Air Force Issues First Service Member Discharges for Vaccine Refusal

December 14, 2021

The Air force has discharged 27 airmen for refusing to get vaccinated against COVID-19 by the Nov. 2 deadline, the service announced Monday. None of the 27 had asked for an administrative, medical or religious exemption, a spokesperson said, according to AP.

All of the discharged personnel were in their first term of enlistment.

The Pentagon does not comment on what type of discharge a service member receives. The National Defense Authorization Act pending before Congress would require that anyone dismissed for vaccine refusal be given an honorable discharge or a general discharge under honorable conditions. That would let them remain eligible for most or all VA benefits.

The Air Force’s dismissals are the first publicly announced discharges from any service related to the Pentagon’s vaccine mandate.

Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Alexis Suarez

December 14, 2021

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