Would possibly 14, 2022 — 4 seniors on the U.S. Air Power Academy might not be 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 ultimate yr that every one army provider individuals, together with army academy scholars, be vaccinated in opposition to COVID-19 except they’re granted an exemption. Provider individuals are also required to take a number of alternative vaccines.
Air Power Academy spokesperson Lt. Col. Brian Maguire stated the placement would possibly exchange as a result of “there are nonetheless two weeks till commencement, so their standing may just exchange because the cadets weigh their choices,” The Related Press stated.
Commencement is scheduled for Would possibly 25 on the Air Power Academy campus in Colorado Springs, Colo. Maguire additionally stated two juniors, one sophomore, and 6 newcomers have refused to take the vaccine.
One imaginable result for the Air Power cadets is having to pay off the federal government for tuition prices. The U.S. army academies once in a while require scholars to pay off the ones prices, which can also be up to $200,000, in the event that they depart throughout their junior or senior years, The Related Press stated.
The U.S. Army Academy at West Level, N.Y., and the Naval Academy at Annapolis, Md., say none in their seniors will leave out commencement on account of vaccine refusal, The Related Press stated.
Mike Rose, a attorney representing 3 of the senior cadets, stated they could graduate overdue and be commissioned as officials in the event that they went forward and gained a dose of vaccine, however “they’ve were given a restricted period of time to make that call, they usually’re working out of time,” The Colorado Springs Gazette stated.
Gordon Klingenschmitt, an Air Power Academy graduate who leads an evangelical ministry, stated the 4 seniors objected to the vaccine on non secular grounds, in keeping with the Colorado Springs Gazette. “That’s why they gained’t take the vaccine,” he stated. “It’s now not as a result of they hate all vaccines.
