The U.S. military announced deadlines for vaccinating soldiers against coronavirus on Tuesday.
The Army will require that all active duty members be vaccinated before December 15, 2021 and that all Reserve and National Guard troops be vaccinated before June 20, 2022.
“This is literally a matter of life and death for our soldiers, their families and the communities in which we live,” Army Chief of Surgery General R. Scott Dingle said in a statement. “The count of cases and deaths continue to be worrisome as the Delta variant spreads, making protection of force through compulsory vaccination a health and preparedness priority for the entire army.”
Those who fail to do so could suffer “suspension and relief,” according to the statement.
All troops in active service of four military branches will have to be vaccinated by the end of the year.
The U.S. Air Force said the active-duty military will have a Nov. 2, 2021, deadline to get vaccinated. Reserve and National Guard troops will have a deadline of December 2, 2021.
The U.S. Navy and the U.S. Marine Corps set deadlines last month for the full vaccination of members of the active service before November 28, 2021. Members of the reserve service of the two branches must be fully vaccinated on December 28, 2021.
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