CONSIDERATION OF REINSTATEMENT OF A MEMBER OF THE ARMED FORCES INVOLUNTARILY SEPARATED ON THE BASIS OF REFUSAL TO RECEIVE A VACCINATION AGAINST COVID-19.

SEC. 526. CONSIDERATION OF REINSTATEMENT OF A MEMBER OF THE ARMED FORCES INVOLUNTARILY SEPARATED ON THE BASIS OF REFUSAL TO RECEIVE A VACCINATION AGAINST COVID-19. (a) Reinstatement.— (1) Request; consideration.—At the request of a covered individual during the two years following the date of the involuntary separation of the covered individual, the Secretary concerned shall consider reinstating such covered individual— (A) as a member of the Armed Force concerned; and (B) in the grade held by such covered individual immediately before the involuntary separation of the covered individual. (2) Treatment of period between separation and reinstatement.—The Secretary concerned shall treat the period of time between the involuntary separation of a covered individual and the reinstatement of such covered individual under paragraph (1) as a period of inactivation from active service under the following provisions of section 710 of title 10, United States Code: (A) Subsection (b). (B) Subparagraphs (B) through (D) of paragraph (2) of subsection (f). (C) Paragraph (4) of subsection (f). (D) Subsection (g). (b) Covered Individual Defined.—In this section, the term “covered individual” means an individual— (1) involuntarily separated from an Armed Force solely on the basis of the refusal of such individual to receive a vaccination against COVID-19; and (2) who, during the period beginning on August 24, 2021, and ending on February 24, 2023, submitted a request for a religious, administrative, or medical exemption from a requirement to receive a vaccination against COVID-19.