USAF - Targeted for Refusing the COVID Vaccine 💉

USAF Airman Fully Acquitted — Then Punished for Winning

My name is Lance Castle. I am an active-duty U.S. Air Force member currently on appellate leave, with zero pay since May 2025, in San Antonio, Texas, trying to provide for my family, including our two young sons — Asher (age 3) and Bishop (age 1).

6 Point Timeline:

1.) First and foremost, I missed the birth of both of my sons while I was falsely arrested on fictitious and deceptive charges on two different occasions. My chain of command had me held in multiple jails/brigs awaiting both trials (66 straight days for trial #1, and 8.5 months for trial #2) which all originated from my refusal to receive the COVID shot on religious grounds.

2.) After my religious exemption (and appeal) was denied by my squadron commander, Lt. Col. Enrique Vazquez, and then subsequently by higher-ranking commanders above him, Vazquez labeled me an “insider threat,” “radicalized towards an anti U.S. Gov group in the wake of [my] refusal to receive the Covid 19 vaccine,” and a potential “active shooter,” who is “targeting members.” With those false labels, he was easily able to “justify” suspending my security clearance, of which I would never receive back — even after being fully acquitted in Trial 1.

3.) In April 2023, Security Forces carried out a violent and illegal cell extraction on me. Text messages amongst them in a group text revealed that they plotted this cell extraction to “shock me into compliance.” I suffered two tears in my rotator cuff and a torn MCL. This is where I would be denied my request (of which security forces remained accommodating) to be brought to the hospital where my fiancée remained alone, and missing the birth of my 1st child Asher due to Vazquez’s arbitrary “reasons” that I remained a flight risk and dangerous to hospital staff. I was fully acquitted of his 5 charges and 7 specifications in September 2023. His fictitious and deceptive charges included Desertion, Insubordination, Disrespect to a superior commissioned officer, Disobeying his order, and assault with two specifications.

4.) Instead of a clean slate, my wing and group commanders forced me back under the same leadership that had tried to destroy me and denied every request for a PCS or alternate duty.

In 2024, Cannon AFB mental health replaced my legitimate PTSD diagnosis with delusional disorder and narcissistic personality disorder, then used those labels against me.

5.) I was rearrested and held in pretrial confinement for 8.5 months at Naval Consolidated Brig Charleston — missing the birth of my second son, Bishop — while awaiting an egregiously unfair trial.

I am now on appellate leave with zero income since May 2025. Falsified and manipulated court records from my command and the Cannon AFB SJA are blocking real jobs, including SAPD after I passed all initial testing. My family is financially devastated, and we are in a growing, serious financial crisis.

6.) SECWAR Pete Hegseth has opened a path to reinstatement for those separated over the vaccine. I was fully acquitted in Trial 1, yet my command still colluded to convict me in Trial 2. My appeal will fully expose what they did behind closed doors.

How donations will help ($20,000 goal):

$12,000–$15,000 — experienced civilian appellate attorney to fight for record correction, back pay, and justice

$4,000–$5,000 — rent and utilities so we do not lose our home

Remaining funds — food, gas, and basic needs for my family while I fight

I have over 100 contemporaneous audio recordings proving severe contradictions with testimony from trial, over 1000 text message screenshots with various leaders of my command that was not pulled for trial from my defense team due to laziness and apathy, and more evidence of significant unlawful command influence (which is prohibited under Article 37 of the UCMJ 10 U.S.C. § 837, which stops military leaders and other service members from unfairly interfering with a legal proceeding or court-martial).

If you also believe in justice, accountability, religious freedom, and protecting service members with integrity from a “system” made up of nefarious, bad-faith leadership with substantial authority to manipulate the judicial process, the judicial system, and the evidence in court-martial proceedings, please pray and share this link. It will help us survive this fight — and help me be able to fight for other service members once this 5+ year legal fight against the system with incredibly gas lit bad faith actors comes to its conclusion.

Ephesians 5:11

Lance Castle

Adherent to the Lord Jesus Christ

Active Duty — USAF (Appellate Leave)