Does a United States Marine get to decide what color boots they want to wear? Can you opt for flip-flops since they are more comfortable? Haircuts? Is there a standard for them anymore? What if I want to braid my hair, can I opt to do that?
There was a news item the other day that 40 percent of Marines have declined to get coronavirus vaccinations. I guess I've been out of the military (Army) for waaay too long. I remember getting my vaccinations via an air-gun-like device. Line 'em up, run them through. No one asked me if I wanted them — there was no option. Do as I say — it was the expectation.
Military readiness is tied to being "fit to fight," which includes being healthy and not spreading diseases to one's fellow military members. Close quarters abound in a war fighting organization. Nothing like being in a nice cozy tank with three other guys breathing the same confined air. Submarines, ships, all have close quarters. Perhaps they have been having "socially distanced" formations in the past year. No "dress right dress" with one's elbow touching the other person. Did you know more U.S. soldiers died of the flu in World War I than died in combat. Health is a combat readiness criteria!
It appears that I'm totally uninformed and living in the past when it comes to "options" once one is in the military service.
Let me share this though. I tell people enlisting today to read the fine print. Once you are "in," you are "in" forever based on the "needs of the service." That is why you can be recalled to duty even when you are out of active duty and not in a military reserve unit. Or, maybe in the Marines you just say "I'm opting out of serving and that shot — sir!"
