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COVID-19 Reintatement

WELCOME TO THE NAVY COVID-19 REINSTATEMENT AND RECONCILIATION PROGRAM

 

A message from the Under Secretary of the Navy
 

On January 27, 2025, the President signed Executive Order 14184, directing the Department of War to take action to address the impacts of the COVID-19 vaccination mandate on Service members. Subsequent Department of War guidance established processes to support the return to service invitation and correction of military records for those disadvantaged by the defunct COVID-19 vaccine policy. 

In accordance with Executive Order 14184 and direction from the Office of the Secretary of War and the Department of the Navy, this page provides specific guidance to assist in the reinstatement or reconciliation procedures for Sailors who were unjustly impacted by the COVID-19 vaccine mandate.  

Interested Sailors should contact a Navy Recruiter to assist you at 1-800 USA-NAVY (872-6289).  If you are unable to contact a Navy Recruiter, you can contact the Navy COVID Cell at navy_covid@us.navy.mil or (901) 874-9284 for further assistance.  

COVID-19 Disadvantaged Sailors

Honorable, efficient and expedited reinstatement, re-accession, and reconciliation is a top priority for our Warriors of Conscience who stood on constitutional principles to refuse the COVID-19 vaccine.
 
1.  Read the Official Invitation from the Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Manpower and Reserve Affairs:  ASD (M&RA) Letter COVID Reinstatement 
2.  Read the Official Invitation Letter from the Chief of Naval Personnel:  CNP Reinstatement Invitation Letter
3.  Read the Official Apology from the Under Secretary of the Navy:  UNSECNAV Letter
 
Former Sailors who were involuntarily separated or departed from service for their refusal to receive the COVID-19 vaccine are eligible for an expedited pathway for return to service.  In addition, former Sailors seeking reinstatement may be entitled to financial compensation for service time lost, benefits, recouped bonuses, promotion or advancement, and incurred medical expenses.  

If you were disadvantaged by the COVID-19 vaccination mandate and are interested in returning to service or seeking correction of your military records, you are encouraged to contact your local recruiter or the Navy COVID Cell at navy_covid@us.navy.mil or (901) 874-9284. 

Information requested aids Navy recruiters and the COVID Reinstatement Cell to review your circumstances, determine the appropriate pathway, explain available options, and guide you through the next steps of an expedited, stream-lined reinstatement or reconciliation process.
Submission of information does not obligate you to return to service.
 
 

Eligibility and Path Forward

The Navy offers a streamlined return-to-service process designed to review individual circumstances, explain available options, and guide eligible Sailors through the required steps in accordance with governing policy.
 
  • Former Sailors should contact a Navy recruiter to request return to service through the expedited pathway created for those who departed solely for their refusal of the COVID-19 vaccine.
  • The Navy intends to recognize your commitment to conscience by welcoming you back with honors.
  • If the former Sailor is unable to contact an appropriate recruiter, please contact navy_covid@us.navy.mil or (901) 874-9284 to receive assistance.
  • Recruiters will assist former Sailors who desire reinstatement to Active Duty or Ready Reserves with an application to Board for Correction of Naval Records (BCNR).
  • All BCNR DD149 applications should be routed to the Navy COVID Cell for submission to BCNR for expedited processing.

Correction of Service Records


Board for Correction of Naval Records (BCNR) and Discharge Review Board (DRB) will prioritize COVID-19 related requests for relief from error or injustice for former or current Sailors disadvantaged by the defunct COVID-19 vaccine mandate.
 
  • All BCNR DD149 applications should be routed to the Navy COVID Cell for submission to BCNR for expedited processing.
  • Former and current Sailors may submit a DD 149 form to BCNR or DD 293 form to DRB, with supporting documents, to request administrative corrections to their service record due to refusal of the COVID-19 vaccine and/or submission of a medical/administrative waiver or religious accommodation request.
  • Requests may address upgrade of characterization of service to “HONORABLE”, removal of adverse discharge narrative (i.e. MISCONDUCT) and change of re-entry code to an immediately-eligible-to-reenter-code.
  • Other requests for relief may include advancement, special selection board, backpay associated with involuntary removal to the IRR, loss of service benefits, education entitlements and removal of unfavorable official records.
  • COVID-19 Reinstatement & Reconciliation Checklist

BCNR Submissions

  • BCNR submissions require a completed DD149 form, and to facilitate the reinstatement process, former Sailors are highly encouraged to ensure their submission to BCNR includes a Reinstatement Cover Letter, signed by a recruiter, found here: Reinstatement Cover Letter
  • ​​​This letter should include documentation of the circumstances leading to separation. This could include a letter from the former Sailor reporting the involuntary, coercive nature of departure from service along with the supporting documents (i.e. religious accommodation or medical/administrative waiver submission and/or denial, formal or informal counseling, adverse evaluations or fitness reports,  negative re-enlistment code, negative separation code or narrative, unfavorable discharge characterization, withholding of training, professional military education opportunities and/or advancement testing, removal from positions of leadership or command, reassignment from operational or career enhancing tours, failure to promote, inability to execute permanent change of station (PCS) transfer, inability to re-enlist at expiration of active obligated service (EAOS), inability to execute Inactive Duty Training (IDT) or Annual Training (AT), etc.).
  • The process to petition the BCNR can be found at: https://www.mynavyhr.navy.mil/Career-Management/Records-Management/BCNR/
  • Recruiters and the COVID Cell will assist former Sailors in submitting all required documents for an initial estimate of entitlement to all applicable incentives such as backpay, benefits of service, eligibility for special selection boards, retroactive advancement /promotion, length of service increases, rating/paygrade upon reinstatement, duty station assignment, DHA benefits, recoupment of bonuses and restoration of military records.
  • Recruiters will assist former Sailors in arranging appropriate medical screenings and appointments for reinstatement.
  • Sailors approved for reinstatement may go directly to their Fleet assignment or RTC for refitting in uniforms, DEERS entrance, military ID card issue, and orientation while orders to the Fleet are processed.
  • Former Sailors who accept reinstatement may incur a two-year commitment.  Regardless of your status at separation this can be fulfilled by a two-year active duty or ready reserve obligation.  Former Sailors who were eligible to retire during the period of separation may incur a two-year service obligation. 
  • Former Sailors who do not qualify for reinstatement or do not wish to complete reinstatement requirements may apply for records corrections, re-accession or re-enlistment.

Contact Information

To support our Warriors of Conscience navigating return to service and/or correction of Naval service records, a “concierge-level” of service has been established through every step of the process.  Former or current Sailors seeking pathways to reinstatement and/or reconciliation, he or she may contact the Navy COVID Cell at navy_covid@us.navy.mil or (901) 874-9284. 

If a Warrior of Conscience experiences a situation that cannot be resolved by the Navy COVID Cell, he or she can contact the Assistant Secretary of the Navy (M&RA) COVID Reinstatement and Reconciliation Task Force at SN.COVID.TaskForce@us.navy.mil.


 
COVID-19 Reinstatement Application

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