Washington: The Navy Commander has been fired from his work as an executive officer of the warship because he refused to get the Covid-19 vaccine as needed and refused to be tested for the virus, naval officials said.
CMDR Lucian Kins released from his duty Friday as the second device USS Winston Churchill, a destroyer, by Navy Capt Ken Anderson, Commander Squadron Surface 14.
Official on Friday said KINS was the first Navy officer who was fired as a result of a vaccine rejection.
Navy spokesman Lt CMDR Jason Fisher refused to give the right reason why KINS was released from the command, citing privacy issues.
Fisher, who is a spokesman for the Atlantic Navy Navy, said the reason for the shooting was that Anderson lost trust in KINS’s ability to carry out his duties after he failed to obey legitimate orders.
However, other officials said it was because KIN refused the order to get a vaccine, and reject testing to make sure he did not have a virus.
Officials speak with anonymity requirements to discuss personnel issues.
A official said Kins had requested the exception of religion, which was rejected.
KINS begged the rejection.
The Pentagon has made a mandatory vaccine for all service members, and naval personnel have until the end of November to get shots or exceptions to their requests.
Thousands of service members have requested the exception of religion, but so far there is no military service that agrees to one.
Fisher said Kin had been transferred to the Naval Surface Squadron staff 14.
LT CMDR Han Yi, ship plans and tactic officers, for the time being serving as executive church officers until permanent replacement was identified.