COVID-19
DOD Starts Tiered COVID-19 Testing Process to Ensure Safety
Here’s a link to this article:
COVID-19 PCS Update from PERS
Here are some updates from PERS to include the updated waiver request form:
- Waivers to PCS before 1 JUL 2020
- Requests must be submitted from the losing command and endorsed by the first Flag Officer/SES, with concurrence/non-concurrence from the gaining command. Coordination between the losing and gaining commands is required, with a specific question of concurrence required to be answered on Page 2 of the waiver. If there is non-concurrence, PERS-4 will adjudicate it.
- The losing command will notify their Echelon 2 Commander if the waiver is approved.
- In addition to submitting the attachment, copy and paste the waiver text into the body of the e-mail to help expedite the waiver approval and message release process.
- Command/Milestone Positions
- Any extension request that would adversely impact an officer currently slated to backfill will not be supported. However, commands can still determine turnover dates and PERS can entertain order modifications as appropriate to support. These will be addressed on case by case basis.
- Accessions and Training
- New accessions (like new interns) and “advanced individual training” are exempt from the stop movement. The Detailers are currently viewing all interns, GME, and DUINS as “advanced individual training” but they are still awaiting a final answer from PERS leadership.
If you have questions after reading this, here is one recovering Detailer’s take:
- If you are involved in an XO/CO move, you should coordinate your waiver requests with the POCs who were setting your change of charge/command dates at the regions. PERS wants all the waivers for Exec Med to be coordinated and submitted together, and NMFL/NMFP is doing this.
- If you are involved in a milestone or slated move (OIC, CMO, Senior Operational, etc.) you should try to coordinate the move and either get a waiver submitted, as detailed above, or get your orders modified by working with your Detailer.
- Anyone with specific questions about their orders should contact their Detailer including the GME Detailer for GME-related questions.
- If after all of this there is still uncertainty, I’ll dust off my Detailer hat and you can contact me with questions. I’ll do my best to answer them, but get ready for an answer of “contact your Detailer.”
Navy Updates ID Card Guidance
MILLINGTON, Tenn. (NNS) — After announcing temporary changes to ID Card office procedures, the Navy has issued additional guidance April 20.
NAVADMIN 114/20 provides an update for Navy personnel who require Common Access Cards (CAC) and Uniformed Services Identification (USID) card services during the COVID-19 pandemic. These additional measures provide greater flexibility for ensuring installation and facility physical access and means to remotely update information technology certifications, all to maintain continuity of operations while minimizing non-essential visits to ID card facilities.
Service personnel and family members who possess expired ID cards and who are still eligible for benefits due to sufficient service affiliation can continue to use their expired cards until Sept. 30, 2020. While all will still be screened at base entry control points, electronic ID card scanners will be used to verify eligibility and if valid, base access will be granted.
CAC cards with an expiration date of April 16, 2020 (or later) may continue to be used through Sept. 30, 2020 after cardholders renew their credentials online. Access to the ID Card Office Online is available at https://www.dmdc.osd.mil/self_service. Step-by-step instructions are available at https://www.cac.mil/coronavirus.
The following additional temporary policy changes announced in the message are effective until Sept. 30, 2020:
- The minimum age to get a USID card has been raised to 14 years old.
- As long as a cardholder’s affiliation with their service has not changed, USID cards that expired on or after Jan. 1, 2020 can continue to be used (base access, commissary, exchange, etc.).
- Service members can remotely enroll newly acquired dependents (spouse, child, stepchild, adopted child, etc.) for healthcare coverage. Contact MyNavy Career Center (MNCC) Contact Center at (833) 330-6622 or via email at askmncc@navy.mil for specific guidance.
- USID cards can be reissued via the postal service for those unable to get an appointment at a RAPIDS site. Service members who want to use this option must first contact their nearest ID card office and can find this information at https://www.dmdc.osd.mil.
All Navy Real-Time Automated Personnel Identification System (RAPIDS) sites will continue to issue and re-issue CACs that expire within 30 days by appointment only. However, CACs will not be reissued for routine information changes (promotion, name change, etc). DOD civilian employees will keep their CAC when transitioning to a new service. CAC PIN resets will continue to be provided on a walk-in basis.
To check the status of a RAPIDS site or to schedule an appointment go to the RAPIDS Appointment Scheduler at https://rapids-appointments.dmdc.osd.mil. More information can be found at www.cac.mil/coronavirus.
Promotion Board Update
There are a lot of questions about the promotion boards that were paused. Here is the update from the recently released consolidated COVID-19 NAVADMIN:
3.R. Selection Boards. Reference (ag) provided initial guidance on postponement of selection boards. The MyNavy HR Team is actively working the plan to resume selection boards in light of positive trends related to COVID-19. A tentative plan is expected to be released by mid-May 2020 and will include the execution of all promotion, advancement and administrative selection boards by the end of calendar year 2020. Navy remains committed to a fair and impartial selection board process for all eligible Sailors and is also committed to the health and wellness of Sailors who serve as members on these selection boards. Once the board schedule is finalized, details will be promulgated to the Fleet.
Navy-Specific Travel Guidance
The SECDEF extended the world-wide Stop Movement through 30 June 2020 and the Acting SECNAV released an associated ALNAV. As such, the Navy updated its consolidated COVID-19 NAVADMIN to reflect the new stop movement date, and provided updated information on a number of topics, to ensure the NAVADMIN is a “one-stop shop” reference for our Navy leadership, Sailors, civilians, and their families.
Major updates include:
- Consolidates guidance.
- Incorporates Fleet feedback and provides clarifying language throughout.
- Incorporates updated force health protection guidance.
- Addresses Fleet mission essential training and Midshipmen summer training.
- Addresses pregnancy, leave, Common Access Cards (CACs)/ID cards, Navy Medicine service updates, selection boards, and casualty and mortuary affairs.
- Provides a bibliography of other important COVID-19 policy updates.
- Moves reporting criteria and requirements to a separate and stand-alone NAVADMIN.
I will have more than a few e-mails and phone calls today to try and sort out what this all practically means for those coming into and leaving GME, promotion boards, etc. and will put out specific guidance on those topics once I can. I wanted to get this out there, but I may not have answers to your questions right away.
As always, if you have questions about your orders your Detailer is your go-to resource, not this blog. My Detailer hat is 5 years old.
Comfort Admits Patients From New Jersey
By Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Scott Bigley,
NEW YORK (NNS) — The hospital ship USNS Comfort (T-AH 20) began admitting patients from hospitals in New Jersey April 17 in an effort to expand its support of the nation’s COVID-19 response efforts.
New Jersey state hospitals coordinated with Comfort doctors to ensure patients could be effectively transferred across state lines and aboard the ship to receive care.
“Every one of those that we pull from the community or from the city hospitals is one more open bed for New Jersey hospitals to refill,” said Capt. Patrick Amersbach, commanding officer of the medical treatment facility aboard Comfort. “I’m very proud of the crew, our medical providers, nurses, support staff that are providing outstanding care to the people of New York City and New Jersey. We look at it as one patient at a time.”
Moored in New York, the ship serves as a referral hospital for critical and non-critical patients without regard to their COVID-19 status. Comfort is working with Javits New York Medical Station, federal and state officials as an integrated system to relieve the medical systems for both New York City, as well as nearby New Jersey, in support of U.S. Northern Command’s Defense Support of Civil Authorities as a response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Comfort is a seagoing medical treatment facility that currently has more than 1,200 personnel embarked for the New York mission including Navy medical and support staff assembled from 22 commands, as well as over civil service mariners.
Update to Travel Restrictions
Here is a Military Times article about it and the text of the DoD press release below. Many people will have questions, but until we get the Navy specific guidance (like a NAVADMIN) it will be hard to answer them:
Effective today, Secretary Esper approved an extension to the stop move order through June 30 to aid in the further prevention of the spread of COVID-19. While the Department acknowledges that this order will have great impact on our service members and their families who are looking to proceed with their lives, the rapidly changing environment has created significant risks to service members, as the DOD continues personnel movements and travel. The decision was made in order to protect U.S. personnel and preserve the operational readiness of our global force. The Department now has procedures in place to allow for additional waivers and the resumption of travel for several categories of travelers that were previously suspended, including deployments.
The guidance can be found here and helpful information can be found here.
Update to Restriction of Movement (ROM) Guidance and PCS Moves
While we have no official policy yet on PCS restrictions, the following story from Military.com seems to indicate we’ll get it soon:
Military Travel Ban Extended Until June 30; Some Restrictions Eased
We have a new NAVADMIN, though, about restriction of movement (ROM) with a press release here:
From Commander, Navy Installations Command Public Affairs
WASHINGTON (NNS) — Even during unprecedented times, defending the nation is what the Navy does best, while ensuring those who don the uniform remain safe.
In an effort to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 and keep Sailors healthy, unit commanders now have the authority to place personnel on a 14-day Restriction of Movement (ROM) period prior to deploying, getting underway or conducting operations.
According to NAVADMIN 113/20, which provides an update to previous guidance regarding ROM, unit commanders can also place new personnel on ROM status prior to integrating them with their shipmates.
When personnel are on ROM, they will be directed to remain in their homes, quarters such as unaccompanied housing, or temporary lodging that meet Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) COVID-19 guidance. Sailors in a ROM period may conduct essential tasks, such as laundry and outdoor exercise, while maintaining six feet from others.
Complete details are available in NAVADMIN 113/20, which was released April 17.
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