Air Force update for COVID-19
By Secretary of the Air Force Public Affairs / Published April 09, 2020
WASHINGTON (AFNS) -- In an effort to minimize the spread of the coronavirus disease 2019 and to prioritize the health and safety of Department of the Air Force personnel, the following modifications have been made:
April 9, 2020
The BMT proof of concept began at Keesler Air Force Base, Mississippi this week. Sixty trainees arrived to the proof of concept Basic Military Training detachment, marking a historic moment for the Air Force's training program. This shift is in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, which will allow the training pipeline to continue and help ensure the health and safety of trainees and instructors while also providing relief to Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas' training infrastructure.
Read more about this new BMT proof of concept here: https://www.aetc.af.mil/News/Article/2143480/bmt-proof-of-concept-begins-at-keesler-afb/
Find additional imagery here: https://www.dvidshub.net/image/6166911/bmt-proof-concept-begins-keesler
Last night, two C-130H Hercules aircraft assigned to the 182nd Airlift Wing, Illinois Air National Guard, delivered 250 medical isolation pods to Chicago Midway International Airport, Chicago, April 8, 2020. The two 182nd Airlift Wing C-130 aircraft and aircrews flew the pods cross-country in a homeland defense mission for use at the McCormick Place COVID-19 alternate care facility.
See photos of their efforts here: https://www.dvidshub.net/image/6167144/air-national-guard-covid-19-response
Airmen from the 146th Airlift Wing of the California Air National Guard in Oxnard, California, delivered 200 ventilators to the New York Air National Guard's 105th Airlift wing on April 7, 2020, at Stewart Air National Guard Base, Newburgh, New York. The use of the C-130J Super Hercules, along with the help of New York Army National Guard Sodliers from the 369th Sustainment Brigade, facilitated the shipment of medical equipment, which will support the ongoing COVID-19 medical response being conducted in the New York and New Jersey areas. Each state will receive 100 of the ventilators.
See photos of these efforts here: https://www.dvidshub.net/image/6166070/ventilators-shipped-california-arrive-stewart-angb
The Air Force has deployed Emergency Preparedness Liaison Officers across the nation to state emergency operations centers. Assigned to the 1st Air Force National Security Emergency Preparedness Directorate (NSEP), EPLOs focus on building relationships within the disaster response enterprise, and informing key stakeholders about their role in the Defense Support of Civil Authorities mission and preparing for disasters.
You can learn more about their roles here: https://www.1af.acc.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/2136074/emergency-preparedness-liaison-officers-activated-across-the-nation-to-support/
Essential missions throughout the Air Force still continue even during this pandemic. Below are some links to stories on how these units have adapted to make sure they can continue to execute these missions despite COVID-19.
The 167th Airlift Wing (WVANG) continues their federal and state missions with a dispersed workforce through COVID-19 pandemic - https://www.dvidshub.net/news/366921/wing-sustaining-operations-through-covid-19-pandemic
480th FS trains with German Eurofighters - https://www.usafe.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/2143328/480th-fs-trains-with-german-eurofighters/
23rd Fighter Group finds new normal -https://www.acc.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/2143514/23d-fg-finds-new-normal/
452nd FLTS work to keep Global Vigilance mission on track - https://www.afmc.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/2143711/452nd-flts-work-to-keep-global-vigilance-mission-on-track/
Air Force Totals of COVID-19 Positive Cases as of 5:30 p.m., April 8, 2020.
| CASES | HOSPITALIZED | RECOVERED | DEATHS | |
| Military | 367 (+16) | 16 | 61 (+11) | 0 |
| Civilian | 124 (-5) | 7 | 11 (-4) | 0 |
| Dependents | 111 (+12) | 5 | 15 (+5) | 0 |
| Contractors | 47 (+4) | 4 | 4 (+1) | 1 |
| Total | 649 | 32 | 91 | 1 |
*Removed 2 duplicate CIV cases and 1 unconfirmed CIV case from tracker
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