Image: Wikimedia Commons (Photo by Balon Greyjoy, May 2018)
The Air Force has fully restored the career of U.S. Air Force Major Brennan S. Schilperoort, who bravely opposed unlawful vaccine mandates despite facing adversity and punitive measures.
According to today’s press release by Younts Law, this is “an extraordinary and hard-fought triumph for religious liberty and military accountability.”
Religious Freedom Victory-AFBCMR! Our client a courageous officer almost purged during COVID survived. AF refused to process his RAR for the Flu vaccine and tried to discharge him…AFBCMR grants relief. LOR, BOI, OPB and all adverse actions gone. Back pay granted! Press… pic.twitter.com/93szQCcgAO
— R. Davis Younts (@DavisYounts) March 19, 2026
The press release announcement continued, stating that “the sweeping directive [by the Air Force Board for Correction of Military Records] erases every adverse action taken against him after he courageously exercised his faith-based objections to unlawful COVID-19 and influenza vaccine mandates—while professionally and empathetically supporting countless fellow service members who suffered the same injustices.”
Emphasizing that his thoughts and opinions are his own and do not represent the Department of War or Department of the Air Force, Schilperoort spoke to The Gateway Pundit. He considers this news to be “a monumental decision, [admitting he] never thought this day would come.”
The C-130J Super Hercules pilot shared that “almost every single one of [his] requests was granted.” All unfavorable information concerning his career, such as Letters of Reprimand, Letters of Admonishment, adverse performance evaluations, and negative promotion recommendations, is being removed from his military record.
“The Air Force is basically retroactively putting me back on full flying and full Active-Duty status to the day that my involuntary excess leave went into effect, which was 24 March 2025,” Schilperoort explained, adding, “This includes back pay.”
He conveyed profound appreciation to President Donald J. Trump, Department of War Secretary Pete Hegseth, Air Force Secretary Troy Meink, Under Secretary Matt Lohmeier, the previous AF Inspector General Lieutenant General Stephen L. Davis, and the Air Force Review Boards Agency Director Troy J. McIntosh “for their work and for their dedication in restoring service members who have been wronged throughout the unlawful COVID mandates, and also for protecting Air Force procedural policy and the rights of service members that are enshrined in our Constitution.”
“I’m highly encouraged at the precedent this sets for all the other similarly situated service members who have had to stand against their own government to protect their constitutional rights,” Schilperoort declared.
The Gateway Pundit also spoke to Schilperoort’s attorney, R. Davis Younts. The retired Air Force Lieutenant Colonel and former Judge Advocate General (JAG) officer said he is “truly grateful” for the decision, struggling to put his feeling in words. Why? Because he and countless others have often been discouraged by the lack of responsiveness from the Air Force Board for Correction of Military Records (AFBCMR). But this time, he said, “they got it right.”
“This decision would not have been possible without the efforts of AF Secretary Meink, Under Secretary Lohmeier, and War Secretary Pete Hegseth in his work to reform the Department of Defense Office of Inspector General,” said Younts.
It began with “a victory” involving the IG, allowing the Air Force BCMR to perform its duties effectively, Younts pointed out. Lt Gen. Davis, Inspector General of the Department of the Air Force, called for an independent IG review on matters involving Schilperoort’s case. The memo explicitly stated that “a publicly available news article [by J.M. Phelps] that contained allegations of improper conduct in the processing of [his] December 2023 Religious Accommodation Request (RAR)” prompted his decision.
The Air Force soon validated Schilperoort’s claims of unlawful reprimand and refusal to process his RAR for the flu shot, while the Review Boards Agency affirmed that the reprimand was unfounded and there was religious discrimination in the initial decision against him. When the IG concluded that the Air Force’s refusal to process his flu vaccine request was unlawful, it established a foundation for the complete relief he is finally receiving today.
According to Younts, AFBCMR has been “extremely difficult to work with.” At the highest level of administrative review within the Air Force, he explained, the Board has failed to treat fairly the majority of service members who were affected by the unlawful COVID-19 shot mandate or those facing issues with RARs, such as Schilperoort.
For this reason, he said, Schilperoort’s story is “incredibly encouraging” as it highlights genuine relief and acknowledges that the Air Force fundamentally mishandled the religious accommodation review process, causing significant harm to him and his family.
“This was not just about the flu vaccine; this was brutally retaliatory towards him, particularly with the way they put him on excess leave [in a no-pay status for three months] and began the process for his administrative separate from the Air Force,” Younts shared. Only through AF Secretary Meink and Under Secretary Lohmeier was he “put back on orders.”
“They followed the process, and this is an example of the process working really, really well,” he admitted. “This is an example of the right people doing the right things.”
Even apart from a person’s sincere religious objection, Younts argued that the Air Force is also ignoring the facts related to the vaccine itself. He explained, “There’s a negative efficacy, meaning service members are more likely to get the flu and have symptoms if they get the vaccine.” Moreover, he emphasized that this is a factor the military must legally take into account.
In conclusion, Younts said, “the outcome for [Schilperoort] is a huge victory,” and he is optimistic that it will benefit many individuals. He expressed that the Department of War must continue to “restore a level of faith in the IG process as well as the BCMR process,” noting that a lack of confidence in these systems poses a significant issue that affects morale and retention among airmen.
The post BREAKING: Air Force Pilot Granted the Opportunity to Resume His Distinguished Military Career with His Honor Restored appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.