GI Bill Benefits Restored for Troops Discharged Over COVID Vaccine Refusal
The Department of Veterans Affairs has reinstated Post-9/11 GI Bill education benefits for veterans discharged for refusing the COVID-19 vaccine. The decision follows a directive from the White House to review service records for troops separated for refusing to obey a direct order and receive the COVID-19 vaccine.
DoD officials announced that hundreds of veterans have already received notification of restored eligibility, but these are for the easiest-to-process cases.
GI Bill Benefits Restored for Troops Discharged Over COVID Vaccine Refusal
Executive Order 14184, from January 2025, directs the Department of Defense to review the personnel files of service members discharged solely for noncompliance with the COVID-19 vaccine order.
This review, when the discharge is upgraded, can result in some federal benefits previously withheld from these individuals being reinstated.
The Department of Defense completed an initial review of service records, identifying nearly 900 veterans who (now) meet the eligibility criteria for the Post-9/11 GI Bill. But more than 8,000 troops were discharged for refusing to obey a direct order to receive the vaccine between August 2021 and January 2023.
Military Times reports, “the VA sent letters in September to veterans who already received upgraded discharges to alert them of this possibility, but the department urges all who were dismissed for refusing the vaccine to seek an upgraded status and apply for GI Bill benefits.”
The Financial Impact of Discharge Status
Commanders frequently issued “General, Under Honorable Conditions” discharges to vaccine refusers. This classification allows veterans to retain certain benefits, such as access to VA healthcare, but it renders the veteran ineligible for the Post-9/11 GI Bill.
The GI Bill covers full in-state tuition at public universities. It includes a monthly housing allowance based in part on the cost of living in the school’s zip code. The Post-9/11 GI Bill also offers a stipend for books and supplies. A veteran attending school in a high-cost area could miss out on thousands of dollars in total compensation because of a General discharge.
The Department of Defense continues to screen records to locate other personnel eligible for an upgrade.
Timeline of the COVID-19 Mandate
- Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin issued the COVID-19 vaccine requirement in August 2021. The order applied to all active duty and reserve components.
- The mandate remained in effect for over a year. The National Defense Authorization Act required the Department of Defense to rescind the mandate, officially ending the requirement in January 2023.
- The process for restoring benefits is not automatic for every veteran.
- The initial group of 899 represents those with the most straightforward cases; however, those with more complex issues may find that the process takes much longer, depending on the circumstances.
To obtain a records review and possible discharge upgrade, veterans typically must petition the Discharge Review Board or its equivalent. The applicant must prove the discharge resulted solely from vaccine refusal. Complicating factors, such as other misconduct, may delay or prevent an upgrade.
The review boards examine the evidence and issue a ruling. An upgrade to “Honorable” triggers a notification to the VA. The veteran can then apply for a Certificate of Eligibility for the GI Bill.
If you are not sure whether you need to request a military records review in order to upgrade a military discharge, contact the Department of Veterans Affairs to discuss your questions.
About the author
Editor-in-Chief Joe Wallace is a 13-year veteran of the United States Air Force and a former reporter/editor for Air Force Television News and the Pentagon Channel. His freelance work includes contract work for Motorola, VALoans.com, and Credit Karma. He is co-founder of Dim Art House in Springfield, Illinois, and spends his non-writing time as an abstract painter, independent publisher, and occasional filmmaker.
