The US Air Force discharged 27 service members for refusing the COVID-19 vaccine, and they're believed to be the first active troops dismissed over the Pentagon's mandate

• The Air Force discharged 27 active-duty service members for refusing the COVID-19 vaccine.
• It's believed to be the first time actively serving US troops have been dismissed for that reason.

The US Air Force has discharged 27 service members for refusing the COVID-19 vaccine, several media outlets reported, citing Air Force spokesperson Ann Stefanek.

It's believed to be the first time that active-duty US troops have been dismissed over defying a military mandate to get the shots, Reuters reported. Several unnamed US officials told The Associated Press that the Air Force is the only US military service to have reached a stage in its vaccine requirement process where it has discharged members over non-compliance.

The Air Force required service members to get fully vaccinated by November 2, the earliest deadline among US forces after the Pentagon announced a vaccine mandate for active service members.

All of the 27 troops discharged were in their first term of enlistment, Stefanek said, per NBC News, meaning they had served less than six years and were lower-ranked personnel.

None of them had exemptions, whether religious, administrative, or medical, Stefanek also said, per The AP.

Stefanek added that some of those discharged may have had other violations on their records, but all of them had refused the vaccine, which was cause for their dismissal, The AP reported.

Service members who are discharged for refusing the vaccine are ineligible for involuntary separation pay and may have to repay any unearned incentive or special pay, according to Air Force officials.

Around 95% of the Air Force's total 501,000 members have been fully vaccinated, according to official data last updated on December 7. More than 18,000 remain unvaccinated.

Last week, the Air Force announced that members who had requested medical or religious exemption would be temporarily exempt from COVID vaccine requirements while their cases were under review.

The US Air Force did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment.