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DAF issues guidance on COVID-related adverse actions; Religious Accommodation Requests

  • Published
  • Secretary of the Air Force Public Affairs
ARLINGTON, Va. (AFNS) --  

The Department of the Air Force has issued guidance on removal of adverse actions and handling of Religious Accommodation Requests related to refusal of COVID-19 vaccinations effective Feb. 24.

The DAF will remove adverse information from records of those currently serving service members who sought an exemption on religious, administrative, or medical grounds and who received adverse actions solely due to their refusal to take the vaccine. Members will be notified by their command or the Air Force Personnel Center/Air Reserve Personnel Center.

Current service members do not need to initiate any actions for their records to be updated.

Adverse information actions include:

  • Letters of admonishment, counseling or reprimand, and records of individual counseling will be rescinded.
  • Nonjudicial punishments issued solely for vaccine refusal will be set aside in their entirety.
  • Referral performance reports issued solely for vaccine refusal after requesting an exemption will be removed from personnel records and replaced with a statement of non-rated time.
  • Promotion records will be corrected by the DAF who will remove or redact all adverse actions related to vaccine refusal.
  • Current involuntary discharge proceedings will be terminated.

Additionally, the department has cancelled all outstanding Religious Accommodation Requests for COVID-19 vaccination exemption.

Members who submitted an RAR for non-COVID-19 vaccination exemptions may update and resubmit their request for other mandated vaccination exemptions. To expedite processing, members are asked to resubmit within 30 days.

The DAF has until March 17 to update records and notify affected members.

Slide show

DAF issues guidance on COVID-related adverse actions; Religious Accommodation Requests

  • Published
  • Secretary of the Air Force Public Affairs
ARLINGTON, Va. (AFNS) --  

The Department of the Air Force has issued guidance on removal of adverse actions and handling of Religious Accommodation Requests related to refusal of COVID-19 vaccinations effective Feb. 24.

The DAF will remove adverse information from records of those currently serving service members who sought an exemption on religious, administrative, or medical grounds and who received adverse actions solely due to their refusal to take the vaccine. Members will be notified by their command or the Air Force Personnel Center/Air Reserve Personnel Center.

Current service members do not need to initiate any actions for their records to be updated.

Adverse information actions include:

  • Letters of admonishment, counseling or reprimand, and records of individual counseling will be rescinded.
  • Nonjudicial punishments issued solely for vaccine refusal will be set aside in their entirety.
  • Referral performance reports issued solely for vaccine refusal after requesting an exemption will be removed from personnel records and replaced with a statement of non-rated time.
  • Promotion records will be corrected by the DAF who will remove or redact all adverse actions related to vaccine refusal.
  • Current involuntary discharge proceedings will be terminated.

Additionally, the department has cancelled all outstanding Religious Accommodation Requests for COVID-19 vaccination exemption.

Members who submitted an RAR for non-COVID-19 vaccination exemptions may update and resubmit their request for other mandated vaccination exemptions. To expedite processing, members are asked to resubmit within 30 days.

The DAF has until March 17 to update records and notify affected members.

Edwards provides care, opportunities for children aged six weeks through high school graduation

Edwards provides care, opportunities for childrenaged six weeks through high school graduation

The Child and Youth Program at Edwards AFB provides care and opportunities for kids ages six weeks old through high school graduation. A brief summary of those services follows:

  •                    The Child Development Center cares for children ages 6 weeks to 5 years, with a DOD-wide curriculum. The curriculum is focused on learning through play activities supporting social, emotional, physical and intellectual development. Installations across DOD follow the curriculum on the same timeline to allow seamless permanent change-of-station transitions for youth enrolled in care.
  •                    The School Age Center provides before and after-school care and summer camp for children ages 5 to 12. During school breaks, full-day camps are offered. SAC promotes cognitive, social, emotional, cultural, language and physical development through programs that encourage self-confidence, curiosity, self-discipline and resiliency.
  •                    The open recreation program at the Main Youth Center provides a safe space for ages 9 to 12 to attend after school. Programs include Power Hour, STEM, Torch Club, social recreation, youth camps, special events and more.
  •                    The youth sports program provides intro and league opportunities for ages 3 to 12, and promotes inclusiveness, self-discipline, commitment, resiliency and social skills. There are four sports offered annually for ages five to 12: baseball/softball, soccer, flag football and basketball. Smart start programs are available to ages 3 to 5. There are many other sports and camps offered throughout the year.
  •                    The Teen Center is available for ages 13 to 18 during the school year. Programs offered include Military Youth of the Year, Keystone Club, social recreation, STEM activities, college trips, leadership camps and more.
  •                    Youth programs (SAC, open rec and teen) are affiliated with the Boys and Girls Clubs of America and 4-H.
  •                    Family Child Care homes – there are currently three FCC homes on the installation. They can provide care for ages two weeks to 12 years. FCC providers are trained by Child and Youth Program training and curriculum specialists and have the flexibility to determine their hours of operation and the ages of youth within their care. The program’s new dedicated manager, Jennifer Stegmann, may be reached at 661-275-7529.

Although CDC enrollment capacity is 317, not all slots are currently filled because of a shortage of childcare workers. School Age Center enrollment capacity is 156. After-school care enrollment is 130. Before-school care enrollment is 75. Summer Camp 2022 was at its capacity and enrollment for Summer Camp 2023 opens April 3.