Here's a look at how the Defense Department is being impacted by and responding to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Boeing on April 13 reopened some of its production lines, including work on the Air Force's new KC-46 tanker, which had been closed for weeks due to the coronavirus pandemic. The company also is restarting work on the Navy's P-8 at its Renton facility and ...
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, ...
Kadena Air Base’s 18th Wing is in the midst of a two-day COVID-19 tactical pause, after two Airmen with separate units became the first and second Active-duty U.S. troops on Okinawa, Japan, to test positive for the new coronavirus. Brig. Gen. Joel Carey, commander of ...
More than 500,000 aerospace production jobs are at risk in the COVID-19 slowdown, wrote the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, the principal aerospace workers’ union, in a March 23 letter to members of Congress. The union has asked for government help to preserve ...
U.S. European Command has about 2,600 personnel in self-isolation and has curtailed its exercises because of the ongoing new coronavirus outbreak, but the head of the military in Europe says readiness will remain high for the foreseeable future. USAF Gen. Tod Wolters, EUCOM boss and ...
The U.S.-led coalition in Iraq has suspended its training mission as the new coronavirus outbreak spreads. The training mission in Afghanistan is continuing with changes to mitigate risks. However, the military has stopped deployments to Afghanistan, a move that will keep some service members in ...
National Guard Bureau Chief Gen. Joseph Lengyel said a federal activation of the National Guard to fight the COVID-19 pandemic would be an illogical and inefficient move. “I think you can get everything you need from the National Guard more efficiently and more effectively if ...
Air Force Basic Military Training might not be on hold due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but it’s getting some major, immediate changes to halt the coronavirus’ spread. Starting March 18, incoming recruits will now undergo a two-week-long restriction of movement (or ROM) at the start ...
The Pentagon reported having 49 military personnel who have tested positive for the new coronavirus, as well as 19 dependents, 14 civilian employees, and seven contractors, as of 5 a.m. March 18. The total has risen from 37 confirmed cases as of March 16. Brig. ...
The evolving COVID-19 crisis has not yet impacted Air Force recruiting, but it’s only a matter of time before the pandemic takes its toll. “So far nobody has reported any issues with recruiting, but common sense would say that as the nation limits its movement, ...
The Air Force’s rapid global mobility mission has ramped up to address the outbreak of the new coronavirus, with USAF aircraft ferrying test kits in support of the Department of Health and Human Services while the U.S. tries to stem the COVID-19 threat. Chief of ...