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DHS Reinstates 56 Coast Guard Members Over COVID Vaccine Refusal, Restoring Pay and Service Time

The move follows a Coast Guard records board ruling under a 2025 executive order, signaling further potential corrections under ongoing reviews.

Overview

  • The reinstatements apply retroactively to each member’s discharge date, and records will show continuous active service for the period of separation.
  • Eligible members may receive back pay, allowances, potential bonus payments, and restoration of rank and seniority as determined by the Coast Guard.
  • A three-member Coast Guard Board for Correction of Military Records panel voted on Feb. 12 to grant relief based on DHS Secretary Kristi Noem’s group application.
  • According to the board’s decision, 274 Coast Guard personnel were separated solely for vaccine refusal, 69 had already been reinstated, and the service’s Return 2 Service team has contacted remaining former members.
  • Parallel Pentagon efforts cover roughly 8,700 discharges in other branches, with leadership directing proactive reviews and potential discharge upgrades in December 2025.