Sources claim unvaccinated West Point cadets face growing threats and intimidation Nine Line News Team June 18, 2021 Nine Line News 3,881 Families of West Point cadets say the students are facing increasing pressure, coercion, and even threats at the acedmey if they have declined the voluntary COVID vaccines. About three dozen of the approximately 4,500 students at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point have continued to refuse the vaccine. Neither West Point nor the military as a whole have a vaccine mandate. However, multiple sources have revealed to Fox News that these cadets are being singled out with COVID-19-related quarantines and other restrictions. Documents show unvaccinated cadets were cited with Negative Cadet Observation Reports, (NCORs), for allegedly violating mask and social distancing guidelines when they sat less than six feet apart from one another on outdoor benches without masks. Unvaccinated cadets are also subjected to a seven-day quarantine during their break before summer training, essentially robbing them of a week of leave time. According to the U.S. Military Academy’s Public Affairs Office, vaccines are encouraged but not mandatory and the Academy had protocols in place because vaccinated individuals can spread the virus to unvaccinated peers. Possible, perhaps. But it would seem very, very unlikely. The CDC on its website says: Accumulating evidence indicates that fully vaccinated people without immunocompromising conditions are able to engage in most activities with very low risk of acquiring or transmitting SARS-CoV-2. The benefits of avoiding disruptions such as unnecessary quarantine and social isolation might outweigh the low residual risk of becoming ill with COVID-19, generally with mild disease, or of transmitting the virus to others. Nonetheless, the Academy’s spokesperson admits those who have refused the shot are being treated differently: “Though they train together and are fully integrated in all activities, unvaccinated cadets are currently being housed separately from vaccinated cadets to minimize transmission risk.” However, West Point denies allegations that the school’s COVID coordinator, Col. Laura Dawson, attempted to coerce cadets into getting the vaccine or face the possibility of leaving the academy. “Currently, the Department of Defense is not mandating vaccinations for U.S. military members, and it remains optional but encouraged for West Point personnel,” the school said. “Any harassment, abuse, threats, or punitive measures targeting unvaccinated personnel is antithetical to West Point policy, ideals, and Army values. West Point takes every report of inappropriate behavior very seriously and takes immediate actions to address such reports in a timely manner,” according to the public affairs office. The school’s specific guidelines for unvaccinated cadets state masks should be worn in the barracks and shared spaces – including bathrooms and showers. “In shared indoor spaces masks are required,” the school’s public affairs office said. “Identical to the academic year mask requirements, if the shower and bathroom is in a shared indoor space, non-vaccinated individuals are required to wear a mask when not performing personnel hygiene.” Masks should also be worn while cadets are swimming unless social distancing of six feet is maintained. Swimming? Like with your face underwater? How does that work exactly? Elita Perusek, the mother of one cadet who is his final year at West Point – and was a 1993 graduate herself, said on Hannity this week, “He was counseled before he left West Point by his tactical office who told him that because he chose to exercise his right to not take the vaccine that he would be called ‘susceptible status’…and that he would have to submit to restriction of movement throughout the summer. Which meant that he would have to give up some of his leave.” Brian MacDonald, another cadet parent said his daughter previously caught COVID-19 and may already have a degree of natural immunity to the virus. He said, “She’s in a position where she’s had COVID, she recovered from COVID, she has the antibodies for COVID, and West Point is putting a ridiculous amount of pressure on her to take the vaccine.” And just for reference, the COVID recovery rate for those under 30 years old is 99.9 percent. Just sayin.
