ALCOAST 248/25 - JUN 2025 REINSTATING SERVICE MEMBERS DISCHARGED UNDER THE MILITARY'S COVID-19 VACCINATION MANDATE - SITREP 1

R 021900Z JUN 25 MID120001983651U
FM COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC
TO ALCOAST
BT
UNCLAS
ALCOAST 248/25
SSIC 1130
SUBJ: REINSTATING SERVICE MEMBERS DISCHARGED UNDER THE MILITARY'S
COVID-19 VACCINATION MANDATE - SITREP 1
A. Executive Order on Reinstating Service Members Discharged
Under the Military's COVID-19 Vaccination Mandate of 27 JAN 2025
B. COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC 051537Z MAR 25/ALCOAST 101/25
1. This ALCOAST announces the process for Service members who
were involuntarily separated, or voluntarily left the service
solely due to COVID-19 vaccine mandate to be reinstated at
their former grade, rank, or rate, and includes information
related to backpay calculations for those eligible.
2. INVOLUNTARY SEPARATIONS:
    a. Service members who were involuntarily separated and
return to service will automatically be included in a group
application to the Board for Correction of Military Records
(BCMR) to request their records be corrected to reflect
continuous service during their period of separation. Following
the BCMR's order to award these members constructive service
credit, the Coast Guard will calculate and award backpay,
benefits, bonuses, or other compensation that each Service
member would have earned had they remained on active duty
during their period of separation.
Payments will be subject to required offsets, which include
other income earned during the period of separation.
    b. Information on how back payments will be calculated,
including required offsets for involuntarily separated members
who return to service, is available on the Return 2 Service site:
(Copy and Paste URL Below into Browser)

https://www.uscg.mil/return2service

    c. Service members considering returning to service should
carefully review this formula to understand the potential
financial benefit of returning to service. It is important to
note that these calculations are preliminary and should not be
considered an accurate calculation of what the member should
expect in backpay. They are intended to provide the member a
representation of what they may receive, if all required
information has been accounted for accurately when they fill
out the calculator. Service members who earned income similar
to their military income while separated may not be entitled
to backpay.
    d. Eligible Service members will be notified of their
inclusion in the group BCMR application and will have the
option to opt out.
    e. Nothing in this policy precludes any Service member from
separately seeking alternate or additional relief through an
individual application to the BCMR.
3. VOLUNTARY SEPARATIONS:
    a. Voluntarily separated Service members who wish to return
to service must attest that they voluntarily left the service
as a result of the vaccine mandate to be eligible for
reinstatement under this policy. A sample attestation is
available on the Return 2 Service site:
(Copy and Paste URL Below into Browser)

https://www.uscg.mil/return2service

    b. Service members who separated voluntarily or allowed their
service to lapse due to the vaccine mandate will not be included
in the group application to the BCMR.
    c. Nothing in this policy precludes any Service member from
seeking alternate or additional relief through an individual
application to the BCMR.
4. SERVICE OBLIGATIONS:
    a. All Service members returning to service under this policy
must obligate at least 4 years of active duty or reserve
service, depending on the Service member's status at time of
separation.
    b. Former Service members who separated within 2 years of
retirement eligibility must obligate at least 2 years of
service.
    c. Service members unable to commit to the required 4 or 2
years of service obligation will not be considered for
reinstatement.
5. PRE-SCREENING:
    a. Once a former Service member decides to pursue
reinstatement, PSC will conduct a reintegration screening
(NCIC and credit check, security clearance initiation)
followed by a prescreening evaluation of the member's physical
and medical eligibility.
    b. Returning Service members must meet all eligibility
requirements, including medical retention standards outlined
in DoDI 6130.03, Volume 2.
6. PRE-REINSTATEMENT ASSISTANCE:
The Return 2 Service Team (R2ST), through the Virtual
Recruiting Center (VRC), will facilitate and encourage former
Service members who were involuntarily separated and choose to
return to service to submit relevant information and
documentation (e.g., tax returns, medical expenses) to
facilitate calculation and processing of compensation payments.
7. TIMEFRAME TO APPLY:
All Service members who wish to return to service under this
policy must apply for reinstatement through the R2ST no later
than 1 April 2026.
8. POC: For questions, concerns, or reinstatement resources,
please visit the R2ST site listed above or contact
the R2ST at: smb-comdt-return2serviceinquiries@uscg.mil
9. RADM M. H. Day, Acting Deputy for Personnel Readiness
(CG-DCMS-DPR), sends.
10. Internet release is authorized.