Bipartisan Bill Pushes to Guarantee National Guard Benefits
Following recent reports of government officials considering a “hard stop” on National Guard deployments on June 24, lawmakers are seeking to remediate a decision that could deny federal benefits to servicemembers one day before the 90-day eligibility period. “The...
Wisconsin-Based Reservist Is Third Service Member to Die from COVID-19
An Army reservist based in Wisconsin has died from COVID-19, becoming the third service member to die in the pandemic, Stars and Stripes reported Tuesday, citing multiple DOD officials, who confirmed the fatality but gave reporters few details. DOD spokesperson...
Officials Release Plan for Reopening the Pentagon
Pentagon officials released a five-phase plan on Tuesday to “return to normal operations,” Defense One reports. Currently the DOD is at “Phase 0” and is awaiting more data to ease restrictions. The Pentagon has been operating at 20 percent its normal capacity since...
Town Hall Recap: Journalists Reflect on DOD Response, How Coronavirus Will Change Military
Journalists covering the Pentagon joined CMSI for a town hall panel Tuesday to focus on the military’s COVID-19 response and what it means for the future of the military. One problem bases face is that Defense Secretary Esper left much of the initial response “to the...
Senate NDAA Markup to Begin June 8
The Senate Armed Services Committee announced that markup for the fiscal 2021 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) will begin on June 8 and end by/before June 11, CQ reports. “The pandemic just makes it all the more important that we care for our service members...
In Reversal, DOD Will No Longer Turn Away Recruits with Past COVID-19 Diagnoses
The Pentagon has reversed its decision to bar from military service anyone who has been hospitalized for coronavirus-related complications. A May 6 policy instructed the military services to disqualify potential recruits who had been treated for COVID-19. But that...
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PAST STORIES
Redstone Arsenal Set to Reopen Tuesday
Redstone Arsenal, Ala., was scheduled to reopen Tuesday, AL.com reported. It has been operating with about 25% of its 40,000-person workforce during the coronavirus pandemic. The reopening is a “first step toward recovery,” Garrison Commander Col. Kelsey Smith said...
National Guard Fights to Contain Oklahoma COVID-19 ‘Hot Spot’
Members of the Oklahoma National Guard race to respond to the coronavirus outbreak in Guymon, Oklahoma, the state’s second-most affected city after Oklahoma City. Guymon has nearly 650 confirmed COVID-19 cases. Compared to Oklahoma’s rate of 1.4 cases per 1,000...
Coronavirus-Impacted Civilian Personnel Can Take Extra Paid Sick Leave
Civilian DOD personnel impacted by the coronavirus pandemic can take up to two weeks of emergency paid sick leave in addition to their typical paid leave, the department announced in a news release. “This is a new leave category that is provided to employees that may...
Military Medical Facilities to Resume Elective Procedures
The Pentagon announced the “Resumption of Elective Surgery” in a recent press release after a nearly two-month postponement which started on March 24. The initial deferment of all elective surgeries and procedures was to “to conserve personal protective equipment,...
Pentagon Looks to AI to Predict the next Pandemic
Avoiding future global health crises like the COVID-19 pandemic may rely on artificial intelligence technology to identify and track highly contagious diseases, reports CQ. “I do believe there’s great potential to bring in artificial intelligence to provide early...
Town Hall Recap: Pandemic Will Mean Long-Term Changes for DOD Budget, Operations
The COVID-19 pandemic is already impacting the military in some day-to-day tactical ways, but there are bigger ways that the Pentagon and installations will be forced to change how they operate, according to the panel on Thursday’s CMSI town hall, “How Will COVID-19...
Partnership Provides Free COVID-19 Mass Testing near Fort Leonard Wood
About 700 residents of Pulaski County, Mo., received free COVID-19 tests last weekend. The two-day mass testing was coordinated among the county, the state, Phelps Health and the Army at nearby Fort Leonard Wood, according to a press release from the Sustainable...
Joint Base San Antonio Makes Community Plea for Blood Donations
The bases in “Military City USA” are asking San Antonio civilians to help with an anticipated need for more blood, News 4 San Antonio reported. The blood centers at Joint Base San Antonio expect their supply will begin to deplete as local citizens become more active...
Bases Can Plan to Return to Normal Operations with Change in Health Protection Levels
The Pentagon issued guidance to commanders Wednesday on changing local Force Health Protection Condition (HPCON) levels so they can begin planning for normal operations at their installations, according to a DOD press release. “Under this guidance commanders make...
Congressmen Urge Lawmakers Prohibit Downsizing of Military Hospitals and Clinics
In a recent letter by Representatives Bill Posey and Kathy Castor, the lawmakers advised including language in the FY 2021 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) to stop planned cuts to military medical capacity. The letter was sent to House Armed Services...
Survey of Defense Communities and States Reveal Concerns about DCIP Implementation
An Association of Defense Communities (ADC) survey of nearly 100 communities and states has provided a glimpse into potential participation in the inaugural grant cycle for the Defense Community Infrastructure Program (DCIP). The tight schedule and high local match...
Guardsmen ‘Hard Stop’ May Deny Servicemembers Education and Retirement Benefits
Over 40,000 National Guard may see their deployment end on June 24, one day before servicemembers would be eligible for federal benefits, according to a report by Politico. In an interagency call on May 12, an official recognized that by enacting a “hard stop” on...
VA Hospitals Begin to Reopen for non-COVID-19 Care
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) announced Monday that 20 of its facilities will reopen for select health care services “while ensuring a safe environment.” Safety measures outlined in the agency’s press release include rigorous COVID-19 testing, social...
USAA Donates $6.3 Million for Military Families and Communities Affected by the Pandemic
USAA and The USAA Foundation, Inc. recently announced new funding efforts to support local communities impacted by the coronavirus crisis. The philanthropic effort focuses on four areas: financial assistance to military families, combating food insecurity in San...
CMSI Town Hall: Supporting Wounded Warriors and Caregivers During the Pandemic
In the COVID-19 Military Support Initiative’s (CMSI) virtual town hall meeting on Tuesday, participants involved in the support community for wounded veterans discussed the challenges posed to this vulnerable population during the pandemic. The introductory speakers...
Partners in DOD Are Creating Test Swabs by 3-D Printer
A new partnership between Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, Maine, and Army Medical Material Development Activity is supporting the production of 3-D-printed swabs used for COVID-19 diagnostic testing. “Before the pandemic hit, Portsmouth’s Innovation Project (IPx) was...
At Fort Jackson, Child and Youth Services to Reopen Soon
Child and Youth Services (CYS) at Fort Jackson, S.C., will reopen to mission-essential personnel June 1 as the base continues transitioning to a “steady state,” according to a recent press release. “Opening CYS facilities does not mean full capacity,” Brig. Gen....
Despite Available Financial Assistance, Military Families Not Seeking Aid
Military relief societies and nonprofit charities are reporting that “relatively few” military families are applying for financial assistance and aid programs offered as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a recent article in Military Times. Organizations...
VA Asks for Donations to Help Homeless Vets During Pandemic
Part of a new initiative to fight food insecurity and homelessness during the coronavirus crisis, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) announced new platforms to assist donations to one of the country’s most at-risk, vulnerable populations. The agency is...
Virtual Tool Keeps Navy at Peak Readiness during Pandemic
A new virtual tool developed by Naval Information Warfare Systems Command (NAVWAR) helps “analyze information about their personnel, resources and programs to ensure the Navy can plan ahead to keep operations running smoothly,” according to a report from NBC News in...
DOD May Reimburse Pet Transportation Costs amid Pandemic-Related PCS Complications
The Pentagon may reimburse military families for extra costs associated with transporting their pets for PCS moves delayed by the pandemic, Pentagon officials said Thursday, Military.com reported. The pandemic-related stop move order is causing complications for those...
Roper: Air Force Virtual Events are Here to Stay
Despite South by Southwest being cancelled in March, an Air Force small business event (The Spark Collider and Pitch Bowl) which was scheduled for the Austin-based festival ended up attracting 5,000 more attendees when moving to a virtual setting. Will Roper, the...
VA Begins COVID-19 Clinical Trial Treating Veterans with Prostate Cancer Drug
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) announced a potential treatment for men who have contracted coronavirus which uses the drug degarelix, the agency reported on Friday. The drug, which is used to treat advanced cases of prostate cancer by suppressing the...
CMSI Town Hall: Supporting Veterans During the Pandemic
In the COVID-19 Military Support Initiative virtual town hall on Thursday, experts from Veterans Affairs and veteran support organizations provided an overview of how transitioning/transitioned servicemembers are being supported during the coronavirus crisis. The...
VA Facilities Have Steady Capacity, Staffing, Supplies, Agency Reports
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has maintained an increasing supply of beds and supplies at facilities across the country to treat veterans and COVID-19 patients, according to a press release. “VA’s team has managed its resources wisely during this crisis,” VA...