Peninsula Warrior Air Force Edition 3.27.2020

J O I N T

B A S E

AIR FORCE EDITION | 3.27.2020 | Vol. 10 | No. 12

L A N G L E Y - E U S T I S

Guard helps medical professionals combat COVID-19 PG 10

For more online content, check out www.JBLE.af.mil

Esper lists top priorities PG. 3

COVID-19 requires historic Guard response PG. 14

P u b l i s h e d i n t h e i n t e r e s t o f p e r s o n n e l a t J o i n t B a s e L a n g l e y - E u s t i s • w w w. p e n i n s u l a w a r r i o r. c o m

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www.peninsulawarrior.com • Peninsula Warrior - Air Force • March 27, 2020

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COVID-19 screening process protects health of the force

By Kirk Frady SEMBACH KASERNE, GERMANY

Due to the ongoing COVID-19 outbreak across Europe, all Army medical treatment facilities and Army installations are taking extra safety precautions to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Like all army health clinics in Europe, the Baumholder Army Health Clinic is working hard to ensure the safety of patients entering the building.

“We transitioned to a single entrance for our clinic and, due to our layout, are able to conduct health screenings upon entry into the vestibule,” said Lt. Col. Elizabeth Gum, commander of Baumholder Army Health Clinic.

“Visitors and patients stand behind a red line and answer symptom screening questions asked by one of our staff members. If the answers to the screening questions indicate potential COVID-19, or other communicable risk, they are offered a mask and diverted to our “hot” treatment area on the first floor to check in,” added Gum. Gum says that they are also leveraging virtual health capabilities to maximize social distancing and prevent the spread of the virus.

“We are also using virtual appointments for our patients through teleconference and/or Tricare Online Secure Messaging,” Gum said.

“Should the nurse or provider determine that COVID-19 testing, and or

Sgt. 1st Class Joy Dulen/

U.S. Army Reserve Sgt. Andre Lewis asks COVID-19-related screening questions to a truck driver before he can enter the gate of U.S. Army post Daenner Kaserne in Kaiserslautern, Germany, March 19.

pharmaceuticals, are necessary during the telephone consultation, we have a team prepared to meet them at the front of the clinic and perform curbside testing and pharmacy prescription delivery,” said Gum. Similar precautionary measures are being taken by the medical staff at the Kleber Army Health Clinic in Kaiserslautern.

“We have a tent set up in front of the clinic for patients who meet the criteria for COVID screening,” said Maj. Shara Fisher, commander of U.S. Army Health Clinic Kaiserslautern. “Prior to reaching the entrance to the clinic, patients are asked a series of screening questions based on guidance from Landstuhl Regional Medical Center and the U.S. Centers for Disease and Control Prevention.”

“After the screening, if patients meet the criteria for further evaluation, they are immediately given a mask and are triaged by the primary COVID care team in the tent,” added Fisher. “Specimens are collected in the screening tent and sent off for testing. Any prescription medication the patient requires is then picked up by the staff and hand delivered outside the clinic so the patient does not have to enter the building.”

Other Army medical treatment facilities in the European footprint

have similar processes.

Screening stations at installation access control points In addition to undergoing screening at Army medical clinics, all personnel entering Army installations will undergo a brief screening before being allowed on the installation.

“We have implemented a number of measures on installations around the region, with the overarching goal of protecting our entire population, said Mark Heeter, the Army Installation Management CommandEurope public affairs officer.

“Among these measures includes a quick medical screening of people accessing the installation.”

Heeter emphasized that this capability exists because the entire Army team has stepped up to assist with this effort.

“Soldiers from a variety of units have stepped in to assist in this medical screening process,” he said.

“Some of them are in medical specialties, while others might not be.

They are all making an important contribution to this critical mission that will mitigate the spread of COVID-19 as much as possible,” Heeter said.

We want to hear from you. Contact us at 633abw.paedit@us.af.mil, or call 878-4920 or 764-5701.

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Medical Research and Materiel Co/

Brian Kearney, Research Microbiologist, harvests samples of coronavirus in a Biosafety Level 3 laboratory at the U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases at Fort Detrick, Md. This virus stock will be used to develop models of infection for coronavirus, as well as diagnostic tests, vaccines and therapeutics.

Esper lists DOD's top priorities during COVID-19 pandemic

By David Vergun Protecting the Defense Department’s people, maintaining military readiness and supporting the whole-ofgovernment interagency response are DOD’s top three priorities amid the coronavirus pandemic, Defense Secretary Dr. Mark T. Esper said.

Esper, joined by Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Army Gen. Mark A. Milley and Senior Enlisted Advisor to the Chairman Ramón ‘’CZ‘’ ColónLópez, conducted a virtual town hall meeting today to answer questions about DOD’s coronavirus response. ‘’I’ve made protecting our people our top priority,‘’ Esper said, referring to service members, DOD’s civilian employees and contractors, and their families.

Meanwhile, the secretary said,

maintaining mission readiness is important so DOD can be ready to fight and win if called upon to do so.

DOD is ‘’all in‘’ on supporting the interagency effort to protect the American people, Esper said, noting that the department has deployed thousands of National Guardsmen in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and four territories.

The Army is deploying field hospitals to major U.S. cities, and the Navy has deployed the hospital ship USNS Mercy to Los Angeles, the secretary said, adding that the hospital ship USNS Comfort soon will deploy to New York City.

World-class researchers at Fort Detrick, Maryland, and other locations are working with researchers elsewhere to come up with vaccines, Esper said, while other DOD efforts in-

clude opening up strategic stockpiles of masks, ventilators and other equipment to help the American people.

Testing kits and personal protective equipment are available for DOD medical workers, he said, but he acknowledged that there will be shortages, just as in the civilian sector until the private sector can ramp up production.

Esper said the department is in close coordination with allies and partners and has even reached out to Iran to offer assistance in battling COVID-19.

The secretary also stressed preventive measures people should be taking to slow the spread of the virus, such as social distancing, wiping down surfaces that are touched and hand washing. The best and most

trusted guidance can be found on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website, which is updated regularly, he added. ‘’This is not the first challenge the United States has ever faced,‘’ Milley said. ‘’This is not the first war we’ve ever been in.‘’ As they deal with the invisible coronavirus enemy, military leaders at all levels are expected to follow DOD guidance and to look after their soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines, he added.

Combatant commanders and leaders at bases and installations have been delegated with a decision-making authority on matters such as determining when service members and their families can move to new duty assignments, the chairman said. ‘’We will get through this through solid leadership, caring for our troops and keeping focus on the mission,‘’ Milley said.

Colón-López said the mission is clearly understood and that it’s ‘’a no-fail mission.‘’ The U.S. military will be flexible and adaptable to deal with this challenge, he said.

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A statement from Dr. Roper on COVID-19

By Dr. Will Roper

ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF THE AIR FORCE FOR ACQUISITION, TECHNOLOGY AND LOGISTICS

Like everyone, the entire acquisition workforce is dealing with unanticipated challenges of COVID-19. Exchanging offices with home telework, meetings with conference calls, and handshakes with social distancing are the new normal for keeping our workforce and their families safe, while staying laser-focused on maintaining the readiness of our forces, now and into the future. Our past initiatives to empower our workforce and delegate unprecedented decision authority to accelerate programs has put us in a good position to respond to present challenges with max agility and innovation.

My top priority is the safety and well-being of all personnel, families, and industry partners … our people make the magic that is our military happen. Department of the Air Force leaders, including myself, are expanding communication channels across the chain of command to check on our teammates, ensure workloads are manageable, and provide updates on health policies as they evolve. But everything we do cannot be shifted online, so our teams have restricted to mission-essential meetings and travel, while still getting the job done. Our adversaries must know our military is ready — today and tomorrow — should our nation call upon it.

Looking ahead, defense acquisition is in uncharted territory. Nearand far-term impacts of the new Coronavirus evolve daily. As we complete our first week of response, our teams navigated potential work stoppages, changing local and state directives, halted supply chains, and gearing up to support any national Defense Production Act requirements. I am amazed how little disruption entered our programs despite all the disruption around them. That speaks to how

creative and capable our people truly are. Ongoing dialogues — including those with other Departments and inDr. Will Roper dustry leaders — are focused on further empowering the field, providing additional resources, and managing cost and schedule impacts flexibly.

The present crisis could easily create a tunnel vision towards near-term issues only, so we are also maintaining focus on gamechanging capabilities our nation will need in future. Just last week when COVID-19 caused the postponement of the SXSW (South by Southwest) conference in Texas, we pivoted from a months-planned, multi-day small business tech event to an online virtual one. With less than 72 hours to pivot, the AFVentures team hosted over 5,000 people from across the U.S. in a singleday Virtual Collider and Pitch Bowl, keeping our Air and Space Force commitment to small businesses and tech startups. This event was the single largest small business award in government history, nearly $1 billion. This is the new normal of what we can achieve!

Similarly, when the much-anticipated ABMS (American Board of Medical Specialties) April demo was postponed to June, we started leveraging the program’s tabletONE and phoneONE multi-level connection technology now to improve communication across our distributed remote workforce.

There were so many examples of innovation this past week — it makes me exceptionally proud to serve on this team and exceptionally hopeful we will slalom through obstacles next week and weeks after. I have the utmost confidence that our Air Force and Space Force acquisition teams will get through this unprecedented time and be a stronger Department for it. #strongerDAF

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Army makes exceptions to enlisted promotion policy during COVID-19 outbreak

By Devon Suits

ARMY NEWS SERVICE WASHINGTON

In response to the COVID-19 outbreak, the Army has initiated several policy exceptions that will impact enlisted promotion cycles scheduled until the end of this fiscal year, unless terminated sooner, G-1 officials announced Tuesday.

Due to the recent restrictions placed on travel and training, the Army is altering its approach to semi-centralized promotion boards, along with changing the training requirements required for promotion eligibility, said Sgt. Maj. Mark A. Clark, the Army G-1 directorate of military personnel management sergeant major.

The exception will impact the activeduty and Army Reserve force, with many of the alterations taking effect during the May promotion month, Clark said. The National Guard will produce additional guidance at a later date.

“The overall impact is to protect the force and preserve readiness,” Clark said. “We are trying to get ahead and be proactive and creative. We want commanders and Soldiers to understand that we’re thinking about what’s best for them and what’s best for the Army -- all at the same time.”

As the COVID-19 environment continues to evolve, the Army will continue to review its policy exceptions every 30 days and make any necessary changes. The modifications will be in place until Sept. 30.

Virtual Boards Commanders are now authorized an alternative means to evaluate person-

Staff Sgt. Kyle Cook

Capt. Marcus Smith and 1st Sgt. James Delaney, Headquarters Company command team, 529th Support Battalion, promote Roger Jackson from sergeant to staff sergeant at Camp Taji, Iraq, July 27, 2019.

nel during a monthly unit promotion board, Clark said.

With the exception to policy, commanders can conduct a promotion board within a virtual environment. It will be up to the command team to determine their proper means of communication, he added.

“We gave some latitude to the command teams, allowing them to be creative on how they want to assess their Soldiers,” Clark said. “With all of the different virtual options that command teams will access to… it gives the commander the option to do [their promotion boards] via the internet or in an environment that supports social distancing.”

In addition to the virtual boards, leaders can also rely on their battalion command sergeant major to make promotion recommendations based on their “one-on-one interactions with an eligible Soldier,” Clark added. Battalion CSMs can obtain input from their chain of command or through the noncommissioned officer support channel to make an informed decision about an eligible Soldier.

Professional Military Education Starting in May, the Army will temporarily suspend its PME course requirements for staff sergeants and sergeants first class who need to complete the Advanced Leader Course or

Senior Leader Course, respectively, Clark said.

The temporary suspension of PME will not waive the PME requirement, Clark said. Soldiers will still be required to complete the course at a later date and will be prioritized first in the training pipeline to ensure they meet this training requirement.

“Soldiers who have always been doing the right thing … by already completing their requisite level of professional military education to qualify themselves for promotion, will be selected for promotion before [the Soldiers] that have not completed their professional military education,” he said.

Soldiers who fail to fully qualify themselves for promotion consideration before reaching their primary zone could put their careers at risk, Clark added.

U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command has distance learning options for Soldiers attending the Basic Leader Course, Master Leader Course and the Sergeants Major Course, therefore negating a need for an exception to policy for these respected ranks, Clark said.

For the National Guard only, the force is authorizing the Director, Army National Guard to determine the appropriate applicability since the policies on completing PME to qualify for promotion differ. The National Guard

will produce additional guidance at a later date.

Similar to the changes to the active force, the temporary suspension does not diminish the importance of PME. A Soldier will be required to complete this training requirement at a later date.

AFPT, Weapons Qualifications The Army Physical Fitness Test will continue to be a promotion eligibility requirement, officials said. However, Soldiers will be able to use their last recorded APFT for promotion recommendation and pin-on, regardless of when the fitness test was administered.

“There are certain organizations that currently are not resourced to perform the APFT,” Clark said. The Army created this exception to policy to “adhere to the travel restrictions and training restrictions, along with ensuring social distancing.”

The policy exception also prevents Soldiers from falling off of the promotion standing list because of an expired APFT, Clark said. Further, commanders cannot flag Soldiers for failing to take the fitness test during this time.

Soldiers who previously failed the APFT will remain flagged until they can successfully pass their fitness evaluation. Additional guidance will be published at a later date, officials said.

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AFMC to host virtual STEM hiring event

By Marisa Alia-Novobilski

AIR FORCE MATERIEL COMMAND PUBLIC AFFAIRS WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, OHIO USACE, New York District

USACE personnel, working in support of FEMA, have spent the past several days performing site evaluations for constructing alternate medical facilities in response to the COVID-19 Pandemic.

ARMY TO HELP CONVERT VACANT BUILDINGS INTO HOSPITALS

By Thomas Brading

ARMY NEWS SERVICE WASHINGTON

Army leaders announced plans to quickly convert unused buildings into makeshift hospitals in multiple states, starting in New York, as hospitals brace for medical shortages caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

This week, construction is set to kick off as the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in Manhattan will be refitted into a 1,000-bed hospital and an additional 1,800 field medical stations, officials said.

Soldiers from the New York National Guard, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and civilian employees will prepare the medical facility, slated to begin operating in a week to 10 days.

Army to convert vacant buildings into hospitals as deadly virus spreads The race against the virus is “an unbelievably complicated problem” that needs a simple solution, said Lt. Gen. Todd T. Semonite, commanding general of U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

This solution, he said, begins with state governors.

Local leaders will pinpoint available buildings, like hotels, dormitories, and convention centers, in a prioritized order. Once identified, the existing buildings

will be leased by the state and handed over to USACE. The corps will take over and hire contractors “in an exceptionally short amount of days,” Semonite explained at a Pentagon press briefing March 20.

The facilities will need negative pressure abilities to keep the virus sealed off from room-to-room, and be outfitted with the appropriate medical supplies based off a list provided by the Department of Health and Human Services and the Federal Emergency Management Agency, he said.

Finally, each facility will be staffed with medical professionals hired by the state, Semonite explained.

New York becomes a ‘standard-setter’ for USACE “The Empire State” has become the epicenter for the airborne virus in the United States, as confirmed cases topped 30,000 Wednesday, officials said. This is a sharp rise from 4,812 cases Sunday, and more than 5% of the world’s confirmed cases. The state will receive 10,000 temporary rooms over the next few weeks.

New York will become “the standard-setter,” Semonite said, for how USACE will respond.

“Most of the governors are saying their peak [confirmed cases

are] somewhere projected around the middle of April. This is not ‘take all the time in the world’ to do it,” Semonite said, adding USACE must provide a solution before the peak numbers are reached.

Last week, USACE leaders walked through several potential New York buildings, including the Javits Center in Manhattan and State University of New York school buildings, Semonite said, adding his engineers would walk through 10 other buildings in New York.

USACE has produced a “standard design” to retrofit medical facilities, Semonite said. He showed a pamphlet of the design, and said it was already sent to White House officials, and approved by both HHS and FEMA. Army to help convert vacant buildings into hospitals as COVID-19 spreads Due to the uncertainty of COVID-19, the Army is trying to understand the capabilities of every state, while focusing on hotspots like New York, California, and New Jersey.

"We can’t go everywhere, so we are really asking for the federal government to be able to help prioritize our efforts with FEMA, to be able to send us to the right place,” Semonite said. “This has to be weeks; this can’t be months.”

The Air Force Materiel Command will host an online, virtual STEM hiring fair Thursday, April 23 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. CDT, to fill multiple science, technology, engineering and mathematics positions across the enterprise.

The event will provide an opportunity for hiring officials and qualified candidates to connect directly via an interactive, online platform to fill immediate, critical vacancies as well as future positions at AFMC headquarters and center locations across the U.S. “This event builds on the success of the virtual hiring events AFMC has held over the past year to fill vacancies across the command,” said Jesus I. Diaz, Marketing and Branding manager, Talent Acquisition, Air Force’s Personnel Center. “This particular event is focused on filling science and engineering positions at AFMC while enabling recruitment from a widespread, geographically dispersed pool of talent.”

Open positions include occupations such as aerospace engineers, computer engineers, computer scientists, IT specialists, operations research, test and evaluation engineers, systems engineers and more.

A full list of professions can be found at the Air Force Civilian Service STEM Virtual Event website.

“AFMC is looking to fill immediate as well as future needs through this event,” Diaz said. “Registration is required, and we encourage all interested candidates to make sure to visit the event site prior to the deadline to submit the required documents.”

Pre-event registration at the official event website, www.afciviliancareers.com/STEMVIRTUAL, is required, with a deadline of April 3 at 11:59 p.m.

Applicants will need to upload documents that include a resume, official/unofficial transcripts and other, depending on the job posting requirement.

All resumes will be reviewed by hiring officials before the event and invitations will be extended to a limited number of qualified candidates to attend.

While all registrants will not receive an event invitation, their resumes will be maintained for potential future hiring needs.

To learn more about Air Force civilian opportunities and future hiring events, visit www.afciviliancareers.com. Further information on the April 23 event is available at www.afciviliancareers.com/ STEMVIRTUAL.

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Petty Officer 1st Class Joshua S

Timothy Koster

Supplies and personnel are loaded aboard the Military Sealift Command hospital ship USNS Comfort (T-AH 20) at Naval Station Norfolk, Va. March 24.

A Connecticut National Guard Soldier uses a forklift to transport a pallet of portable beds and linen to a tractor trailer truck for distribution to mobile field hospitals, March 25.

Lisa Ferdinando

Pentagon Press Secretary Alyssa Farah and Joint Staff Surgeon Air Force Brig. Gen. (Dr.) Paul Friedrichs brief the press on the departments COVID-19 response efforts, the Pentagon, Washington, D.C., March 25.

DOD modeling for coronavirus helps with response planning

BY C. Todd Lopez DOD NEWS

Though Defense Department modeling of the COVID-19 virus isn’t quite robust enough yet to determine where the next outbreak will happen, the modeling is good enough now for general planning efforts, the Joint Staff surgeon said.

“Right now, the modeling that we’re able to do is for planning, but it has not yet sufficiently firm to say that it’s predictive in nature,” Air Force Brig. Gen. (Dr.) Paul Friedrichs told reporters at the Pentagon today.

“We’ve not tried to predict that we’re going to see a hotspot here, or we’re going to see X number there. We used it for broad planning. Like in the

community, if the outbreak occurs and X percent of people are infected over time, what does that mean as far as health care requirements?”

Friedrichs said information sharing among nations that have been afflicted by the coronavirus is increasing the value of data and that this additional data may soon make it possible to build predictive models.

“The good news is our allies in Korea and in Italy and in Europe are sharing data very transparently with us, and we’re building a much more robust database,” he said. “I think in another few weeks we’ll have better fidelity on that data.”

The modeling now available on the coronavirus and the resulting cases of COVID-19 is used to decide where

best to place the Defense Department’s medical resources, the Joint Staff surgeon said.

“The approach that we’ve taken, as we do our modeling and as we look at where to place capabilities, is based on how do we balance the immediate needs, either for a DOD population, or as in the case of New York — where we’re sending the [hospital ship USNS] Comfort and two of our field hospitals — the needs of other citizens and supporting that wholeof-government approach,” Friedrichs said. “It is a balancing act, there’s no question about it. Our health care system across the United States is not designed or sized to deal with a pandemic.”

Pentagon Press Secretary Alyssa

Farah said Defense Secretary Dr. Mark T. Esper released guidance to raise the health protection condition, or HPCON, across the department, to HPCON Charlie. That level limits installation access to essential personnel and reduces the number of installation access points that are open.

Farah said the move to HPCON Charlie also includes measures such as going to maximum telework, cancellation of large-scale meetings, and taking people’s temperature at certain access points within buildings. “This will vary from installation to installation,” she said. “But these are concrete measures we can be taking now to stop the spread, lower the curve.”

The press secretary said these actions are designed to protect DOD’s people and their families. “The department will take every step necessary to ensure the wellness of our service members, civilians and families,” she said. “Further guidance as it relates to the safety and health of our workforce will be coming soon.”

Timothy Koster

A member of the 2nd Governor's Horse Guard inspects the outer shell of the mobile field hospital they, along with members of the 1st and 2nd Governor's Foot Guard constructed in the parking lot of Saint Francis Hospital in Hartford, Connecticut, March 24.

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www.peninsulawarrior.com • Peninsula Warrior - Air Force • March 27, 2020

Guard helps medical professionals combat COVID-19

By Tech. Sgt. Erich B. Smith and Sgt. 1st Class Jon Soucy NATIONAL GUARD BUREAU ARLINGTON, VA.

From staffing informational phone banks to administering tests for COVID-19, many of the more than 9,000 National Guard members on duty in response to COVID-19 are assisting state and local medical professionals.

“Medical providers are essential to the hospitals where they work,” said Air Force Col. Martin Bain, a Nevada National Guard air surgeon, adding that Guard members aid the impact those civilian medical professionals can make in response to the virus.

For members of the Arkansas and West Virginia National Guard, that support has meant answering calls at medical information lines run by health officials in their local areas.

Army Lt. Col. John Snedegar, the West Virginia National Guard’s Office of the State Surgeon medical training officer, said a high influx of calls at a local poison control center prompted the need for Guard members to step in and help.

“We help people who have concerns, who are nervous or scared and uncertain about particular things,” Snedegar said. “So we give them solid advice and help answer questions if they have signs and symptoms of the (virus) or what to do if they are exposed.”

Meanwhile, medics with the Arkansas Army National Guard’s 39th Infantry Brigade Combat Team have been answering phones at the Arkansas Department of Health Call Center, which faced a similar increase in call volume.

Those medics have been answering close to 800 calls per day on average, said Arkansas Guard officials.

Edwin Wriston/

Tech. Sgt. Alex Morhead, with the West Virginia Air National Guard’s 167th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron, answers a call at the West Virginia Poison Center in Charleston, West Virginia, while taking part of the statewide COVID-19 response efforts.

Guard units have also been working with civilian authorities to administer COVID-19 screenings in numerous states. That includes Louisiana, where more than 100 Soldiers and Airmen with the Louisiana National Guard have been working at drive-through testing sites.

“Our goal is to become more efficient to reduce wait times for people being tested,” said Army Col. Scott Desormeaux, the Louisiana Army National Guard’s 256th Infantry Brigade Combat Team commander.

In Westchester County, New York, which has seen the highest number of COVID-19 cases in the country, Soldiers with the New York Army National Guard have also been staffing testing centers in addition to setting up tents to augment area hospitals facing space shortages from COVID-19 response efforts.

For Army Pvt. Cindy Ganesh, with the New York Army National Guard’s Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 369th Sustainment Brigade, helping set up tents was one of several missions she’s worked on in response to COVID-19.

“We’re all in this together,” Ganesh said, “so it’s good to be working on different missions.”

Soldiers with the Pennsylvania Army National Guard helped the Pennsylvania Emergency Manage-

ment Agency establish the first mass COVID-19 testing site in that state.

The Soldiers tested and set up medical equipment and organized personal protective gear to help get the test center up and running.

“The National Guard has skilled professionals who are trained and experienced in conducting operations under challenging conditions,” said Army Col. Frank Montgomery, the Pennsylvania National Guard director of military support.

Members of the Maryland Air National Guard have been sorting and loading onto trucks medical supplies from the Strategic National Stockpile, a national supply of pharmaceuticals and medical equipment for use in public health emergencies.

“Today we are taking supplies, such as gowns and gloves and the things that health departments, hospitals, long-term care facilities, dialysis centers, nursing homes and emergency medical services around the state (use) that are in short supply,” said Air Force Master Sgt. Richard Malloy, a ground transportation specialist with the Maryland Air Guard’s 175th Wing.

Assisting those medical professionals and the community is a fundamental element for many Guard members.

“I think this is why we joined the military and why we’re part of the National Guard,” said Army Capt.

Heather Schaller, a nurse with the Wisconsin Army National Guard’s medical detachment.

Schaller is among a team of Wisconsin National Guard medical personnel supporting staff at a senior living facility.

“A lot of citizens don’t know the National Guard does stuff like this, so that is kind of an eye-opener (for many at the facility) too,” she said.

For Air Force 1st Lt. Sparkle McCuiston, a nurse with the Nevada Air National Guard’s 152nd Medical Group and an infectious disease nurse practitioner in her civilian job, support often comes down to providing reassurance.

“I’ve gotten so many calls from friends and family who are scared,” McCuiston said. “I’ve tried to calm them down and tell them we need to get through this.”

And getting through the COVID-19 outbreak can be done by following simple protocols, she said.

“If you are healthy and have minor symptoms, please don’t go to urgent care. Please self-quarantine,” McCuiston said, adding that hand washing and practicing social distancing are also key.

As of Tuesday, more than 9,000 Guard members are on duty in all 50 states, three territories and the District of Columbia.

www.peninsulawarrior.com • Peninsula Warrior - Air Force • March 27, 2020

FAQ: COVID-19 impacts to BMT and Technical Training By 37th Training Wing JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-LACKLAND, TEXAS

The COVID-19 pandemic is a dynamic and rapidly evolving situation. The 37th Training Wing wants to make sure our internal family and external community all have access to factual and up-todate information. This frequently-asked-questions acts as a resource for anyone who has questions or concerns about themselves or a loved one that is part of the 37th Training Wing, including Basic Military Training at the 737th Training Group and technical training at the 37th Training Group. To help lessen confusion key terms are defined below.

Key Terms Restriction of Movement (ROM): Healthy individuals with no known exposure or illness, administratively placed on restriction of movement. This is to “prove their health” prior to introducing them into a previously healthy population. Separate living quarters and limiting their exposure to other populations is imposed. There is no medical requirement for temperature checking or other active surveillance. Members are to monitor their own health status and immediately notify their chain of command of any decline in their health.

Quarantine: Quarantine is a medical form of Restriction of Movement. Healthy individuals who were exposed to contagious material (e.g.

COVID-19). Quarantined individuals are separated from others until a sufficient incubation time from their potential exposure occurs (14 days for COVID-19).

Persons-Under-Investigation: Individuals who have become symptomatic and are awaiting test results for COVID-19 (currently 24-48 hours). These members need to be isolated while awaiting test results.

Isolation: Isolation is a medical form of Restriction of Movement. COVID-19 positive individuals are isolated from other healthy individuals to prevent spread.

General Q: If Joint Base San Antonio is in Health Protection Measure Charlie, why is the military as a whole still sending people TDY for training and meetings in small classroom environments?

A: Lt. Gen. Brad Webb, commander of the Air Education and Training Command, declared Basic Military Training (BMT), Technical Training, and Flight Training as mission essential. Training in the “non” mission-essential category is suspended. In order to meet Air Force requirements around the

world, we must continue training. These are unprecedented times, with the situation evolving daily. Leaders at every level are making continuous assessments in order to protect the force’s health and safety.

Can we get a confirmation that at this point there are no cases of COVID-19 at the 37th Training Wing to include among the BMT trainee and tech school Airmen populations?

At this time there are no positive COVID-19 cases in BMT or Technical Training.

What if someone is feeling sick but doesn’t tell anyone for fear of getting held back in training?

Our concern is for the greater good and health of our entire population – students, instructors and all our support personnel from civil engineering to our food-service teams in the dining facilities. To that end, we highly encourage all our Airmen to be mindful of the risk they could pose if they don’t self-report or seek medical attention as soon as possible. Hundreds of Airmen have been tested for COVID-19, with no positive cases to date, and all training days were made up. The 37th Training Wing and leadership at all levels highly encourages all members of the wing to self-report symptoms of COVID-19 to their chain of command as soon as possible. Additionally, a drive through screen process has been established at Wilford Hall by the 59th Medical Wing. More information can be found at https://www.37trw.af.mil/News/Article-Display/ Article/2119059/whasc-opens-drive-thru-covid-19screening-testing/.

Where can I find more up-to-date JB San Antonio information about COVID-19?

Health updates for JB San Antonio can be found at https://www.jbsa.mil/Information/CDC-NovelCoronavirus-Response-Support/.

If there is a positive case, what will be the decontamination process of barracks/dormitories/common spaces/etc? Will others in the same squad be isolated?

If someone tests positive, the medical community will conduct contact, tracing and identifying all areas which were impacted. These areas will undergo extensive professional deep cleaning. The positive trainee will receive the required medical care and other trainees who were exposed to that member will be placed in a 14-day quarantine and monitored for symptoms. Once they clear the incubation period without symptoms under quarantine, they can return to training.

Basic Military Training, 737th Training Group

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How can I watch my loved one graduate from Basic Military Training?

BMT graduation will be live streamed on the USAF Basic Military Training Facebook page @USAFBMT and will be archived for later viewing on the 37th Training Wing YouTube channel.

My Airmen graduated Basic Military Training March 19, how do I view his/her graduation?

Our BMT graduations are posted to the 37th Training Wing YouTube channel. Links to live streams from the March 19 graduation are broken down by Squadron/Flight.

BMT continuing because it is considered mission essential, what is being done to keep them and those around them safe?

New trainees coming into the BMT pipeline are restricted from movement for 14 days and do not interact with technical training students. Commanders at every level are charged with maximizing health and safety during these unprecedented times. You can read more at the the following article: Latest Air Force trainees continue BMT with enhanced mitigation efforts How will BMT graduates get to their tech training?

How do you mitigate those travel risks?

BMT works with each Technical Training location to ship Airmen in a variety of transportation means. All departing Airmen receive a pre-departure health, morale, welfare and safety briefing from leadership to ensure the latest DoD travel protocols are being met. These briefings are modified as needed to mitigate risk as the situation changes.

What quarantine/isolation measures will you take for the BMT flights?

BMT has begun screening all recruits upon arrival and will monitor every member during their time at BMT for symptoms. Schedules have been adjusted to reduce interaction with other flights and have increased cleaning measures across all components. We are working with our medical and support experts to ensure our Airmen are protected to the maximum extent possible.

Why is BMT graduation now on Thursday’s?

During the COVID-19 pandemic, BMT graduation will take place on Thursday’s to allow Airmen to start transiting to Technical Training on Friday and freeing up space on the BMT campus. This allows BMT to have additional cleaning time of the dormitories.

Since BMT trainees are in a 14-day restriction of movement, upon arrival, does this mean that their time at BMT is now 10.5 weeks as opposed to the typical 8.5 week BMT schedule?

BMT is not extended for these trainees, they will continue to graduate at the 8.5 week-mark. BMT leadership is looking at creative ways of accomplishing the required curriculum to allow trainees to graduate on time. ❯❯

See FAQ | 12

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www.peninsulawarrior.com • Peninsula Warrior - Air Force • March 27, 2020

Continued from11

Technical Training, 37th Training Group How can I watch my loved one graduate from technical training?

At this time technical training graduations are not streamed to the public. Regardless of family members being allowed to attend graduation, we are very proud of your Airman and what they have accomplished. We can assure you they will be celebrated within their units.

There is online chatter about the security forces dorms having sick Airmen, is this true?

All Airmen tested from COVID-19 at the 343rd Training Squadron have had negative results. The safety of our Airmen is extremely important to us.

Airmen who are tested for COVID-19 are immediately isolated in their room for the 24-48 hours period while waiting test results. Airmen are routinely checked on and have access to their personal items, to include cell phones, so they can make contact with their family.

Why is Tech Training continuing during this COVID-19 pandemic?

We understand the concerns being expressed for the safety of all those attending technical training at JB San Antonio. At this time, the AETC has deemed technical training to be mission essential and will continue on as planned. We take the safety and well-being of our personnel and trainees very seriously and will continue to re-evaluate as needed.

Please visit the following link for more information on AETC mission essential training the following article: AETC issues official COVID-19 mission essential training determination, authorizes travel.

Is it possible to make arrangements for instructors to stay with trainees during this time so they are not going home and exposing family members?

Yes. We are in the process of identifying Instructor Cadre, Military Training Leaders, and Animal Caretakers who can temporarily relocate to on base quarters. This would be a temporary relocation that is at no cost to the member.

Can Airmen who do not have orders and are stuck in between BMT graduation and tech school go home to be with their families?

Due to the COVID-19 outbreak and to limit unnecessary exposure risks, the DoD has implemented a domestic travel suspension until May 11, this includes leave for Airmen at BMT awaiting technical training. Please know your son’s, daughter’s and every Airman’s, health and safety is our top priority.

After BMT graduation, will Airmen still transit to tech schools that are outside of JB San Antonio?

Currently, yes. BMT graduates are transitioning to Technical Training schools both inside and outside of JB San Antonio.

Tech training is continuing because it is considered mission essential, what is being done to keep them and those around them safe?

All standard COVID-19 protective measures are taking place and being enforced, to include handwashing, cleaning routines and enforcing social distancing. Commanders at every level are charged with maximizing health & safety during these unprecedented times.

Once at Technical Training, what’s the plan once Airmen graduate? How will they get to their first duty station?

Upon graduation for both technical training and flying training students, losing units will coordinate with the gaining units to work specific mitigation and travel issues as needed. Overseas travel will be coordinated in accordance with DoD guidelines.

What about students in Technical Training right now? Are they being allowed to PCS to their first duty station?

All technical training and specialized undergraduate pilot training graduates will continue to outprocess and travel to their first duty station upon completion of training.

Can you tell me about phases in Technical Training and whether or not students will be allowed off base during tech training?

That depends on the location of the Technical Training school. The owning installation commander will determine when it is safe for Technical Training Airmen to travel off base, based on the current health protection conditions and DoD guidance.

Will tech schools make exceptions to families to visit their new Airmen in the next few weeks since they were not able to see them graduate?

Once Airmen arrive at Technical Training, their new squadrons will provide them an update on the ability to travel off base or have visitors visit based on the direction of the installation commander and DoD guidance. This determination is based on the priority of keeping them safe and the completion of their technical training requirements.

Where is the best place for Airmen in Technical Training to seek out answers about his/her next assignment and how they’ll get there?

The best answer is to continue to discuss your individual situation with your instructor, supervisor and chain of command.

What measures are being taken if trainees or tech school Airmen are sick? Are they being tested for the coronavirus, placed into quarantine, etc.?

As determined by medical professionals, Technical Training Airmen are being tested for COVID-19 if they are symptomatic. Once tested, the Airmen are placed in isolation for 24-48 hours until their test results are returned. During that time, food and essentials are provided to our Airmen. Airmen are routinely checked on and have access to their personal items, to include cell phones, so they can make contact with their family.

www.peninsulawarrior.com • Peninsula Warrior - Air Force • March 27, 2020

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Winifred Brown

From left, Cadet Pvt. Michael Manangan, Cadet Lt. Col. Maxwell Orlosky, Cadet Master Sgt. Queen Thomas and Cadet Pvt. Cerra McKenzie, members of the Zama American Middle-High School Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps drill team, compete in a drill and color guard competition at the Yano Fitness Center, Camp Zama, Japan, Oct. 26, 2019. The Army plans to introduce a pilot program for JROTC students by fiscal year 2022 that focuses on cybersecurity and computer science.

Army to test new tech program at select schools

By Joseph Lacdan

ARMY NEWS SERVICE WASHINGTON

The Army plans to implement a new cybersecurity and tech education program for high school students enrolled in junior ROTC programs, leaders told lawmakers March 11.

The program, scheduled to be implemented at select schools by fiscal year 2022, will focus on cybersecurity and computer science. Assistant Secretary of the Army for Manpower and Reserve Affairs Casey Wardynski said the program’s curriculum remains under development.

The Army wants to reach a broader, more academically diverse group of students while also expanding its science, technology, engineering and math

curriculum in its JROTC programs, said Assistant Deputy for Recruiting and Retention Lin St. Clair.

While the Army’s JROTC programs aren’t inherently a recruiting tool, they could open the doors toward a possible military career, Wardynski said. The cyber pilot program is being developed by the Office of the Secretary of the Army (Manpower and Reserve Affairs), Army Training and Doctrine Command and U.S. Army Cadet Command.

“Our effort here is designed to capture the imagination of young adults,” Wardynski said during a Senate Committee on Armed Services personnel oversight hearing. The assistant secretary added the service has been working to expand the number of eligible candidates for military service through education.

Through the program, Army leaders hope young men and women will be steered toward a possible Army career earlier in life. While the goal of junior ROTC remains to create better citizens, Wardynski said the program will raise awareness of career opportunities in computer science and cyber security so that the Army will be on recruits’ radars when they decide on their posthigh school plans.

In many of the Army’s 22 priority cities for recruiting, young people don’t have much awareness about the Army as a potential career path, Civilian Aide to the Secretary of the Army Jim Bland said recently. CASAs are community leaders who provide advice and counsel to Secretary of the Army Ryan McCarthy.

“We need to begin educating them much earlier about the opportunities in the military, the benefits of service and the challenges of service,” Wardynski said, “so that as they form their set of life-course alternatives, military service

can be in there early enough to shape their behaviors throughout high school.

So by the time they graduate, they can avail themselves to those opportunities.”

St. Clair said many of areas with schools that remain underrepresented in junior ROTC programs lie in the Midwest and Northeast. And that diverse student populations are located in or near the Army’s priority cities.

The proposed pilot program is intended to educate students at the Advanced Placement and honors course level St. Clair said the program would cover the entire four-year junior ROTC program.

The pilot program as envisioned would be “rigorous and arduous enough that it would warrant AP or honors-level equivalency in terms of points or grade structure,” St. Clair said. He added it would be graded the same and it would be viewed the same as an honors or advanced-placement class.

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www.peninsulawarrior.com • Peninsula Warrior - Air Force • March 27, 2020

Guard chief: COVID-19 requires historic Guard response

By Sgt. 1st Class Jon Soucy NATIONAL GUARD BUREAU ARLINGTON, VA.

The COVID-19 virus is a historic pandemic that requires a historic response from the National Guard, said the Guard’s top general.

“With COVID-19, it’s like we have 54 different hurricanes hitting every state, every territory, and the District of Columbia – some are Category 5, some are Category 3, and some are Category 1,” said Air Force Gen. Joseph Lengyel, the chief of the National Guard Bureau.

For many National Guard members, COVID-19 response efforts bring into sharp focus the support they provide in the locations where they live, work and raise their families.

“One of the most important National Guard missions is to support our own communities,” said Air Force Maj. Gen. Anthony Carrelli, adjutant general of the Pennsylvania National Guard. “Assisting and serving our fellow neighbors is a very personal effort as this is where we live. We are all in this together.”

Airmen with the Maryland Air National Guard’s 175th Wing helped Maryland Department of Health officials transport Maryland residents who had been potentially exposed to the COVID-19 virus aboard a cruise ship that was quarantined off the California coast.

Staff Sgt. Garrett Dipuma

Soldier’s with the Louisiana Army National Guard’s 256th Infantry Brigade Combat Team don protective suits as they prepare to administer nasal swabs to first responders and medical personnel at a mobile testing site in Westwego, Louisiana, March 21.

“This is just another example of Marylanders helping their fellow Marylanders throughout this crisis situation,” said Army Maj. Gen. Timothy Gowen, the adjutant general of the Maryland National Guard.

Additionally, those Airmen brought food and essential supplies for the passengers to self-quarantine for at least two weeks. Guard members in Pennsylvania and Wisconsin similarly assisted cruise ship passengers who are residents of those states.

Members of the Florida National Guard were called up to help local officials screen people who may have contracted the virus.

“We’re responding to Broward County’s request for medical aid,” said Tech. Sgt. Ariel Van Winkle, a medic with the Florida Air National Guard’s 125th Medical Detachment.

“We’ll be augmenting civilian hospitals to swab individuals [to test for COVID-19].”

For Van Winkle, helping out is all part of being a medic.

“Besides military service, any type of health care position where you get to help people, I find most rewarding,” she said. “As a medic, I get to provide firsthand response to people in need.”

Others in her unit agreed.

“I think it’s amazing that I get to be a part of making the state of Florida better and then the nation overall,” said Air Force Staff Sgt. Devyn Mitchell, also a medic.

Louisiana National Guard members have also been called out by their governor. They have been providing medical support, shelter security and traffic control as well as helping at drive-through testing sites in support of local health and emergency officials.

“We are continuing to lean forward and plan for possible follow-on missions that we may be called upon to

perform,” said Army Brig. Gen. D. Keith Waddell, adjutant general of the Louisiana Guard. “As our missions develop and increase, today’s preparations will lead to tomorrow’s success.”

Meanwhile, Guard members in Michigan have been distributing personal protective gear to state public health officials and Arkansas National Guard members have been staffing state health department informational phone banks.

As of Monday morning, more than 8,000 Guard men and women are providing critical skills and support to the 50 states, three territories, and District of Columbia.

“It [shows] the value of connection,” said Van Winkle, the medic with the Florida Air Guard. “You have times of uncertainty – people are scared and anxious. When we come in, we bring a sense of calm and, hopefully, peace.”

www.peninsulawarrior.com • Peninsula Warrior - Air Force • March 27, 2020

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Medical, dental elective procedures postponed 60 days due to COVID-19 Military Health System Communications Office WASHINGTON

As of March 31, all military treatment facilities and dental treatment facilities will postpone elective surgeries and procedures for 60 days, the Department of Defense announced March 25.

The policy applies to all beneficiaries: active duty service members and their families, retirees, and Reserve and National Guard service members on active duty or a delayed effective date active duty order.

The policy is designed to meet three main objectives during the COVID-19 pandemic. First, to enhance the safety of military medical staff; second, to prolong supplies of personal protective equipment and ensure its availability for emergency use; and finally, to ensure military medical staff are available to provide care related to the pandemic.

Exceptions to the policy will be made for procedures a service member needs in order to be ready to deploy, as well as procedures a provider has determined cannot be delayed without causing harm. For these cases, the hospital or dental facility commander will determine if there is adequate capacity to safely authorize the procedure.

The DoD announcement follows the presidential direction on the worldwide COVID-19 pandemic: apply critical medical resources, such as staff and equipment, where they are most needed; and reduce the risk of exposure to the virus to DoD medical staff and beneficiaries. The executive order can be found here.

Beneficiaries impacted by this an-

2nd Lt. Kayla Fitzgerald/325th Fighter Wing Public Affairs

Lori Elliott, 325th Operational Medical Readiness Squadron dental technician, examines a patient at Tyndall Air Force Base, Mar. 4.

nouncement will be contacted individually. Each facility will address concerns and provide guidance on rescheduling.

Q/A: 1. What does “elective” mean?

Elective surgeries and procedures are those that are not emergent or urgent and can be rescheduled at a later date.

Examples include laser surgery, hernia repair, non-emergent back surgery, colonoscopies, and joint replacements.

2. What do I do if I really need my procedure?

Those who are impacted by this policy are encouraged to consult with their physician or dentist.

3. Are there exceptions to the policy?

Exceptions to the policy will be

made for procedures a service member needs in order to be ready to deploy, as well as procedures a provider has determined cannot be delayed without causing harm. For these cases, the hospital or dental facility commander will determine if there is adequate capacity to safely authorize the procedure.

4. Who do I call if I have questions?

Work through your hospital or dental clinic. Each facility can address your concerns, and can provide guidance on rescheduling and how to proceed.

5. How will this impact the coronavirus outbreak?

In the executive order, the president stated: “To ensure that our healthcare system is able to surge capacity and capability to respond to the spread of

COVID-19, it is critical that all health and medical resources needed to respond to the spread of COVID-19 are properly distributed to the nation’s healthcare system and others that need them most at this time.”

6. Are MTFs closing?

No. Military clinics and hospitals will remain open. This is specifically for elective surgeries and procedures.

For those who may have COVID-19 symptoms, we encourage you to contact the Nurse Advice Line (800-8742273, Option 1). You can also call your local military hospital or clinic to speak with a nurse. Connect to your team nurse by calling the facility’s appointment line, call your health care team directly or use secure messaging. If you’re enrolled in a TRICARE network provider, please call your doctor’s office.

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www.peninsulawarrior.com • Peninsula Warrior - Air Force • March 27, 2020

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