The military began reinstating service members who were discharged for not taking the COVID-19 vaccine, following an order from President Donald Trump earlier this year.

The Defense Department discharged thousands of service members after it announced the measure in August 2021, during a nationwide surge in COVID-19 cases following the first round of vaccinations. The mandate ended in early 2023 after the National Defense Authorization Act required the order to be revoked.

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Trump made a campaign promise of reinstating service members discharged for not taking the vaccine and giving back pay, a promise he made good on via an executive order in January. The Army announced Monday it had reenlisted more than 23 soldiers who were discharged due to the former mandate, per the Associated Press, becoming the first branch of the military to do so.

The reinstatements come as the Defense Department has started its push to bring back discharged service members because of the COVID-19 vaccine mandate.

“We’re committed to doing right by those who were affected by the Department’s former COVID-19 vaccination policy. For the roughly 8,700 service members who were separated solely for refusing the vaccine, this is an opportunity to return to service — and we want them to know the door is open,” Chief Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said in a statement Monday.

“Starting today, the Department will begin outreach to ensure each of these individuals receives clear information on how to pursue reinstatement. Their service mattered then, and it still matters now. We’re ready to welcome them back!” he added.

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Several branches of the military have formally launched outreach efforts to discharged service members, with several of them creating websites to inform affected persons what steps they may take to be reinstated.

The push comes as the military has missed recruiting goals in recent years, with Army officials having to give an extension on recruits passing fitness and intelligence goals to meet recruitment goals for fiscal 2024.