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...
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PAST STORIES
CMSI Story from the Field [video]
The COVID-19 Military Support Initiative (CMSI) showcases the ways communities and the military are working together during the coronavirus pandemic. In today’s special Video Community Dispatch, we meet a Florida veteran who found a way to support recruits going...
Federal Contract Funds Production of Prefilled Syringes for Future COVID-19 Vaccine
The departments of Defense and Health and Human Services announced a contract with ApiJect Systems America to produce medical-grade injection devices that will be pre-filled with a future vaccine for COVID-19, according to a DOD news release. The $138 million contract...
HEROES Act Provides Broad Consumer Protections to Servicemembers Affected by Pandemic
Provisions in The HEROES Act (H.R. 6800) offers servicemembers the ability to terminate home and vehicle leases who are affected by the Department of Defense’s Stop Movement Order. The legislation also allows servicemembers to cancel cable, internet, and phone...
DOD Launches Financial Readiness Resource for Military Spouses
A new DOD website is providing financial guidance to military spouses. Many military families have expressed concern and anxiety over the financial impact of the coronavirus pandemic, especially as some military spouses have become unemployed or underemployed. “My...
CMSI Town Hall Recap: Defense Health Agency Promotes Telehealth, Encourages Patients to Continue Seeking Routine Care
The Defense Health Agency is continuing to adapt to treat patients with innovations such as expansion of telehealth, new online tools and revised pharmacy procedures, they said on a CMSI town hall Tuesday. Telehealth options now include audio-only sessions for...
COVID-19 Cases Slowing within Military
The number of COVID-19 cases among service members, their families, civilians and contractors has dropped from its mid-April high, the Pentagon announced late last week. Service members make up about two-thirds of the cases. The services are working through a plan to...
West Virginia Organization Gets VA Boost to Help with Veterans’ Housing Struggles
Funding from the U.S. Department of Veterans’ Affairs will boost a West Virginia program that helps veterans that need financial assistance. The $1.1 million will help the West Virginia Community Action Partnership (WVCAP) support veterans specifically facing...
Virginia National Guard ‘Strike Teams’ Boost State Testing
Airman and Soldiers part of the Virginia National Guard’s (VNG) Richmond-based 34th Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear and High-Yield Explosives Enhanced Response Force Package are stepping up to provide rapid testing for the state’s long-term care...
Join ADC’s DCIP Briefing on Monday, May 11
ADC will host its first virtual Defense Community Infrastructure Program Briefing on the implementation plan for the program on Monday, May 11 from 3-4 p.m. ET. The first briefing will focus on a review of the Announcement of the Federal Funding Opportunity. ADC Staff...
Lawmakers Want to Expand Legal Protections for Families Facing PCS Delays
A bipartisan coalition of Senators and House members have introduced legislation to expand the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA) to give additional legal protection to service members impacted by the coronavirus pandemic. “Military families are being impacted by...
Air Force Academy, VA Chart Out Reopening Plans
While COVID-19 cases continue to rise around the nation, the United States Air Force Academy and Veterans Affairs are beginning to institute new measures to return to normalcy. The United States Air Force Academy announced the institution will lift Official Business...
Town Hall Recap: Celebrating Military Spouses
Second Lady Karen Pence and spouses of some of the most senior military leaders joined the COVID-19 Military Support Initiative Friday for a celebration of military spouses. The Friday before Mother’s Day was first designated as Military Spouse Appreciation Day in...
DCIP Program Guidance Released to Public
The long-awaited guidance for the Defense Community Infrastructure Program (DCIP) was posted on Grants.gov on Friday. According to the grant description, the priority focus of DCIP is for "military family quality of life, military resilience, and military value (in...
VA Expands Services for Veterans Experiencing Homelessness During the Pandemic
The CARES Act provided $17.2 billion to the Department of Veterans Affairs to address hardships Veterans are facing during the crisis; $300 million will go to programs to aid Veterans are facing, or are at-risk, to homelessness. The specific funding will be allocated...
DOD Turns to Tech Entrepreneurs to Trace Virus Contact at Fort Bragg
DOD is soliciting the help of young digital innovators across the country to help step up COVID-19 contact testing at Fort Bragg, N.C., according to a News and Observer article republished by Military.com. The partnership is bringing together a North Carolina startup...
Organization Sending Mask Materials, Therapeutic Crafting Kits to Vulnerable Veterans
A nonprofit that sends crafting kits to veterans to help with their mental wellbeing has sent more than 90,000 of the kits in recent months and developed a special kit to help veterans make their own face coverings, reported the Clayton News-Daily in Jonesboro, Ga....
30,000 Military Families Granted Waivers for PCS Moves
Although the Pentagon’s stop movement to contain the spread of coronavirus is still in place, many service members are scheduled to begin Permanent Change of Station (PCS) orders, according to TRANSCOM officials on Wednesday. About 30,000 have been granted waivers to...
Navy SEALs Resume Special Warfare Training
After a pause in training that began in March, Navy officials announced selection-and-assessment training of SEAL and special warfare combatant-craft crewmen (SWCC) candidates will begin again next week, reports USNI News. “My decision in restarting training follows...
Vets, Providers Adapting to Telehealth for Mental Health Care
Veterans across the country who participate in mental health care have adapted to receiving service through telehealth, such as video and phone sessions. The Department of Veterans Affairs reported a 280% jump in mental health care phone consultations in March and a...
Pentagon Signs $126 Million Contract with 3M for N95 Mask Production
In coordination with the Department of Health and Human Services, DoD announced N95 mask production will increase by 26 million masks starting in October as a result of a new award to 3M. “This increased production/industrial capacity will continue to ensure a...
Senators Call for Full Telehealth TRICARE Coverage for Service Members, Families
As social distancing has increased the necessity for virtual health visits, many military families are finding certain telehealth visits are not reimbursed by TRICARE. U.S. Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and Martha McSally (R-AZ) recently sent a letter to the Defense...
DOD Eases Travel Restrictions on Installations in Germany
While most U.S. service members within the United States remain on coronavirus lockdown, many of their Germany-based counterparts are being allowed in-country travel and easements on curfew, reports Stars and Stripes. “Right now, with your family or one additional...
Army Fast-Tracks Wearable Coronavirus Detector
The U.S. Army recent issued a request for project proposals “to develop a wearable diagnostic capability for the pre‐/very early‐symptomatic detection of COVID‐19 infection,” reports NextGov. The Department of Defense has allocated $25 million for the new technology...
CMSI Poll Shows Families Continue to Struggle with Education
Military families on average are doing “okay” during the coronavirus pandemic according to responses to the CMSI ongoing Paint Points Poll, a rolling survey of military families, veterans, caregivers and community leaders. More than 5,200 people have replied to the...
Esper: Readiness Depends on Adapting to ‘New Normal’
Defense Secretary Mark Esper said the military must recognize that it is now in a “new normal” and adapt to the realities to maintain readiness, Stars and Stripes reported. “The sooner we can adapt our practices, as soon as we can learn from this virus and make...