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2022-06-25

Army Guard troops risk dismissal as vaccine deadline looms

This is a news story from ABC news by Lolita C. Baldor. Up to 40,000 National Guard soldiers, which consists of roughly 13% of the force, have not yet received the mandated COVID vaccine. Soldiers have until Thursday to get the vaccine. Out of all military branches, the National Guard was given the largest window to fulfill that requirement.

2020-12-04

104-Year-Old World War II Veteran Beats COVID-19

This remarkable article tells the story of how a 104-year-old World War II veteran from Alabama named Major Wooten was able to beat COVID-19 in a little under two weeks after testing positive. The article describes how Major Wooten was given an infusion of a newly approved monoclonal antibody therapy named bamlanivimab, and while this treatment physically drained him temporarily, he was able to recover 24 hours later. Wooten maintains that he is still quite drained and “mentally fuzzy” after having COVID-19, but this remarkable man was able to bounce back extremely well from the disease. This article is significant to the archival collection relating to COVID-19 survivors, as well as the collection pertaining to veterans. It truly is amazing to see someone like Major Wooten survive fighting in France during World War II, and then continue to beat the odds by defeating such a deadly disease. This article will do a great job of addressing the lack of input within the archives from elderly veterans on how the COVID-19 pandemic impacted their lives.

2022-03-27

EPICC Research Study

In October 2021 I was selected to voluntarily participate in the EPICC DoD Research Study on COVID-19. This study is focused on adulty active duty and non-active duty military service members who have tested for, had, or is vaccinated against COVID-19, and part of the Military Health System. I had never participated in a study before and honestly what hooked me was the $10 Amazon gift card they would give us for participating. Fast forward six months and I have completed three questionaries and one at-home blood sample kit. I think it's pretty cool to be participating in something that may improve the Military Health System overall and also provide data points for future research of COVID-19. Studies like this show how novel this virus really was and how we want to learn as much as we can about it in an effort to be more prepared for similar events in the future.

2020-05-02

Graduated but not Graduating

The screenshot is a cancellation email from graduation services letting us know that our graduation was being postponed, ultimately it was canceled altogether. Like many, I also lost the opportunity to walk across the stage after completing my undergraduate degree in the spring of 2020. Really it wasn’t until I found out that the graduation was canceled that I realized how much the graduation had meant to me. Before, I thought “It's just a piece of paper, who cares if you walk across the stage to get it.” It's more than that, for many it’s a transition from academia to the workforce, a real transition in life that is captured in a moment. For me, it was a little different as it was more of capturing a moment of hard work and dedication as I completed my degree while having a full-time job in the military. Also, I was the first person in my family to complete a college degree. Not graduating doesn’t erase these accomplishments, but it does alter the celebration of the accomplishments. The pandemic changed what was considered “normal.” We can see this as graduations later in the pandemic shifted to virtual graduations accomplished over Zoom or Skype. Obviously, this is not the same experience by a long shot, but I do think that it is still important to capture these big life moments in some way. I am writing this in March 2022, the pandemic has tapered off and I hope that this spring/summer people have the opportunity to experience a real graduation!

2020-12-31

No More Travel

One of the main benefits of being in the military is the opportunity to travel overseas and experience other places, cultures, and people. I was stationed in Germany and had lost of ideas of where I was going to travel all across Europe during the summer and winter months, unfortunately, Europe locked down hard in the spring of 2020. I wanted to travel during the summer months and go to the beaches across the Mediterranean and see England when it wasn’t raining. During winter I had looked forward to seeing the famous German Christmas Markets and traveling to Switzerland to see the Alps covered in snow. Due to lockdowns none of this happened. For many the pandemic made if feel as if our lives were on hold. Not only were we missing out on small events here and there but also large chunks of our lifetime. I feel as if I was stuck waiting to live life, not able to really enjoy what was around me.

2022-03-01

Military Mask Guidance Update

The attached is a memorandum for record from the Under Secretary of Defense. This memo was published 1 March 2022 and was a big deal for us in the military and really everyone who works on military installations or in other Department of Defense facilities. Prior to this memo, we were all required to wear face coverings at all times when in doors, regardless of local state or county guidance. This memo was a great policy move as it changed the requirement from an overarching blanket policy to instead replicate local community guidance. I can tell you, we were very relieved to not be required to wear a face covering at all times. unlike many other sectors across the US, many military members did not have the opportunity to work from home during the pandemic. This is just due to the nature of our jobs, therefore we were masked up for a long time, even in places such as Texas and Florida where masks were no longer required according to local state and county guidance.

12/01/2020

Wade Pitrucha Oral History, 2020/12/01

Wade Pitrucha, Marine Corps veteran and butcher, was raised in Texas and lived in California for several years, and currently works as a butcher and lives in Barron, Wisconsin. In this interview, Wade discusses the political and economic developments he has observed since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. Wade gives an inside look at the COVID-19 meat shortage, and explains some of the causes, as well as the impacts on farmers and families. Wade also shares some of his personal experiences and frustrations with the local handling of the pandemic, and how he feels the federal government and the Trump administration has contributed to the massive spread of COVID-19 in the United States. In an entertaining and sometimes darkly humorous interview, Wade’s military experience and personal beliefs provide a unique and well-balanced view of the COVID-19 pandemic and modern American society.

2021-09-15

What Happens to Military Who Refuse Vaccine?

This article talks about the recent vaccine mandate for all US military members and what some of the repercussions could be for those who refuse. Additionally, the article discusses how challenging it can be to get a valid exemption for this vaccine if military members have already consented to dozens of other vaccines during their careers.

2021-08-01

Germany Travel Quarantine Guide

Germany would update its travel policy multiple times a month, depending on the number of COVID-19 cases in the country. As the rules would change so often, our command would release simple-to-follow articles that clearly explained what we had to do. This photo is a snapshot from an article that explains quarantine requirements when traveling into Germany from other countries.

2021-09-03

Mandatory Vaccine for Military

Attached is a letter from the Secretary of the Air Force that mandates all Air Force and Space Force members must be vaccinated for the Coronavirus Disease by 2 November 2021.

2021-05-20

US to German Vaccine Memorandum

The attached is a letter from the Rheinland-Pfalz state secretary that explains and validates the COVID-19 Vaccination Record Card that the CDC gives out with vaccinations. Many US military members in Germany received the vaccine, but our vaccine cards were not recognized by local German establishments as German and other European vaccine cards looked very different. In Germany, people were not allowed to eat inside restaurants if they were not vaccinated. By carrying the attached letter with our CDC-issued vaccine cards, we were able to visit local establishments.

2021-04-02

Mark Ruffalo Interviews Sec. Deb Haaland

Mark Ruffalo interviews Sec. Deb Haaland about climate change, Pipeline 3, Biden administration, pandemic, tribal affairs, and Deb Haaland's rise in politics.

2021-01-28

Sacramento Unites for Social Justice During a Pandemic

After the murder of George Floyd people hit the streets demanding justice for him and many others who have died at the hands of public officers. After many days of protests, riots and military intervention, the Sacramento community proves to be a strong band of citizens, business owners and political leaders who have each other's back.

03/12/2021

Anonymous Marine Oral History, 2021/03/12

Interview with a Marine that details going through Basic Training during COVID-19.

2021-01-21

Nearly 1 in 5 Defendants in Capitol Riot Cases Served in the Military

The article discusses the Capitol riots and the veterans who participated in them, as well as recent extremist behavior within the military and the government's response.

2021-02-05

Defense Department sending 1,000 troops to assist with vaccinations

The article discusses the federal government's aid in California, where they would be sending troops to assist with vaccinations, as well as open two federally run vaccination sites in order to ensure that anyone wanting a COVID-19 vaccine would be able to get one.

2020-05-15

"PCSing in the time of COVID-19: Four families share their stories"

This story follows four military families as they prepare for Permanent Change of Station (PCS) orders. The process is further complicated due to COVID-19 restrictions. Each family shares how they had to adjust routine travel plans; taking into account state-by-state orders as well as trying to navigate schooling for children. While PCS orders are a reality of all military members, during 2020 there were significant changes delivered by the Department of Defense.

2020-12-17

SARS-CoV-2 Transmission among Marine Recruits during Quarantine

This is an academic article that discusses the transmission of Covid-19 among Marine recruits in quarantine. Due to the pandemic, recruits have been forced to quarantine before they were able to begin their basic training. Marines were sent to a college campus where they practiced social distancing for two weeks before going to training. This study shows the effectiveness of quarantining, social distancing, and mask-wearing

2020-03-01

Daily life at an Air Force Major Command

Daily life at Head Quarters (HQ) Air Force Global Strike Command (AFGSC) before COVID-19 and its restrictions was full of sounds and constant movement. It was customary to walk the halls and hear keypads beeping, and door locks clicking or overhear conversations as you pass people in the halls. Meetings were full of people, and the subtle roar of conversation was only stopped by the entrance of a General officer or other meeting chairpeople. As the restrictions for COVID-19 began to roll across the country, AFGSC was quick to implement them. First came a stop movement for personnel and a restriction of movements. There would be no or severely limited Permeant Change of Stations, and all temporary duty (TDY) was canceled for the foreseeable future. All personnel was to limit their office spaces to allow for six feet of distances and, if not capable of initiating telework procedures (which was an accomplishment in itself). This was the moment that life changed at HQ AFGSC. There would be fewer beeps and clicks. There would be no hallway conversations overheard because the hallways were nearly empty on a day-to-day basis. There were no more in-person meetings resulting in the muting of the subtle roars of conversations and the sudden silences created as meetings started. However, there was a new element created from COVID-19, a smell everywhere you went. Cleaning and self-sanitization ramped up at AFGSC. Every office you entered now had a hand sanitization station on a post or a wall. The restrooms and common areas cleaning increased, resulting in a lasting scent of bleach and other strong cleaners. But still, the most surprising thing was the silence that COVID-19 created in an ordinarily bustling Command.

11/27/2020

CJ Willingham Oral History, 2020/11/27.

The Oral History interview is with CJ Willingham and she describes her experiences and views during the pandemic year. CJ gives her encounters during the initial pandemic and how the pandemic is affecting her now. She explains her perspective on more than the pandemic. CJ shares her knowledge on protests, police brutality and police reform.

11/16/2020

Anonymous Active Air Force Reservist Oral History, 2020/11/16

This is a audio interview with a active Air Force Reservist, describing how the Covid pandemic has impacted his work environment and personal livelihood.

A picture of a man holding toilet paper in a grocery store.

2020-11-01

Stocking Up

A lighthearted photo that pokes fun at people's obsession with toilet paper during the initial lockdown that occurred in the Spring.

11/03/2020

Peter Bain Oral History, 2020/11/03

An interview of Texas Army National Guardsman Peter Bain who served on both the COVID-19 Relief Mission and the Civil Unrest Mission during the summer of 2020.

2020-07-14

Grandfather, Son, and Granddaughter Reunited at Last

While serving with the Texas Army National Guard on the COVID-19 Relief Mission in Houston, TX, Josh Farrar was visited by his parents, wife, and daughters when he was given a day off by his Commander. In order to get outside, they all went to the park. This video is of the granddaughter and grandfather playing on a slide while the father (Josh Farrar) interacts with his dad. This video is important as it shows an extended family interacting during the pandemic in an outside venue while a family member is supporting the COVID-19 Relief Mission. This day was very supportive and therapeutic for the Soldier after months dealing with COVID-19 testing.

2020-06-25

Coming Off Orders

I served on the COVID-19 Relief Mission for 93 days with the Texas Army National Guard. The attached orders and email detail my timeline on the mission and my preparation in late June to come off orders by my end date of 18 July 2020. I will not give any more details than that when it concerns orders or paperwork for orders in this public forum. I just wanted to add to military and National Guard perspective of this story as thousands of National Guardsman served on the COVID-19 Relief Mission. In Texas, the same rules applied to this mission as to an OCONUS deployment in terms of leaving mission. The orders were also longer than 90 days for most Soldiers which allowed them to earn 50% Post 9/11 G.I. Bill College Benefits if they had never served on Active Duty Orders (outside of training) before.

2020-04-17

Student, Instructor, Soldier: Leaving to Help With the COVID-19 Pandemic

During Spring of 2020, I was wearing many hats. I was a 1st Lieutenant in the Texas Army National Guard, a husband, a father of two girls, a PhD student, a research assistant for the department chair of the Texas A&M Anthropology Department, and an Anthropology Instructor at Blinn College. Everything changed on April 17th, 2020 when I was activated with the National Guard on 45 day orders starting at 0800 on April 18th. I packed my bags, told my kids and wife goodbye, and sent emails to my supervisors at Blinn College and Texas A&M University. Two of the emails featured here are the emails that I sent to my supervisors. My orders were initially for 45 days but were later extended to 93 days in total. I sent updates to my supervisors as I learned new information. One update email to Dr. De Ruiter at Texas A&M University is featured in this email collection as well. This is my third activation with the National Guard in the past three years. I have been called to floods, hurricanes, and now a pandemic. Serving the people of the State of Texas is never boring, but it can be difficult on the family and jobs that I leave behind. I hope these emails speak to that struggle.

2020-07-14

Registering for Graduate School While Serving in the Military on COVID-19 Orders

While serving in the Texas Army National Guard on COVID-19 Relief Mission orders, I decided to apply to graduate school at St. Mary's University in San Antonio, TX. While on these orders, I ran into registration issues. I was trying to register as a full time student with nine graduate credits, but St. Mary's had born forced to redo their entire Fall 2020 course scheduling due to COVID-19. This is described in detail in the email. At first I asked the registrar: "I am trying to web register for a third course in the fall. When I go to register in Banner, it states “No terms available for this option.” I seem to be in good standing and lack any registration holds that I can see. Is there any way to get my registration unlocked in Banner?" They responded: "We have temporarily closed registration so we can begin to make changes to the course schedule to accommodate the different modalities that will be offered. We will reopen registration on August 3. In the meantime, if you need to make a change to your schedule, I am happy to assist. Let me know if I can help." I had to ask them to manually enter me for this course so that I was signed up for a full time course load in time to meet my funding date commitments. Luckily this situation was sorted out and I was able to attend St. Mary's University full time during Fall 2020. The Fall 2020 semester was interesting though, as St. Mary's as a whole went almost entirely online.

2020-07-25

COVID-19 Military Service Leads to Scholarship

I decided to attend St. Mary's University while on the COVID-19 relief mission with the Texas Army National Guard during Summer 2020. The attached email is the email I received when I was notified that I had earned a scholarship that would lower my costs of attending graduate school. I was overwhelmed. I applied to the scholarship with the following essay: I am currently a graduate student completing my Graduate Certificate for Dual Credit Teaching in U.S. History. I am on track to graduate in May 2021. I work as an Anthropology Instructor at Blinn College. I currently serve as the Anthropology Instructor to RELLIS Campus for the joint Texas A&M Engineering at Blinn Program. Students are co-enrolled in the College of Engineering at Texas A&M University and Blinn College. Given the expansion of the Blinn RELLIS Campus, there is a need for instructors who are certified to teach in multiple disciplines. Though my Ph.D. is in Anthropology, I possess a B.A. in History. I decided to go back to school in order to become certified to teach History courses so that I could further advance Blinn’s vision for the RELLIS Campus. I have a proven track record of academic excellence that I intend to continue at St. Mary’s University. I finished my undergraduate studies and previous graduate studies with GPA’s over 3.90, receiving various awards along the way (see C.V. for details). The most important thing in my life is not my job or academic achievement, but my family. I am married to a loving and supportive wife, Helen, who works as a high school math teacher. We have two amazing daughters – three-year-old Annie and one-year-old Rose. Though difficult, I have decided to surrender some of my limited time with them in order commit to and finish this graduate certificate online by May 2021. Finally, in addition to my work at Blinn College and my family obligations, I serve as a Commissioned Officer in an Airborne Company with the Texas Army National Guard. Most recently I was activated for the COVID-19 Relief Mission, leaving my wife behind with the children. My orders ran from 18 April-18 July. While on this mission, I initially served as a COVID-19 Mobile Testing Team (MTT) Officer-in-Charge (OIC). Subsequently promoted to 2nd-in-Charge/Executive Officer (2IC/XO) of Texas Region 6, I led a staff of 18 Soldiers in personnel management and logistical resupply for 12 MTTs, encompassing 229 Soldiers and Airman. In all, my region served 8.2 million people in 25 counties - 29% of Texas. Working with multiple civilian agencies, including the Texas Department of Emergency Management, Texas Emergency Management Task Force, and Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service, I managed the resupply of 546,825 medical supply items and the testing of 58,550 COVID-19 patients at nursing homes, assisted living centers, meat packaging plants, drive-through sites, and walk-up sites in the region. Thank you for making this scholarship fund available to non-traditional students like myself. Additional funding would significantly lighten the overall family burden of completing this graduate program. Thank you once again for your generosity. It was very uplifting that my hard work with the military also allowed me to attend school full time upon returning from duty.

2020-10-28

Excitement of Graduation Dimmed By COVID

Dave Ruff is a military veteran and recent graduate of the PhD program in Anthropology (Nautical Archaeology) from Texas A&M University. Dave was working in Croatia on a Roman shipwreck for his dissertation project. Dave is a really great friend and mentor. He is always willing to talk about his life experiences - in and out of the Navy - especially when it comes to money and investments. Dave is a hard-working individual who takes his role as an academic very seriously. I was extremely happy for Dave when I found out that he would be graduating in May 2020. He started in the program at Texas A&M a year or two before I did, but he moved from Texas to North Carolina to be closer to his grandchildren and this pushed him back a little. Dave and I had been planning graduation for a few months. We helped each other check all the final boxes on the graduation checklist and buy robes. We were both really excited for the event. I hadn't seen Dave in about a year, so I was excited to see him in person at the graduation. Graduation in May 2020 was cancelled due to COVID-19. This email details a conversation between Dave and I. I was serving on the COVID-19 mission with the Texas Army National Guard and used the money I earned from that mission to pay off my house. I thanked him for his money mentorship throughout the years. The email goes on to detail how all of Dave's summer plans for research had been cancelled due to COVID-19, but that being a grad and being locked down had given him time to work out and lose some weight - a goal that we both had, but he fulfilled better than I! I wanted to highlight this email chain, as I feel that it brings humanity to the experience of Veteran PhD students, recent graduates, and researchers during the COVID-19 pandemic.

2020-10-14

Driving to Apartment

The audio recording are the sounds of my car and the cars around me as I drive home after another day at work on Dover AFB. I could explain and explore all the things that COVID impacted on the base as well as in regards to deployments, missions, and military/civilian personnel, but that will have to be a separate COVID story for another time. As for my car ride, the audio highlights one of the most confusing things about human behavior for me during the pandemic. Where was everyone going? Majority of businesses were closed. Visitation to family and friends were greatly discouraged. The beaches were closed. All the states around us were closing their borders. Yet, people were driving all about the roads like the COVID wasn’t going to stop them from being somewhere. Don’t get me wrong, the base was still open and I was still going to work. Also, a good portion of the people living in or around Dover were military or military families. Still, traffic around me didn’t ever seem to really slow down or make sense connection to the pandemic. In fact, the closer you got to the base, the worse the traffic became because the base had closed all their gates but one. This meant that everyone who needed to be on base to work or go to medical (not much was open at the start of COVID and things are slowly working their ways back to somewhat “normal” hours) had to go through a singular gate. I would sit in my car for almost an hour, listening to my music and the music of the cars around me as I waited impatiently for my wheels to a spin a few more inches forward. In some ways, this audio clip reveals something special about the history of the pandemic. The audio and my story attached to it showcases not only the human nature to adapt, but also humanity’s resiliency to sustain a way of life. At the same time, pandemic unveils our values and driving force. For instance, were those driving around the pandemic going to work for monetary value? Were they driving to see loved ones through a window? Maybe they were driving just to have a purpose? Or they just trying to escape the confines of the sanctuary of their home? Was it about politics? This also brings about the question of fear. Fear of being alone. Fear of confinement. Fear of death. Fear of boredom. Fear of lost freedom.

2020-04-01

How Military Base COVID-19 Protocol affects Military Dependents- Presidio of Monterey base guidelines

My husband is active duty Air Force. Most base housing is several miles away in Seaside, Ca. However, we were given the option to move into the historical housing on post, which meant my husband could walk to work and we have a stunning view of the Monterey Bay and Pacific Ocean. This also means that we must show our identification whenever we return home and obey base regulations. So must the thousands of language students attending DLI (Defense Language Institute). It means my daughter couldn't have a birthday party this summer. Students under my husband could head to a local pub or bar to celebrate their birthdays either. My daughter couldn't play on the playground with friends, and the students here had to collect their meals from the mess hall to take back to their dorms instead of chatting with classmates. My daughter couldn't go back to school after spring break and the language students had to begin distance learning and quarantine. As difficult as it was for my daughter to be without her friends, she could still play in the yard and hug her mother. My husband's students had to go months with no physical contact. However, these protocols were instituted to keep everyone safe whether or not they live on base. How difficult must it have been for base leadership to tell us families and students that we couldn't do the things that make us happy? That the mission must continue in spite of this pandemic? I don't envy their job.

2020-04-29

Expert Opinion

This photograph is taken in Houston, TX as part of a news conference with Rep. Al Green and Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner. On 29 April 2020, the city of Houston staged a news conference at a COVID-19 testing site run by the National Guard in Houston, TX. At the end of the conference, LTC English (who is a Nurse Practitioner and Texas Army National Guard Senior Medical Advisor) was interviewed for his opinion on public health and safety during the pandemic.

2020-05-09

Graduating in the Age of COVID-19

I graduated from Texas A&M with my PhD in Anthropology in May 2020. The graduation was in early May. I had defended my dissertation in late January and was working as a graduate assistant at Texas A&M and as an instructor at Blinn College when the COVID-19 came to Texas in March 2020. My jobs went online for a month, then I was activated with the National Guard on 18April2020. In this photograph from early May, I am attending my remote graduation ceremony from my workspace at the Region 6 COIVD-19 Response headquarters in Houston, TX.

2020-07-16

military response

This is a story of how one soldier can make a difference in the pandemic.This private was recognized for her good deeds by NASCAR however the question that begs asking is why it was necessary?why during a pandemic is a shortage of masks occurring especially in the military where people are forced to work in close quarters.

2020-05-26

Basic Military Training

Basic Military Training to resume in second location.

2020-06-10

A Carrier's Plight with COVID-19

This screenshot shows a Navy medical technician conducting a COVID test in front of what appears to be the docked USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN-71). Forced to make an emergency disembarkation at Naval Base Guam in the early days of the pandemic, the ship found itself ravaged by the virus, which swept through its departments and corridors with alarming speed, prompting its commander, Captain Brett Crozier, to order the crew off the warship; an action that combined with a pointed (and public) memo to superiors that ultimately lead to his dismissal.

2020-06-12

Containing COVID-19 aboard the USS Kidd

After having been briefly attached to the USS Theodore Roosevelt Carrier Strike Group, the USS Kidd encountered a coronavirus outbreak on board while conducting operations off the coast of South America in April 2020. This screenshot of a posted dated June 12 provides a glimpse into the Navy's early attempts to combat the disease's spread before it could potentially cripple the vessel. Also note the face mask covering the eagle's beak on the US Navy emblem in the upper left corner.

2020-06-05

Bumpin' Arms with the SECNAV

Secretary Braithwaite welcomes home this aircraft maintenance technician from Attack Fighter Squadron 211 with an arm bump greeting to minimize the risk of exposure. All those present for the Secretary's address to the Truman's crew wear face coverings, especially given the outbreaks the Navy has struggled to contain on board several of their deployed vessels. Nevertheless, social distancing proved to be difficult on board ship.

2020-06-05

Welcoming Aboard the SECNAV

Masked up and spaced apart, the crew of the aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman (CVN-75) welcomes Secretary of the Navy Kenneth Braithwaite aboard after they dropped anchor at the Norfolk Navy Yard following a 5-month tour of duty to the Middle East theater of operations and a 2-month "sustainment cruise) off the Virginia coast. The Truman remained at sea after the conclusion of their Middle Eastern cruise due to COVID-19 concerns and the need for deploying carrier groups to quarantine before getting underway and replacing the Truman in the Navy's operational rotation.

2020-04-05

Joint DOD-USAF Guidance on the Use of Cloth Face Covers

These documents outline the proper use of cloth face masks on US military installations per the US Department of Defense and the Department of the Air Force. Also included is a memo to all personnel at Joint Base San Antonio (Fort Sam Houston, Lackland and Randolph AFBs, and Martindale Army Airfield) from the base commander addressing the DOD's COVID-19 responses, and how they will be implemented on base. This resource also includes a tutorial on how to wear and create homemade PPE.

2020-06-13

As the Army Goes Rolling Along

Recalled to campus for the annual commencement ceremony by order of the commander-in-chief, these West Point cadets march out onto the green wearing face masks to prevent infection. Just days before the ceremony, a number of cadets tested positive for the virus, underscoring the reality that no place is out of COVID-19's long reach.

2020-06-16

Masks On the March

This private first class deploys the US military's newest weapon, as the Army continues to train to fight the enemies of the future while defending against an enemy it cannot see. Prior to the pandemic, mask-wearing proved exceptionally rare in the USA, but with no mitigation effort being spared in the quest to arrest COVID-19's global march, both civilians and soldiers alike rely on them to keep the contagion at bay.

2020-06-16

The Screaming Eagles Rendezvous with Temp Checks

This screenshot of the 101st Airborne Division's (Air Assault) Facebook page reveals some of the counter-measures the US Army is taking against COVID-19. These soldiers of the 2nd BCT (Brigade Combat Team) undergo temperature checks before a training exercise, even though some medical professionals had voiced concerns about the reliability of handheld temperature guns. Furthermore, this image also reflects how the Army is continuing to maintain their training regimen and rotation schedule in the face of the pandemic, as these soldiers prepare to embark for the JRTC at Fort Polk, Louisiana, a state that had been a COVID hot spot just weeks earlier.

2020-06-13

Training During a Pandemic

This US Army explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) technician keeps up with qualifications, while the supervising officer dons a regulation anti-virus mask to limit the spread of COVID-19 on base.

2020-06-13

How the military handled Covid-19

This is a humorous tiktok showing the progression of the pandemic and how the military handled it.Initially it was put out to just be precautious and it very rapidly changed as the extent of the pandemic was grasped.For many military members it felt like they were constantly changing the level of precautions.It was initially viewed as similar to the flu by many and not taken seriously but as the pandemic progressed that changed.Although humorous this is an accurate representation of how many military members reacted during this time.

2020

Working out and Social distancing

During the stay-at-home order many soldiers were faced with a difficulty to stay fit.Without access to gyms or regular group PT they had to find creative replacements to maintain their physical readiness since it is essential in there profession.This article gives creative ideas for how to do that.

A picture of a sign posted on the door to the entrance to a military building at Fort Bragg, North Carolina which reads: "Attention! Must be wearing a face mask to enter facility as per installation requirements."

2020-05-30

Military base mask enforcement sign

Before entering the PX at Fort Bragg there is a sign displayed telling visitors that a facemask must be worn to enter the premises.Even though some states are opening up and facemasks are being used less and less the military base is held to a stricter standard.

2020-04-26

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