Coronavirus - Military Updates

Capt MJ

Formerly Known As Attila The Hunnette
15-Year Member
Joined
Sep 27, 2008
Messages
20,281
I started this thread in this non-SA specific forum to gather intel on how coronavirus is impacting the military and veteran communities. I know we have individual discussions ongoing in service-specific forums, but the 30,000 foot view is useful too.



I get much of my military news from my daily Early Bird update from Defense News. It’s a free service; Pentagon veterans are familiar with the Early Bird name. They have some other news outputs. It is not official, but very well-respected for accurate content.
 
Love the Early Bird.
It’s always been a cool thing. Conversation starter every morning at the Pentagon. I always wondered who was up all night working on it. It’s in my email box first thing. I love EB too.
 
“DoDMERB is continuing to process all applicant medical aspects of their applications. We are not involved in the individual suspense dates or any potential changes in operations/dates at the Service Academies, ROTC Programs, PHS, or USUHS. Any questions you may have regarding those institutions, should be directed to whomever you have been working with, regarding your application in the offices of Admissions, Registrars, etc. If you are a campus based applicant in ROTC, any and all questions regarding current operations, procedures, and dates, should be directed to your Battalion or Detachment cadre.”
 
Here are the latest official updates from USAFA:

Travel restrictions https://www.usafa.edu/news/coronavirus/
Cadet, cadet candidates and permanent party official travel (i.e., TDYs) outside of the United States is prohibited for the month of March.

Cadet, cadet candidates and military permanent party’s personal/leisure travel to countries with a CDC Level 2 or higher rating is prohibited for the month of March. USAFA will provide an official letter pertaining to this restriction for use by members.

USAFA Closed to visitors:
https://www.usafa.edu/news/air-force-academy-to-temporarily-close-to-visitors-starting-march-13/
 
“DoDMERB is continuing to process all applicant medical aspects of their applications. We are not involved in the individual suspense dates or any potential changes in operations/dates at the Service Academies, ROTC Programs, PHS, or USUHS. Any questions you may have regarding those institutions, should be directed to whomever you have been working with, regarding your application in the offices of Admissions, Registrars, etc. If you are a campus based applicant in ROTC, any and all questions regarding current operations, procedures, and dates, should be directed to your Battalion or Detachment cadre.”
Thank you, Mr. Mullen.
 
I saw a notice that Cadet Command has cancelled the in person CyberPatriotXII Finals and moved it to virtual competition.

It won't be long before they start setting the schedules for Cadet Summer Training, makes me wonder if they are putting any plans together in case they decide to cancel some or all the summer training. They run over 7000 cadets through the training programs and that's not including staff, instructors and support.

With many areas closing schools for an extended period of time, including many universities, has there been any talk about what to do at the SA's.

Seems like every time I tap the news app there is another major closure or cancellation, it seems like a cascading event right now.
 
I saw a notice that Cadet Command has cancelled the in person CyberPatriotXII Finals and moved it to virtual competition.

It won't be long before they start setting the schedules for Cadet Summer Training, makes me wonder if they are putting any plans together in case they decide to cancel some or all the summer training. They run over 7000 cadets through the training programs and that's not including staff, instructors and support.

With many areas closing schools for an extended period of time, including many universities, has there been any talk about what to do at the SA's.

Seems like every time I tap the news app there is another major closure or cancellation, it seems like a cascading event right now.
I was chatting with an AD faculty member at an Academy last night and he was pointing out that one factor the powers that be have to consider is that the faculty and staff primarily live off base. So if you let the kids go home or travel for Spring Break and bring them back, they could potentially infect the faculty or staff who then goes into the local community and can pass it along. The other thing is that the Academies could be considered more prone to students infecting each other than in a typical college setting since all of them do pretty much everything together - sleep, eat, socialize, etc. - as opposed to a civilian college where kids eat on their own, some live on campus and some live off, etc.
In any event, there is a lot of factors to consider here and no decision is going to be win-win for everyone. Look at the seniors at civilian schools - many will be missing a graduation.
 
I was chatting with an AD faculty member at an Academy last night and he was pointing out that one factor the powers that be have to consider is that the faculty and staff primarily live off base. So if you let the kids go home or travel for Spring Break and bring them back, they could potentially infect the faculty or staff who then goes into the local community and can pass it along. The other thing is that the Academies could be considered more prone to students infecting each other than in a typical college setting since all of them do pretty much everything together - sleep, eat, socialize, etc. - as opposed to a civilian college where kids eat on their own, some live on campus and some live off, etc.
In any event, there is a lot of factors to consider here and no decision is going to be win-win for everyone. Look at the seniors at civilian schools - many will be missing a graduation.

That’s who we thought about first - the professors who live in Annapolis.

There was a riot at University of Dayton. Students are mad. Businesses are upset. Local landlords are already getting tenants looking for refunds.
 
That’s who we thought about first - the professors who live in Annapolis.

There was a riot at University of Dayton. Students are mad. Businesses are upset. Local landlords are already getting tenants looking for refunds.
I've heard of protests elsewhere, especially from international students and students who can't go home for certain reasons. But no decision will satisfy everyone. I'm curious about what happens with the AFROTC sophomores who are training for Field Training this summer.
 
That’s who we thought about first - the professors who live in Annapolis.

There was a riot at University of Dayton. Students are mad. Businesses are upset. Local landlords are already getting tenants looking for refunds.
Interesting to read about refund requests. I pay two leases on apartments that will probably now sit empty. The contract legally binds us since it is a private contract and not through the school. Didn't even think of asking. The economic impact will be large for all involved.
 
They domino affect of all of this is unbelievable....we will still be feeling the affects of this for a very long time.
 
Just curious about West Point and what they are doing. We know what AFA and USNA are doing/restricting. Not a peep from WP AFAIK. Anyone?
 
I can only speak first hand to what usafa is doing. C1C’s have stayed at Academy to continue school and graduate on time to commission on time. They have all moved rooms so they are by themselves now. All (most) lower class cadets have went home and are continuing their education online for an indefinite amount of time. They are technically on travel restrictions until May 11 according to DOD. So basically my DS doesn’t know if they will be brought back before then or not. I do know he wants to go back because they suspended Recognition before it was complete. Time will tell so we are taking it day by day and just happy to spend some extra time together.
 
Just a quick view of how it’s personally affecting Son #1. I’m sure the rules are in place for all airmen, but here is the detail. Holloman personnel and dependents are confined to a 50-mile radius of base.

That means Son and his wife can no longer go to Florida for leave this week. (she is a teacher and this was her Spring Break). School is cancelled so she is off work now. Then, they were going to go camping locally instead, but last night new guidance came out requiring them to sleep at their primary residence each night. Camping specifically prohibited. So, now they went to the home improvement store and bought paint to do each of their 4 bedrooms differently since they are all the same color now. That’s their new goal.

Oh, and since anyone on base who has travelled outside the state in the past two weeks is now quarantined to their house for 14 days, Son’s squadron is short several Instructor Pilots and their sister squadron is short even more. Since Son can’t go anywhere he has now cancelled his leave and is double-turning today to try and get as many students in the air as possible before it gets worse. It is a crazy time.

Stealth_81
 
DS (who is a dr) at Langley AFB confined to 100 mile radius and DS at McChord AFB also has 100 mile radius - generous compared to those above. Langley DS had to cancel his 10yr anniversary trip that was early April, and McChord DS was going on fiancee's family trip to CA next week - but not anymore. Nor is our family trip to MT to meet the fiancee's family in late April happening. Youngest DD gets married June 6 in VA - not sure if her brothers will be allowed to come (yes, I know the travel restriction is supposed to end May 11)
Crazy times - everyone be smart and lay low
 
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