Soldiers who refuse to be vaccinated against COVID-19 will be discharged soon, according to the military branch on Wednesday, February 2.
Soldiers who refuse to be vaccinated or who do not have an approved or pending request for exemption would be "automatically separated from the military," according to the Army.
Secretary of the Army Christine Wormuth stated, "Army readiness rests on Soldiers who are prepared to train, deploy, fight, and win our nation's battles." "Unvaccinated soldiers put the force at risk and undermine readiness."
Soldiers who refuse to be vaccinated will not be eligible for involuntary separation pay and may be required to refund any unearned special or incentive pay, according to the Army.
According to the report, 96 percent of active troops have been fully vaccinated as of Jan. 26, while 3,350 soldiers have refused to receive the vaccination. Almost 5,900 people have been granted temporary exemptions.
Those who have requested a medical exemption or religious accommodations will be exempt from the vaccine requirement while their requests are processed.
"A total of six Regular Army officers have been removed, including two battalion commanders, and 3,073 general officer written reprimands have been issued to Soldiers for disobeying the vaccination order," the Army announced late last month.
Last year, the Pentagon began forcing service personnel to get vaccinated.