US soldiers who were sacked after declining to take the covid vaccine are being sent instructions on how to rejoin.
According to military blog Task and Purpose, around 1,900 active-duty soldiers were separated for refusing to get the jab.
An Army spokesperson, told the blog that the letters were sent "specifically as part of the covid mandate recession process".
A Department of Defense memo in January this year rescinded the military rules that required service members to get vaccinated against Covid-19.
The memo comes amid an Army recruitment crisis in the US
Getty
According to the January memo one serving in the armed forces will be separated for refusing to take the vaccine if they seek a religious, administrative, or medical accommodation.
The rule that military members had to get vaccinated came into place in August and November 2021.
The memo from earlier this year said that the department will continue to "promote and encourage" vaccination for all service members.
According to the letter, former soldiers who were separated for refusing to take the vaccine can request a correction of their military record and instructs those who wish to rejoin to contact a recruiter.
Young people are not signing up due to 'institutional skepticism'
Soldiers waiting for the jab
Army Times reported in 2022, the Army fell short of its recruiting goal by about 15,000 soldiers, or 25 per cent.
Secretary of the Army Christine Wormuth said that the percentage of young Americans who are physically fit and mentally prepared enough to join the military has been shrinking over time.
They added that figure is at about 23 per cent of people between the ages of 18 and 24.
Wormuth also said that younger people are not as interested in joining the military as a result of "institutional skepticism."
Speaking to NPR, Wormuth said: "When you look at Generation Z, you see a lot of the declining trust in institutions,"
The Army recently revived its classic "Be All You Can Be" campaign to combat its constant decline in recruits.
Army spokesperson Lt. Col. Ruth Castro said: "As part of the overall COVID mandate rescission process mandated by Congress, the Army this month mailed the letters to approximately 1,900 individuals who had previously been separated.
"The letter provides information to former servicemembers on how to request a correction of their military records."
