequently become vaccinated, in order to participate in drills, training, and other duty conducted under title 32, US Code," said National Guard Bureau spokesman Kurt Rauschenberg.
It was not immediately clear how many members have requested COVID-19 vaccination exemptions.
Meanwhile, 89.9% of the roughly 435,000 members of the National Guard — which includes the Army National Guard and the Air National Guard — have received at least one dose of the coronavirus vaccine, while 88.2% are fully vaccinated.
The Air National Guard — made up of about 104,000 members — has higher vaccination rates than the Army National Guard with 94% fully vaccinated and 94.2% with at least one jab.
"Soldiers and airmen are still providing civilian documentation to be entered into their Electronic Health Record, so the numbers may be higher than what we are currently seeing in the military system," Rauschenberg said.