UNCLASSIFIED ROUTINE R 221255Z APR 22 MID200001690493U FM CNO WASHINGTON DC TO NAVADMIN INFO SECNAV WASHINGTON DC CNO WASHINGTON DC BT UNCLAS NAVADMIN 102/22 MSGID/NAVADMIN/CNO WASHINGTON DC/CNO/APR// SUBJ/CCDA ADDITIONAL GUIDANCE REGARDING MEMBERS REQUESTING RELIGIOUS ACCOMMODATION FROM COVID-19 VACCINATION REQUIREMENTS// REF/A/MSG/CNO/311913ZAUG21// REF/B/MSG/CNO/132050ZOCT21// REF/C/MSG/CNO/152239ZNOV21// REF/D/MSG/CNO/151203ZDEC21// REF/E/DOC/SECDEF/24AUG21// REF/F/MSG/SECNAV/302126ZAUG21// REF/G/DOC/BUMED/20OCT20// REF/H/MSG/COMNAVSPECWARCOM/241857ZSEP21// REF/I/DOC/US DIST CT N DIST TX/28MAR22// REF/J/MSG/CNO/302215ZMAR22// REF/K/DOC/BUPERS/11MAR22// REF/L/DOC/OPNAV/15AUG20// REF/M/DOC/OPNAV/11NOV21// REF/N/MSG/CNO/111536ZAPR22// REF/O/DOC/OPNAV/01APR22// REF/P/DOC/OPNAV/01APR19// REF/Q/MSG/CNO/011621ZNOV21// REF/R/MSG/CNO/221849ZFEB22// NARR/REF A IS NAVADMIN 190/21, 2021-2022 NAVY MANDATORY COVID-19 VACCINATION AND REPORTING POLICY. REF B IS NAVADMIN 225/21, COVID-19 CONSOLIDATED DISPOSITION AUTHORITY (CCDA). REF C IS NAVADMIN 256/21, CCDA GUIDANCE TO COMMANDERS. REF D IS NAVADMIN 283/21, CCDA EXECUTION GUIDANCE TO COMMANDERS. REF E IS THE SECRETARY OF THE DEFENSE MEMO MANDATING CORONAVIRUS DISEASE 2019 VACCINATION FOR DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE SERVICE MEMBERS. REF F IS ALNAV 062/21, 2021-2022 DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY MANDATORY COVID-19 VACCINATION POLICY. REF G IS MANUAL OF THE MEDICAL DEPARTMENT, NAVMED P-117, ARTICLE 15-105 (3)(n)(9). REF H IS TRIDENT ORDER NUMBER 12, MANDATORY VACCINATION FOR COVID-19. REF I IS U.S. DISTRICT COURT FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF TEXAS ORDER ON MOTIONS FOR CLASS CERTIFICATION AND CLASS-WIDE PRELIMINARY INJUNCTION. REF J NAVADMIN 083/22, CCDA INTERIM GUIDANCE REGARDING MEMBERS REQUESTING RELIGIOUS ACCOMMODATION FROM COVID-19 VACCINATION REQUIREMENTS. REF K IS BUPERSINST 1730.11A CH-1, STANDARDS AND PROCEDURES GOVERNING THE ACCOMMODATION OF RELIGIOUS PRACTICES. REF L IS MILPERSMAN 1730-020, IMMUNIZATION EXEMPTIONS FOR RELIGIOUS BELIEFS. REF M IS MILPERSMAN 1910-704, DETERMINING SEPARATION AUTHORITY. REF N IS NAVADMIN 093/22, U.S. NAVY COVID-19 STANDARDIZED OPERATIONAL GUIDANCE 6.0. REF O IS MPM 1160-030, ENLISTMENTS AND REENLISTMENTS UNDER CONTINOUS SERVICE CONDITIONS. REF P IS OPNAVINST 1160.8B, SELECTIVE REENLISTMENT BONUS PROGRAM. REF Q IS NAVADMIN 249/21, CCDA DATA REPORTING REQUIREMENTS. REF R IS NAVADMIN 042/22, UPDATED COVID CONSOLIDATED DISPOSITION AUTHORITY DATA REPORTING REQUIREMENTS AND LESSONS LEARNED. RMKS/1. Purpose. To provide additional guidance regarding the actions directed in references (a) through (h) for Navy service members who requested religious accommodation from the COVID-19 vaccination requirement. These service members were certified by the U.S. District Court order in reference (i) as members of a class action in the case of U.S. Navy SEALS 1-26, et al., versus Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin, III, et al. This message supersedes and replaces guidance previously provided in reference (j). 2. Policy. To ensure compliance with the court order in reference (i), this NAVADMIN continues to suspend separation processing and certain adverse administrative consequences of COVID-19 vaccine refusal for Navy service members who submitted requests for religious accommodation from the COVID-19 vaccine requirement. In line with a recent decision of the U.S. Supreme Court, the Navy may continue to consider the unvaccinated status of Navy service members when making deployment, assignment, and other operational decisions. 3. Applicability. This NAVADMIN applies only to Navy service members who have submitted requests for religious accommodation from the COVID-19 vaccine requirement in line with references (k) and (l). Adverse administrative consequences and separation processing described in references (a) through (h) continue to apply for personnel who have not submitted requests for religious accommodation. 4. Action 4.a. Navy service members with approved or pending COVID-19 vaccination religious accommodation requests or appeals have not refused the vaccine as defined in references (b) and (c). As such, these service members shall not be processed for separation or be subject to adverse actions as outlined in references (a) through (h). 4.b. The following applies only to Navy service members whose request for religious accommodation from the COVID-19 vaccine requirement has been denied or disapproved on appeal. 4.b.1. Separation Processing. 4.b.1.a. Involuntary Separation Processing. Officer and enlisted involuntary separation processing is suspended. Reports of misconduct not already complete shall not be forwarded. In cases where commands have received formal direction to involuntarily separate members within ten days based on misconduct (vaccine refusal) and those members have not yet separated, DD-214s shall not be issued and members are directed to remain on active duty, pending additional guidance. Commands must communicate with the servicing Personnel Support Detachment or equivalent in order to halt processing. Additionally, commands shall inform Navy Personnel Command PERS- 832 (enlisted), PERS-834 (officers), or PERS-913 (SELRES) in cases where service members awaiting separation still desire to separate. 4.b.1.b. Voluntary Separation. Voluntary resignation, retirement, or regular service expiration (EAOS) may continue. Members who submitted requests for religious accommodation may cancel or amend previous voluntary retirement requests or requests to transfer to the Fleet Reserve. Time is of the essence for updated requests. Members who previously submitted a voluntary resignation or retirement for 1 June 2022 or earlier who no longer wish to retire or resign must submit cancellation requests through NSIPS for final adjudication. In order to expedite processing, members and commands are directed to include "Cancellation of retirement or resignation request due to Religious Accommodation submission" in their corresponding NSIPS requests. 4.b.1.c. Other Involuntary Separation Bases. In cases involving a basis for involuntary separation other than COVID-19 vaccine refusal, separation processing shall continue on that distinct basis. The CCDA is no longer the enlisted separation authority for such separations. Determine separation authority per reference (m) and re-notify as required. 4.b.2. Fitness Reports and Evaluations. No new adverse fitness reports and enlisted evaluations relating to COVID-19 vaccine refusal shall be prepared or issued. Unexecuted (i.e. not transmitted to NPC) adverse fitness reports and enlisted evaluations relating to COVID-19 vaccine refusal should be discarded. Previously submitted adverse fitness reports and evaluations will not be considered adverse, and will be removed from permanent records until otherwise directed. 4.b.3. Bonus, Special Pays, and Incentive Pays. Bonuses, special pays and incentive pays are considered unearned for personnel who have been removed from assignment based on deployment and other operational decisions. Reference (c) provides guidance on required actions for members with unearned bonuses, special pays and incentives. 4.b.4. Education and SkillBridge. Disqualification for educational benefits and SkillBridge participation is suspended. 4.b.5. Reenlistment and Extensions. Reenlistments and extensions are authorized. Effective immediately, Sailors previously denied reenlistment or extension opportunities due to CCDA policy contained in references (c) and (d) are authorized to reenlist or extend, so long as they remain retention eligible in all other respects as outlined in reference (o). Commands can use this NAVADMIN as authority to allow members to extend for a reasonable time if required to suspend separation processing. Per reference (p), members are reminded all eligibility requirements for Selective Reenlistment Bonuses (SRB) must be met, including a minimum 3-year reenlistment. 4.b.6. Promotion, Advancement, and Frocking. Promotion, advancement and frocking are authorized if existing promotion/advancement authority is in effect. 4.b.6.a. Withheld or Delayed Officer Promotions. Promotion recommendations will be routed for SECNAV determination in line with SECNAVINST 1420.3 or 1412.6M, as applicable. 4.b.6.b. Withdrawn or Withheld Enlisted Advancements. Enlisted Sailors will be eligible for the next advancement cycle or board. Promotion, advancement and frocking are authorized if existing promotion/advancement authority is in effect. 4.b.7. Warfare Qualifications, Additional Qualification Designators (AQDs), and Navy Enlisted Classifications. The warfare qualifications, AQDs, NECs, and sub-specialties of Navy service members are important considerations when making deployment, assignment, and other operational decisions involving those members. Community sponsor flag officers remain authorized to consider the unvaccinated status of a Navy service member when deciding to award or remove a warfare qualification, AQD, NEC, or sub-specialty. Any decision to award or remove a warfare qualification, AQD, NEC, or sub-specialty should consider the impact of the members unvaccinated status on performing the mission and duties associated with the warfare qualification, AQD, NEC, or sub-specialty, and should remain consistent with current community policies and normal practices for Navy service members who do not maintain deployability or individual readiness. These decisions must remain administrative rather than punitive. 4.b.8. Detachment for Cause. Detachment for cause for COVID-19 vaccine refusal is not authorized. Reassignment decisions, including decisions to relieve members of their assigned duties, remain an operational decision subject to the discretion of the cognizant commander. Previously executed detachments for cause will not be considered adverse at this time, will be removed from permanent records until otherwise directed, and shall not be commented on in subsequent fitness reports or evaluations. 4.b.9. Reserve Affiliation. Navy service members otherwise separating from active service may apply for affiliation with the Reserve Component. 5. Transfer and Assignment. The Navy will continue to consider the unvaccinated status of Navy service members when making deployment, assignment, and other operational decisions. Reference (n) (series), regarding the assignment of unvaccinated personnel to operational or deployable units, continues to apply. 6. Screening Testing. All unvaccinated Navy service members remain subject to screening testing against COVID-19, where required. 7. Reporting. Database reporting in line with reference (q) continues to apply. Commanders are directed to continue updating the CCDA database with the appropriate entry each time there is a change in vaccination status. 8. Accommodation Request Receipt. In the case of all previously submitted religious accommodation requests, if a command did not receive confirmation of receipt from OPNAV N131, send an email with the members identifying information to the Religious Accommodations Program Manager at ALTN_Navy_Religious_Accommodations(at)navy.mil. 9. If in doubt as to how to adjudicate issues related to this guidance, Commanders should seek guidance from their chain of command, their staff judge advocate, and/or the CCDA before acting. Commands without an assigned legal advisor may seek legal advice from a Region Legal Service Office. In all cases, Commanders are accountable to ensure the health and safety of their command while treating every Navy service member with dignity and respect. 10. Points of contact. PERS-8 Active/FTS enlisted separations: *832vaccineadseps.fct(at)navy.mil* PERS-8 Officer separations: *PERS-834(at)navy.mil* PERS-8 Active/FTS/TAR enlisted retirements: *Enlisted_Active_Duty_Retirements(at)navy.mil* PERS-8 Active/FTS/TAR officer retirements: *pers_835_retirements(at)navy.mil* PERS-8 Officer and enlisted promotion delays: *NPC_promotionwithholds.fct(at)navy.mil* PERS-92 Officer and enlisted definite recalls: *PERS-92(at)navy.mil* PERS-9 Reserve enlisted separations: *913vaccineadseps.fct(at)navy.mil* PERS-97 Officer transitions: *cto.officer(at)navy.mil* PERS-97 Enlisted transitions: *cto.enlisted(at)navy.mil* BUPERS-32 Selective Reenlistment Bonuses: *mill_incen_pays.fct(at)navy.mil* OPNAV POC: CAPT Jason Grizzle, *ALTN_N1_NAVY_SCR.FCT(AT)NAVY.MIL* 11. Released by VADM John B. Nowell Jr, N1, COVID Consolidated Disposition Authority. BT #0001 NNNN UNCLASSIFIED//