Travel
DoD Travel Restrictions: Green Locations, June 8, 2020
Here is the updated DoD travel info that went out today. I hesitate to even post it because I’m not exactly sure how it will play out, but there was a Military Times article already so why not. If you have questions about a PCS, your Detailer is your best POC. If you have questions about other travel, you’ll have to wait for guidance from your chain of command. Here it is…
The Secretary of Defense recently signed a memo, moving to a conditions-based, phased approach to personnel movement and travel. As of today, the following locations meet the conditions to lift travel restrictions, subject to the assessment of conditions at individual military installations within these areas. These criteria are:
- removal of shelter-in-place orders or other travel restrictions
- 14-day downward trajectory of flu-like and COVID-19-like symptoms
- 14-day downward trajectory of new COVID-19 cases or positive tests.
The secretaries of the military departments, commanders of the combatant commands, and the chief management officer will assess specific DOD installations, facilities, or locations under their purview.
U. S. (39)
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- District of Columbia
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Dakota
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wyoming
Host Nations (5)
- Bahrain
- Belgium
- Germany
- Japan
- United Kingdom
More information on the update to the travel restrictions can be found here.
Updated Guidance on COVID Travel Restrictions
Lots of info…
- Here is a Military Times article that summarizes it – DoD’s travel ban is lifting, with some restrictions still in place
- Here is a DoD press release with a video you can watch – DOD Officials Unveil COVID-Related Personnel, Move Guidance
- Here is a DoD press release that contains the actual memo and a fact sheet – Update to Personnel Movement and Travel Restrictions
- Here is the DoD release on Force Health Protection Guidance – Force Health Protection Guidance – Supplement 9
- Here is a release for those that work on the Pentagon or one of its affiliated sites (like me) – Pentagon Reservation Plan for Resilience and ‘Aligning With National Guidelines for Opening Up America Again’
Two COVID Info Sheets for Those With Travel or PCS Issues
Here are two PDFs that might help people in certain situations.
This PDF is for anyone “ordered by their command to self-monitor somewhere other than their home if they are not on official travel orders”:
HARDSHIP-DUTY-PAY-RESTRICTION-OF-MOVEMENT
This one is for anyone who has “entered into a rental or purchase agreement at their prospective duty station, but are unable to execute PCS orders due to travel restrictions”:
IMPACT-OF-TRAVEL-RESTRICTIONS-ON-BASIC-ALLOWANCE-FOR-HOUSING-ENTITLEMENTS
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-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.
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.
Military Times – The Military’s Travel Ban is Getting an Extension, SECDEF Confirms
Here’s a link to the article, which doesn’t confirm the length of the extension, simply that an announcement is coming later this week:
The Military’s Travel Ban is Getting an Extension, SECDEF Confirms
The Military Has Suspended All Travel, Deployments, Exercises for the Entire Force
Here’s a link to this Military Times article:
The Military Has Suspended All Travel, Deployments, Exercises for the Entire Force
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