The Pentagon on Wednesday ordered military troops to get the COVID-19 vaccine as soon as possible, according to a memo from Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin obtained by AP.

Why it matters: More than 800,000 active duty military members are unvaccinated, according to AP.

State of play: Although he didn't set an official deadline for vaccinations in the memo, Austin encouraged service leaders to “impose ambitious timelines for implementation," per AP.

• Military services will be expected to report regularly on the progress of their vaccination efforts. Service members will be able to receive their vaccines at their bases or commands abroad.
• The military has reported 34 deaths, according to data from the Department of Defense.

What they're saying: “To defend this Nation, we need a healthy and ready force,” Austin wrote, per AP.

• "After careful consultation with medical experts and military leadership, and with the support of the President, I have determined that mandatory vaccination against coronavirus disease ... is necessary to protect the Force and defend the American people.”

The big picture: The Pentagon said earlier this month that it would plan to mandate COVID-19 vaccines by Sept. 15 or as soon as the FDA granted full approval.

• Wednesday's memo from Austin comes after the FDA's full approval of the Pfizer vaccine on Monday.