© Shutterstock/ Steve Cordory
Orders to the Royal Artillery and Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers state: 'Covid-19 vaccination. Anyone who is refusing to have the CV-19 jab is to be educated by the CoC (Chain of Command) and any rumours quashed.
'If they still refuse they may be deemed as unfit to soldier and dealt with accordingly as the CV-19 jab may be a requirement to deploy on operations/exercises, much like yellow fever.'
By law the Army cannot force soldiers to get jabs. Yet being 'unfit to soldier' is an offence under the Armed Forces Act.
Comment: So it won't be mandatory, but it will be near impossible to hold down a job without it?
The orders are believed to have been sent this week.
Last night a leading military lawyer suggested their tone may amount to 'threats' or 'bullying'.
Lewis Cherry said: 'Unless this becomes a compulsory injection it remains a medical procedure that requires informed consent.'
Other public sector organisations have been advised to take a softer approach to staff refusing jabs.
Private sector employers have also been warned by the government that 'no jab, no job' policies are illegal.
The MOD said: 'We are committed to keeping our staff, their families and communities safe at home and overseas, and all our personnel are being vaccinated in line with national priority guidelines.
Comment: How reassuring...
'The FCDO and Defence are working jointly to ensure UK Government and Armed Forces personnel overseas within the first nine priority groups are offered a vaccine in line with the UK population, including those in Defence Overseas Bases and Operational areas.'
Comment: See also: