Image: Wikimedia Commons (United States Space Force, 2020)

The Board of Corrections for Military Records once again failed another service member. This systemic failure highlights a troubling trend of neglect and indifference toward those who have stood firm in their convictions and have been retaliated against for it.

Who will right the wrongs this time? War Secretary Pete Hegseth? Under Secretary of War for Personnel and Readiness Anthony Tata? Secretary of the Air Force Troy Meink? Anyone?

The bigger question of the day: Why are service members still experiencing negative impacts on their careers due to the military’s now-rescinded 2021 COVID-19 shot mandate? This mandate was rescinded in January 2023 and was later declared “unlawful as implemented” across all departments of the military in May 2025.

The Gateway Pundit spoke to Davis Younts, legal counsel for Major Matt Murphy, who he feels was “railroaded” toward Administrative Separation as a result of his 2021 religious objections to the shot. The retired Air Force Lieutenant Colonel and former Judge Advocate General (JAG) officer said his client, a U.S. Space Force officer at the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) in Virginia, had the integrity to do what was right, yet after all these years, it has cost his career.

On June 11, 2026, Murphy was mainly accused of “failing to attend a physical training (PT) session for which he had already faced administrative punishment, despite documented evidence indicating that his attendance was not necessary,” Younts shared. “Coincidentally, the individuals overseeing him were the same ones who attempted to remove him during the COVID pandemic.”

“They’ve made remarks regarding COVID and his religious beliefs, and I firmly believe he is being targeted for issues like missing a PT session, which no officer would typically receive a career-ending Letter of Reprimand for,” he added.

For Younts, this situation raises significant alarms about retaliation. It also brings into question whether the Department of War is genuinely committed to supporting service members who have been coerced, mistreated, and retaliated against regarding the shot.

Murphy admitted to The Gateway Pundit that this journey has been one of the toughest multi-front battles of his 15-year career. In 2020, he and his wife moved to New York to pursue a PhD at Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) as part of an Air Force Institute of Technology-Civilian Institution program. In 2021, pregnant with their second child, the family was confronting the draconian measures enforced in the Empire State.

Murphy was barred from the RIT campus due to the institute’s shot mandate policies, which ultimately led to his disenrollment. All the while, he was also engaged in a separate struggle with the Department of the Air Force. With a second child on the way, it was almost too much to bear.

Amid the turmoil and stress, and after the birth of their third child, what mattered most to Murphy was finding “time for peace and quality time with my family during these precious years,” he confessed.

But according to his attorney, “The NRO and his command had a different idea.” Younts explained that “Without any prior verbal notification, feedback, or adherence to standard practices as instructed in every Professional Military Education school, the National Reconnaissance Office and Major Murphy’s command initiated a series of severe disciplinary actions in quick succession, including the issuance of a Letter of Reprimand and the imposition of an Article 15.”

“On its surface, this case appears to be one of the more egregious cases of COVID retaliation and reprisal that has been brought to the attention of our firm,” said Younts. “Not only is there no actual misconduct at issue, it was inexplicably escalated to extreme levels that resulted in Major Murphy turning down an Article 15 and demanding trial by courts-martial.”

Murphy filed an Inspector General complaint because, in Younts’ opinion, “his commanding officer utilized mental health evaluations as a strategic tool against him through a Command Directed Evaluation (CDE).” He further asserted that they may have been seeking a means to rescind Murphy’s security clearance.

“His superiors also displayed a concerning level of indifference towards the significant health issues he was experiencing at that time, persistently imposing unnecessary stress, harassment, and pressure upon him,” Younts added.

Since 2024, Murphy was passed over twice for the rank of Lieutenant Colonel because of the career setbacks he experienced due to the COVID-19 shot mandates. He has reached out to RIT for a tuition waiver, and he also reached out to Promotion Boards and the BCMR to no avail.

Sadly, Younts shared that this lack of advancement is often considered a career killer. Rather than letting Murphy retire as a Major, he contended, “It seems that there was an effort to significantly undermine his career and future employment opportunities by forcing him into Administrative Separation.”

As reported multiple times by this author, numerous service members claim that the BCMR process is primarily ineffective and that the Board’s willingness to engage constitutes little more than a cursory attempt. Through these stories, the family realized they were not fighting this battle alone, as there are still numerous other service members in similar predicaments of the ongoing purge, retaliation, and reprisal.

Murphy and his family have undoubtedly faced a difficult period, with health issues, ongoing stress, mistreatment, and the impending court-martial only adding to their burdens. What’s helping them get through it all? “Prayer, faith in God, family, and Church,” Murphy shared. Early on, he said their pastor inspired him by quoting Charles Spurgeon, saying, “When you speak of Heaven, let your face light up…When you speak of hell, well then, your everyday face will do.”

His wife further reminded him that “evil can’t get your soul, so it tries to destroy your peace. Don’t let it.” She also encourages others to “stand with a military family.”

Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, U.S. service members received directives that many considered illegal, yet they were informed that their careers hinged on their obedience. Here are the accounts of others, such as Murphy, as depicted in the film Duty to Disobey.

The fight for justice and accountability must continue, not only for Major Murphy but for all service members still facing similar challenges in the wake of the pandemic.

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