OPINION | This article contains commentary that reflects the author's opinion.
Joe Biden has targeted our men and women serving in uniform, forcing them to get the jab or else face losing their jobs.
A lawsuit immediately challenged Biden’s order in order to protect military and civilian employees from being fired.
The mandate also doesn’t allow for exemptions due to legitimate health concerns or religious reasons. For this reason, the mandate has been widely condemned as unsafe, unwise and unconstitutional.
Some healthcare workers, including doctors and nurses, have asked for exemptions.
Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly in the U.S. District Court in the District of Columbia even issued a temporary restraining order against the mandate for military and civilian employees.
Despite this progress challenging Biden’s federal overreach, the U.S. Air Force has reportedly begun to process of discharging troops who have refused to get the drug injected in their arms.
The number of unvaccinated active-duty service members is estimated to be as high as 40,000.
NBC reports that the Air Force has discharged 27 active-duty members who would not be vaccinated.
NBC estimates that more than 1,000 active-duty Air Force and Space Force members have refused the vaccine.
4,700 service members are seeking religious exemptions, NBC explains.
Air Force spokesperson Ann Stefanek said the 27 active duty Air Force personnel were discharged for “failure to obey a lawful order.”
None had been granted exemptions, Stefanek added.
More from Western Journal:
The Air Force was the first branch of the military to hit its deadline for vaccinations. Although the service has booted its first contingent of service members for non-compliance, there are still thousands who have appealed for exemptions.
Data published last week by The Washington Post estimated that overall, about 40,000 active-duty personnel have so far refused to be vaccinated.
The Post said that about 14,000 Army personnel have not been vaccinated, with another 25,000 members of the Air Force, Navy, and Marine Corps who have sought exemptions from the vaccine.
The report said that 10,700 troops in the Air Force Reserve and Air National Guard are not vaccinated, even after that branch’s Dec. 2 deadline.
Stefanek said all 27 service members were in their first six-year enlistments.
Stefanek stated vaccine refusal was one factor in the discharges, but that misconduct could have been a factor in some discharges.
Last week, the Air Force said those who are not vaccinated will not receive involuntary separation pay, according to CNN.
