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@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@navy.mil*
PERS-8 Officer separations: *pers-834@navy.mil*
PERS-8 Active/FTS/TAR enlisted retirements:
*enlisted_active_duty_retirements@navy.mil*
PERS-8 Active/FTS/TAR officer retirements: *pers_835_retirements@navy.mil*
PERS-8 Officer and enlisted promotion delays:
*npc_promotionwithholds.fct@navy.mil*
PERS-92 Officer and enlisted definite recalls: *pers-92@navy.mil*
PERS-9 Reserve enlisted separations: *913vaccineadseps.fct@navy.mil*
PERS-97 Officer transitions: *cto.officer@navy.mil*
PERS-97 Enlisted transitions: *cto.enlisted@navy.mil*
BUPERS-32 Selective Reenlistment Bonuses: *mill_incen_pays.fct@navy.mil*
OPNAV POC: CAPT Jason Grizzle, *altn_n1_navy_scr.fct@navy.mil*
11. Released by VADM John B. Nowell Jr, N1, COVID Consolidated Disposition
Authority.
BT
#0001
NNNN
UNCLASSIFIED//