A short documentary, made by army veteran and filmmaker Cameron Cushman, that covers my story through the military COVID vaccine mandates. It is one of tens of thousands of similar stories. I share it not to divide, but to unite & lead to a solution.🧵1/3
https://t.co/BhVtPyMPNO
Huge thanks to @DavidJHarrisJr and @NEWSMAX for having me on tonight to share my thoughts on the @DeptofWar and @SecWar@USW_PR_HONTata ‘s latest reinstatement efforts for those who had their military careers destroyed by the vaccine mandate.
Let’s cross the finish line on this by executing accountability across all branches of the military. @SecArmy@SECNAV@SecAFOfficial can enact disciplined initiative to lead the accountability effort across their forces.
Bring about an end to the bureaucratic hurdles of DFAS that are not in line with the full backpay of EO 14184, and eliminate special selection boards for thousands of warriors of conscience who have missed out on promotions.
Finally, thank you @JohnFrankmanFL for connecting me with this opportunity tonight. You are a great leader for this country and your commitment to accountability across all institutions is invaluable.
#reinstatement #accountability #DoW
@brettshearuns Could you share a time when you were morally and ethically challenged and the characteristics of the dilemma? I’m not sure if you’re a junior or senior Captain, but there’s a chance you led marines during part of the GWOT era when lying on readiness requirements was rampant. The COVID mandates were fraught with dishonesty too, so much so that the word “interchangeable” came into existence. Here, I’ll explain it to you in a way that a marine officer would understand:
I give you colored pencils instead of crayons to eat. I adamantly tell you that the pencils are still the same thing as crayons. You factual point out that crayons are not the same as pencils and that you could get splinters or graphene poisoning, and that you believe in only putting pure paraffin wax in your body. I then berate you, coerce, and take away your career because you point out the lie and refuse to submit to it.
Signed, a former Army Captain that believes integrity in all things is important.
UPDATE:
Thank you sir!
Full reinstatement granted — retroactively promoted to Captain, with a Date of Rank: 13 December 2021, and no break in service.
Orders are being issued for me to report for Active Duty on 01 November 2025, following an unlawful discharge, court-martial, ban from my place of duty for 413 days, threats of Leavenworth imprisonment, and numerous other reprisals for refusing to be experimented on with weaponized CV19 products and for submitting protected communications through my chain of command.
Glory to God. 🙏✝️
Thank you, @USW_PR_HONTata 🙏🇺🇸
Two can play at this game:
BREAKING:
America’s careerist generals get rocked by CAREER-ENDING news as the Secretary of War exposes that they’ve “lost the trust of the troops” after years of grandstanding, micromanagement, and losing actual wars.
And it gets so much worse for the generals…
“It was a massive waste of lives… If they ever had us, they lost us,” one current infantry officer told The War Department Review, referring to the generals’ obsession with PowerPoints and “climate of inclusion” briefings while readiness collapsed. During the tone-deaf presentations, senior leaders lectured on pronouns and PowerPoint fonts instead of lethality.
The generals leaked to The Washington Times — a paper they assumed would protect them — but it only confirmed what most of the force already knew: even conservative media is tired of the same failed brass whining about “respect” after losing every major conflict of the century.
According to multiple sources, numerous high-ranking officers pointed to Hegseth’s speech — where he demanded fitness, focus, and accountability — as a “turning point” in how they perceived his “leadership style.” Some described it as “embarrassing” because it forced them to look in the mirror.
Several of these sources claim Hegseth “operates with a captain’s mentality,” focused on fundamentals like discipline, standards, and truth — which, apparently, are beneath the dignity of men who spent 20 years managing PowerPoint wars from air-conditioned tents.
“Across the services, we are bleeding credibility,” one former flag officer admitted, “because it turns out our stars didn’t come with results.”
Another added, “It seems like it’s all about one guy here — and that guy is finally holding us accountable.”
“Leadership-wise in the building, the only chaos is coming from people finally realizing their mediocrity has an expiration date,” said one Defense insider. “For the first time in decades, bad generals are nervous — and good soldiers are relieved.”
The same insiders revealed that Hegseth keeps a tight circle of warfighters and reformers, trusting those with courage over those with tenure.
“My understanding is that he surrounds himself with combat leaders and people who actually believe in victory,” said one senior official. “It’s refreshing. The bureaucracy doesn’t know what to do with that.”
Hegseth isn’t sinking — he’s draining. And for the first time in a generation, the swamp he’s draining wears ribbons.
The longer he stays, the stronger the Republic gets.
It’s time for the career class to retire in disgrace.
Please retweet and ❤️ if you felt safer when generals were scared of losing wars — not their parking spots.
@Lovejusticeunit@samosaur Your comment is ignorant. The covid vaccine was unlawfully implemented. It doesn’t matter if the military has always had to take vaccines; there is a right way and very wrong way of vaccinating the force. Covid commanders chose the wrong way.
Former Ranger Instructor here. You’re totally off the mark on this. I’d take a non-tabbed 2005 Pete Hegseth who fought in combat and earned his CIB over a Ranger-tabbed Lloyd Austin who didn’t actually fight in combat. Yes, Austin has a CIB, but it’s not for clearing block by block in a Baghdad as a Platoon Leader.
To further comprehend the scope and current status of reinstatement, consider compiling friction points revealed throughout this process.
Guidance on 1 April 2025 directs BCM/NRs to order all appropriate records corrections if an error or injustice exists, which may include but is not limited to reinstatement with no break in service, restoration of the member’s previous grade or rank, and credit for lost service time.
Key component is “no break in service,” as this has multiple implications. According to HRC (speaking from Army perspective) this means, “as if the service member never left.” Apply similar language from each branch accordingly.
Missed opportunities for training/schools, missed promotion boards, falling out of alignment with Year Groups, missed opportunities for Military decorations and awards, lost leave opportunities, missing retirement contributions, etc., etc., etc.
Additionally, according to @USW_PR_HONTata memorandum dated 21 July 2025, Secretaries of the Military Departments may split additional service obligations (which has obvious issues itself) between active and reserve status, instead of only active. He also directed the Secretaries of the Military Departments to “liberally offer additional incentives such as duty station preferences, appropriate reclassification, and geographic stability during initial assignments, subject to mission requirements.”
The intent is clear and has been established already through current review board decisions - rescind separation orders, void the DD214, reinstate the service member with no break in service, and restore all entitlements.
Yet, as each phase of this process has revealed, each one of these issues has become a battleground.
Back pay - reduced by civilian offsets with questionable legal and logical authority to do so based on rescinded separation orders and “no break in service.”
Leave - reduced due to a lack of Special Leave Accrual (which was granted during the COVID mandate era) or granting of excess leave retainment by Secretaries of the Military Departments. “As if the service member never left” implies that additional leave categories such as parental leave from child births is included in this, and opportunity to use that leave is granted.
Rank - missed promotion boards and no path or acknowledgment in current reinstatement policy to address and correct. Omission is considered an injustice, not just acts of injustice.
Military Decorations and Awards - missed opportunity. Out of alignment with peers.
Missed school/training - missed opportunity. Out of alignment with peers.
Missing Evaluation Reports - out of alignment with peers, and disadvantage for future promotion boards.
This can go on.
There are easy solutions - many of which can be resolved by greater involvement by the Secretaries of the Military Departments. Many of these issues just take a signature. Hundreds of emails later, many are still going back and forth with DFAS or HRC, and are chasing down referenced regulations or US codes that are either not applicable, out of context, or in many such cases - don’t even exist.
Important point here - these friction points should have, and could have been identified first by those executing the reinstatement order, and a solution provided thousands of X posts and emails ago. A Task Force has been suggested repeatedly. The reinstatement community wants to help, has offered to help, and will continue to help. If we are all on the same team, then we can all hold each other accountable and reach a solution/better understanding together. Proverbs 27:17.
If @SecWar say’s DON’T STOP, we won’t. Not until the justice and accountability we know he and @POTUS have called for come to fruition.
I could be back in uniform serving and making a significant contribution in the army today, however the reinstatement process, despite listening sessions and draft policy from those like me me who were impacted by the mandates, is marred with incompleteness. @USW_PR_HONTata @DoD_USD_PR @SecWar@stuartscheller , what’s it going to take? Make it right or come clean and tell us it ain’t happening. Amazing leaders like @KacyJDixon laid it all out for you. You already have the solution to problem handed to you. All you have to do is act on it.
Good news should be shared. @SecWar delivered the Oath of Office to one of the many brave warriors impacted by the unlawful COVID vaccine mandate. We know the reinstatement process isn’t perfect. We’re going to keep working hard to make it faster & easier. Welcome back, Colonel.
Every military officer and NCO, if they stay in long enough, eventually reaches a point where he or she must choose between one of two options:
1. Doing what is best for your mission and your troops.
-or-
2. Doing what is best for your career.
The minute you choose #2, you sell your soul.
It doesn’t matter if you chose #1 99 times; that 100th time when you chose #2, you sold your soul. Permanently.
The Courtney Massengale retired generals and admirals you now see criticizing the common sense reforms Pete Hegseth is implementing chose #2. Over and over and over. It’s why they are who they are.
They are not to be trusted.