Patriots, brace yourselves for another case where bureaucracy seems to thwart the very freedoms our service members defend. After nearly 17 years of dedicated service, Maj. Brennan Schilperoort of the Air Force, a C-130J transport aircraft pilot, is being forced into an administrative separation with no-pay status for standing up for his religious and medical beliefs regarding the flu vaccine.
Maj. Schilperoort’s saga began in 2022 when his religious accommodation for the COVID-19 vaccine was denied, just like thousands of other service members. Luckily, a week before he was to receive a reprimand, a federal judge halted the enforcement of the vaccine mandate set by former Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin.
Upon his return to duty, Maj. Schilperoort faced further scrutiny about his stance on other vaccines. With renewed religious conviction, he objected to both the COVID-19 and flu vaccines. His request for a Religious Accommodation for the flu vaccine was outright denied in September 2023. Maj. Schilperoort rightfully asserts this denial conflicts with the constitutional rights every American, including service members, holds dear.
Furthermore, Maj. Schilperoort pursued a medical exemption after experiencing a severe reaction to the flu vaccine in the past. However, unlike a Space Force Lieutenant Colonel who received a permanent exemption for headaches, his appeals failed. In December 2023, he was ordered to get the flu shot.
On January 5, 2024, Maj. Schilperoort received a Letter of Reprimand for allegedly defying a lawful order. His attorney, R. Davis Younts, a retired Air Force Lieutenant Colonel, believes this was not a lawful order and that his client’s request was mishandled.
Maj. Schilperoort demanded proof from his command that the order was lawful and that his Religious Accommodation was properly considered. Frustratingly, he received nothing but the LOR in response. His complaints to the Inspector General, Military Equal Opportunity program, and Congress have been met with silence.
In October 2024, a discharge board convened due to the LOR, voting to discharge Maj. Schilperoort. He is fighting these claims, and a package is en route to the Secretary of the Air Force. However, on March 19, 2025, his command placed him on a no-pay status, which could persist for months until a decision is made regarding his discharge.
Maj. Schilperoort shared, “I was given a notice of two and a half business days that my pay would be cut off.” His attorney emphasized the unusual nature of this decision, usually reserved for dangerous criminals or incarcerated officers.
Younts maintains that Maj. Schilperoort’s only “misconduct” was his good faith objection to the order’s lawfulness. It seems this decision is aimed at punishing him for his religious beliefs and efforts to seek justice.
Effective March 24, Maj. Schilperoort, a family man, will be without pay and grounded from flying, a position he’s endured for nearly four years.
An Air Force Major/Pilot is facing an administrative separation after the “denial” of their religious accommodation request (RAR) for the Flu vaccine.
In actuality, the Air Force didn’t even process the RAR the pilot submitted because they did not want to (which is illegal).…
— Shoe (@samosaur)
March 18, 2025
I know this Major and he has a family to support.
[@DoD_USD_PR](https://twitter.com/DoD_USD_PR?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) [@SecDef](https://twitter.com/SecDef?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw), after his commander refused to process his RA request, they are now putting him on the active duty equivalent of “no points, no pay” until the incoming SECAF makes a decision in his case.
The fact that…
— Jordan Karr (@JordanLkarr)
March 18, 2025
Will the efforts of Maj. Schilperoort and his supporters capture the attention of Air Force Secretary Gary Ashworth, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, or President Donald Trump? As this story unfolds, service members nationwide hope for a resolution that honors the rights of Maj. Schilperoort and all American patriots.
In his statement, Maj. Schilperoort emphasized that his views are his own and do not reflect those of the Department of the Air Force or Department of Defense.
