More than 3,300 active U.S. service members are now facing discharge as the Army announced imminent plans to remove them for refusing the COVID-19 vaccine.

The mandate applies to all active-duty soldiers, reserves serving on active duty, and Military Academy cadets, according to an Associated Press report Wednesday.

“Army readiness depends on soldiers who are prepared to train, deploy, fight, and win our nation’s wars,” Army Secretary Christine Wormuth said in a statement. “Unvaccinated soldiers present a risk to the force and jeopardize readiness. We will begin involuntary separation proceedings for soldiers who refuse the vaccine order and are not pending a final decision on an exemption.”