Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David Goldfein expects the service’s stop-movement order will be extended past May 11 as the coronavirus pandemic continues. Pentagon Undersecretary of Personnel and Readiness Matt Donovan, a former acting Air Force Secretary, is considering whether to direct a decision from the top of the Defense Department or leave the call up to each service. “May 12, we’re not that much better than when we’re sitting here today,” Goldfein said on a Facebook livestream with Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force Kaleth Wright. “My sense is that we’re probably going to see an extension of the stop-movement for some period of time.” He also discussed potential changes to the "use it-or-lose it" leave policy and retirement timelines.

In response to updated Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidance about the use of "cloth face coverings" under certain circumstances to prevent the spread of the new coronavirus, the Defense Department has instructed troops, civilian employees, contractors, military family members, and anyone else stepping foot “on DOD property, installations, and facilities” to don “cloth face coverings … in public areas or work centers” when staying at least six feet away from others isn’t a reasonable ask. According to the April 5 memo, “updated force health protection guidance” on departmentwide implementation is forthcoming, and each military department will publish its own instructions for how such coverings should be worn. In the meantime, Esper encouraged the community to start making their own masks, noting DOD won’t give out “medical personal protective equipment ... for this purpose" since it’s being set aside “for the appropriate personnel."

Boeing has extended the suspension of operations at its Washington state production facilities, a move that could have long-term implications for the KC-46 program. The company announced April 5 it will extend the closure, citing “continuing focus on the health and safety of its employees, current assessment of the spread of COVID-19 in Washington state, the reliability of the supply chain, and additional recommendations from government health authorities.” This includes the company’s Everett production plant that assembles the KC-46, and Boeing Field in Seattle, from which many of the tankers have left for Air Force bases. Service acquisition boss Will Roper said March 27 that at the time there was not much concern for further delays, but if the stand-down extends to over a month, “it will affect all deliveries.”

Although the Air Force is slated to send a cohort of 60 recruits to Keesler AFB, Miss., for Basic Military Training as early as April 7, the new coronavirus pandemic wasn't the first outbreak to prompt USAF to hold BMT outside of Lackland Air Force Base, Texas. A bacterial meningitis outbreak at Lackland in the winter of 1966 led the service to transfer portions of BMT to Amarillo Air Force Base, Texas, AETC told Air Force Magazine via email.

On March 23, the Air Force Association's Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies will host a virtual Nuclear Deterrence Series event featuring Scowcroft Group Principal Frank Miller. At a time when nuclear modernization programs are accelerating around the world, proposals to recapitalize the U.S. nuclear arsenal are at the forefront of debates over defense spending. Miller will share his insights into the prospects for U.S. nuclear modernization programs and the value of nuclear deterrence in today's competitive security environment. The think tank will post event video on its website and YouTube page after the live event.