Join the Conversation: Military Support Town Hall Meeting
As part of the COVID-19 Military Support Initiative (CMSI), ADC and Blue Star Families will be hosting its second virtual town hall on Tuesday March 24, 3:00-4:00 PM ET.
Top national military child education experts will provide a unique overview the challenges military-impacted schools are facing due to COVID-19. Additionally they will discuss how defense communities are adapting in real-time to meet the educational needs of military children.
This is a free event but registration is required. More information about speakers and registration link can be found here.
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On Sunday, the Department of Defense reported the first military casualty related to COVID-19. The Crystal City-based contractor, who worked at the Defense Security Cooperative Agency, passed away on March 21, the department said in a memo.
Instead of an initial plan to deploying Naval Base San Diego hospital ship Mercy to Washington state, the 1,000 bed ship will be heading to the Los Angeles area to aid in the region’s COVID-19 response, Military Times reports. Hospital ship Comfort will be deploying to the New York after a short maintenance layover.
President Donald Trump federalizing the National Guard in New York, California and Washington state means troops will be able to aid in missions including guarding shipments of food or responding to incidents under local law enforcement supervision. National Guard Bureau says troops will not participate in quarantine enforcement or shelter-in-place orders, reports military.com.
The Air Force announced it will be suspending space-available travel on its aircraft in order to halt the spread of COVID-19, reports military.com.
The DOD has been partnering with defense industry leaders to protect and sustain the U.S. Defense Industrial Base. Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Industrial Policy Jennifer Santo has identified three main concerns by industry professionals: ensuring continued workforce ability of defense contractors, maintaining cash flow to defense industrial base, and providing standardized guidance to the entire industry. The Acquisition and Sustainment Small Business Office is working on a small business emergency loan for industry small businesses.
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COVID-19 Small Business Impact Survey
The National Defense Industrial Association has created a survey to help the Department of Defense Office of Acquisition and Sustainment better understand the economic impact COVID-19 is having on small businesses.
If you or someone you know is a small business member of the defense industrial base, please take five minutes to help individuals and businesses in this network.
The survey, found here, will be open until March 27.
Photo by MC2 Hank Gettys // U.S. Navy
