COVID vaccine is "optional" says the big Army, but cant your commander or unit make it mandatory?

Thank you this is the answer I was looking for. I was just making sure what local unit commanders didnt have the power to turn "optional" into "mandatory" as I often saw them do when I was in the Army.

And if any adverse reactions to tge vaccine, the commander who made it mandatory would assume all responsibility

I think my uniform example was applicable. Im using an example of the word "optional" in a regulation that then became mandatory. I was told something that day that I still remember "When the Army says optional, that means it is the commanders choice" . From my understanding, a commander can make anything that is "optional" mandatory. My first unit, FRG meetings were optional. I wasnt married and I didnt have kids so I didnt go. It was that easy. Second unit, they were mandatory. Didnt matter that I was a single soldier, I was forced to be there.

Yes, a commander forcing vaccination is foolish, but the question is can they still legally do it? From my experience, regulations are suggestions. At the end of the day, the commander can bend any regulation as long as it isnt for personal profit, sex or any other "diabolical" type of gain. As was mentioned below, there are already reports of commanders making it mandatory.

There is also the informal reappraisals. For example, you cant be forced to buy a ticket to the ball but if you dont buy a ticket to the ball you have to work at the ball. Or I remember this time a kid in my unit wouldnt but a company or battalion T shirt for whatever reason, so he found himself doing post police on the weekends until he bought the shirt. Thats another story after all.

What it comes down to is, can the commander still force soldiers to take this vaccine? Is that legally within their power since they can force soldiers do to plenty of other things which are supposed to be "optional"?

SGT Suraj Dave I think I very clearly explained why a commander cannot force a Soldier to take it, and explained why optional does not = commanders choice. Your comparison of uniforms doesn't apply because this is a matter of what Commanders are allowed to do. Uniforms changes and wear are at the Commanders discretion, it says it right there in the uniform regulation. The approval authority for uniforms is the Commander. The approval authority for changes to this particular vaccine program is well above Army and even DOD authority.

You don't have to agree with me, this isn't politics or a debate. The facts are clearly laid out in policy and law. It is called "Informed Consent" and no agency may give experimental drugs to people without receiving informed consent. There are very few times that can be waived. Treating an injured and unconscious Soldier with a possibly life saving drug in the middle of a combat zone is an example of a waiverable condition. A lowly company/battalion/brigade Commander wanting their people vaccinated is not an example. The Commander does not have the authority to overrule the law.

In order of hierarchy, Congress passes laws. Those set the bare minimums, and left and right limits for the DOD. The DOD creates regulations within those parameters. Each service sets its regulations and policies within those DOD parameters. The Army tells the MACOM who tells the Corps, who tells the Division, who creates policies for the Brigade, who sets policy for the Battalion, who sets policy for the Company - who is the lowest level Commander. At no point can the Brigade commander just ignore their parameters and decide they want to go off the Navy policies instead, or just decide to disregard the law.