NOVEMBER 18, 2025 — Inside the Pentagon’s Hall of Heroes, a place defined by quiet reverence and the names of those who gave everything, Capt. Mark Bashaw raised his right hand and returned to active duty under the Army’s reinstatement initiative.
“It was incredibly humbling,” Bashaw said. “To be promoted here, in a room honoring those who sacrificed so much, is an absolute privilege.”
Bashaw’s return falls under Executive Order 14184, which directs the Department of War to identify former service members separated solely for declining the COVID-19 vaccine and provide corrected records and an expedited path back.
Honorable Anthony J. Tata, Under Secretary of War for Personnel and Readiness, said the event reflects the Department’s continued push to restore fairness and trust.
“COVID-19 reinstatement is a Department of War priority, and we remain focused on driving steady, deliberate progress on both the process and remedies.” Tata said. “Today, on behalf of the President and the Secretary of War, we promoted and delivered the oath of office to Captain Mark Bashaw. It was an important day for him, his family, and the affected community, and further evidence of our enduring commitment to make things right. We are proud to have Captain Bashaw back in our Army ranks and look forward to reinstating more of our impacted warriors soon.”
Bashaw said the outreach from the Army reaffirmed his belief that the process could be resolved.
“I never resigned. I never signed off on my discharge,” he said. “When the Army granted full relief, it confirmed everything I had been standing on.”
Col. Kevin Bouren, who leads the Army’s Reinstatement and Reconciliation Task Force, said the effort is designed to make former Soldiers whole — whether that means returning to uniform or clearing their records.
“For some, wholeness means coming back into the Army,” Bouren said. “For others, it means having their records corrected so they can move forward. Our job is to meet them where they are.”
Bouren added that the outreach is intentional and personal, emphasizing guidance rather than bureaucracy.
“We’ve been directed to provide red carpet treatment,” he said. “Former Soldiers shouldn’t have to navigate this alone. We’re here to remove barriers and support them through every step.”
For Bashaw, the reinstatement marks a return to the people and purpose he missed most.
“It’s the people — Soldiers, Airmen, Marines, everyone you serve alongside,” he said. “And it’s the purpose of supporting and defending the Constitution.”
Following his medical screening and correction of records, Bashaw now begins a new chapter in uniform.
“I’m ready for what comes next,” he said.
By Sgt. Zack Stine