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-Land of the Free
Oklahoma National Guard defies Pentagon, won't impose COVID-19 vaccine mandate
2021-11-14
[Just The News] The newly installed head of the Oklahoma National Guard has ordered that troops under his command will not be forced to comply with the Pentagon's COVID-19 vaccine mandate for members of the armed forces.

"No Oklahoma Guardsman will be required to take the COVID-19 Vaccine," Army Brig. Gen. Thomas Mancino wrote in a Thursday memo. The memo was at odds with a Defense Department directive that the "total force" - including the National Guard - must be vaccinated against COVID-19.

Mancino noted in the memo that Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt is the organization's "lawful Commander in Chief" when not under federal orders, implying that Stitt - not Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin - has the final call on any vaccine mandate.

Mancino wrote in the memo that "no negative administrative or legal action will be taken" against guard members who do not get the vaccine.

Mancino was appointed on Wednesday as adjutant general of the Oklahoma National Guard, replacing former Adjutant General Michael Thompson.

Governor Kevin Stitt earlier this month asked Austin to suspend the vaccine mandate for members of the Oklahoma National Guard.

"It is irresponsible for the federal government to place mandatory vaccine obligations on Oklahoma national guardsmen which could potentially limit the number of individuals that I can call upon to assist the state during an emergency," Stitt wrote in a Nov. 1 letter to Austin.

"This mandate violates the personal freedoms of many Oklahomans, as it asks them to potentially sacrifice their personal beliefs in order to not lose their jobs," Stitt wrote. "All of our national guardsmen take this calling very seriously. These are patriotic citizens who are willing to put their lives on the line to protect others in our communities during times of greatest need."
Posted by:Besoeker

#9  A US military completely purged of unvaccinated sailors, soldiers, airmen and marines is a military that will follow any unlawful order and that can be used against the very citizens it is supposed to protect. That is the purpose of the vaccination order and the earlier stand down to fight against "white supremacy". The DNC wants a military like the Nazi regime that will just "follow orders" so they can wield it as they wish with no concern for the law or the constitution. Such a military might even refuse to follow orders of a duly elected GOP president and turn on him if ordered to do so by a democrat.
Posted by: Ichnusa    2021-11-14 09:50  

#8  Depending on the state and their constitutions, the appointment belongs to the state, not the feds. The feds can federalize the troops but not his office. As for Katrina, that was coordination and cooperation not subordination of guards assets that were not federalized.
Posted by: Procopius2k   2021-11-14 09:07  

#7  More on how Mancino was appointed
Posted by: Frank G   2021-11-14 07:54  

#6  Things are sooo screwed up, I'd be happy if we could follow the Magna Carta right now.
Posted by: Greatle Glurt1356   2021-11-14 07:38  

#5  /\ Announce that DoD and the President of the United States have lost confidence in General Marcino's ability to lead.

Federalize ONLY the position of Adjutant General. Send down an OGA-Stasi minder "advisor" to the office to make sure things go as planned.

Each of the 11 Unified Commands (CENTCOM, SOUTHCOM, EUCOM, etc) have OGA 'liaison officers' who sit outside the CINC's office. The precedent has already been established.

The Biden administration is at WAR! State's Adjutant Generals are routinely replaced by Active Duty generals during wartime or in national emergency situations. See Joint Task Force Katrina and LTG Russel L. Honoré for details.

Posted by: Besoeker   2021-11-14 06:36  

#4  Who needs a Constitution -

To provide for organizing, arming, and disciplining, the militia, and for governing such part of them as may be employed in the service of the United States, reserving to the states respectively, the appointment of the officers, and the authority of training the militia according to the discipline prescribed by Congress

Yeah, federalize them, then how do you control them? You quickly run into a 'consent of the governed' issue cause you can't court martial them all. One day a member of the Oklahoma National Guard, the next day a member of the state's militia not subject to federal authority.
Posted by: Procopius2k   2021-11-14 06:26  

#3  /\ Yes, "Federalize" the full-time position of the State Adjutant General. If Gen. Mancino then fails to comply with the Biden mandate, relieve him and bring in someone from Fort Sill who will.
Posted by: Besoeker   2021-11-14 06:16  

#2  Given the 5th Federal Court has rule The VAX Mandate unconstitutional.

They now stand on firm Legal Ground being Citizen-Warriors and not full time DOD.

Posted by: NN2N1   2021-11-14 06:08  

#1  ...There's a few ways this could go, none of them good:

*They could Federalize the OKNG, and then - strictly by the book - it's game over. I personally feel this is the most likely scenario; given how into control this administration is, and it is the least likely to be overturned before implementation. Keep in mind also that OK went solidly for Trump in 2020 - there will be a lot of motivation to show those Okie hicks who's boss.

*DOD could shut off funding to the OKNG, but that opens up a whole can of worms across the rest of the country - you'll have Governors on both sides asking if they can lose their funding if they do anything the Feds disagree with. Remember - don't give Biden a power or privilege that you don't want a DeSantis or Trump to have. (NOTE: On the other hand, it's entirely possible that the Administration and DOD simply aren't bright enough to realize that.)

*The Administration can talk a good fight and try to make it look as if they're applying pressure, but instead quietly trying to get them to make some kind of concession. Again, I don't think they're smart enough to do this.

*DOD can effectively ignore it. Quite possible, but that will encourager les autres.

Popcorn, anyone?

Mike
Posted by: Mike Kozlowski   2021-11-14 06:05  

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