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RETURN2SERVICE

OVERVIEW

 

Following the directives from President Donald J. Trump, Coast Guard Commandant, Adm. Kevin Lunday, has taken immediate action to inform affected servicemembers of their opportunity for reinstatement.

This web page will be updated to provide more details and application correspondence regarding the Return 2 Service efforts as it becomes available.

Involuntary

Former Coast Guard members who were discharged solely for refusal to receive the COVID–19 vaccine.

General Process

  1. All involuntarily discharged former Service members must apply for reinstatement no later than 1 April 2027. Members must submit to a NCIC and credit check, security clearance initiation, and a prescreening evaluation of the member’s eligibility, including medical eligibility to meet retention standards.
  2. Consistent with E.O. 14184, Service members will be reinstated at their former grade, rank, or rate.
  3. Service members returning to service must agree to obligate a minimum of 2 years of service.
  4. The Coast Guard will submit a group application to the Board for Correction of Military Records (BCMR) requesting constructive service credit for all Service members who return to service. Those Service members who do not wish to be included in the group application may opt out and submit an application as an individual.
  5. Service members who opt to return to a different component than that from which they separated will not be included in the group BCMR. However, those Service members may submit an individual application to the BCMR, if desired. This is applicable to members who were discharged from the Active component but returned in the Reserve component, for example. 
  6. Following BCMR action, and consistent with guidance in E.O. 14184, Service members who were involuntarily separated and return to service may be eligible for back pay, benefits, bonus payments, or other compensation for the period during which they would have remained on active duty.

Compensation Fact Sheet

Department of Defense Form 149 - Application for the Correction of Military Record

Coast Guard Board for the Correction of Military Records

Voluntary

Former Coast Guard members who voluntarily left the service or allowed their service to lapse according to appropriate procedures, rather than be vaccinated under the vaccine mandate.

General Process

  1. Former Service members must apply for reinstatement no later than 1 April 2027. Members must attest that they voluntarily left the service as a result of the vaccine mandate to be eligible for reinstatement under this policy.
  2. Members must submit to a NCIC and credit check, security clearance initiation, and a prescreening evaluation of the member’s eligibility, including medical eligibility to meet retention standards.
  3. Consistent with E.O. 14184, Service members will be reinstated at their former grade, rank, or rate.
  4. Service members returning to service must agree to obligate a minimum of 2 years of service.
  5. 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. However, they may submit an application to the BCMR as an individual.

Example Attestation

Department of Defense Form 149 - Application for Correction of Military Record

Coast Guard Board for the Correction of Military Records

Previously Returned Members

  1. The Coast Guard will submit a group application to the BCMR requesting constructive service credit for all involuntarily discharged Service members who previously returned to service. Those Service members who do not wish to be included in the group application may opt out and submit an application as an individual. 
  2. Service members who opted to return to a different component than that from which they separated will not be included in the group BCMR. However, those Service members may submit an individual application to the BCMR, if desired. This is applicable to members who were discharged from the Active component but returned in the Reserve component, for example.
  3. Following BCMR action, and consistent with guidance in E.O. 14184, Service members who were involuntarily separated and returned to service may be eligible for back pay, benefits, bonus payments, or other compensation for the period during which they would have remained on active duty.
  4. 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. However, they may submit an application to the BCMR as an individual.

Compensation Fact Sheet

Department of Defense Form 149 - Application for Correction of Military Record

Coast Guard Board for the Correction of Military Records