The Army Brief: Vaccination requirements; Masks make a comeback; Olympic gold medal; and more...
By Caitlin M. Kenney
Staff Reporter
July 30, 2021
The Army Brief
Army
Welcome to The Army Brief, a weekly look at the news and ideas shaping the service’s future.
Vaccinations. President Joe Biden has directed the Pentagon to determine how and when to make the coronavirus vaccine mandatory for service members, Defense One reports. The vaccines are currently voluntary because they are available under an emergency use authorization from the Food and Drug Administration.
Masks are back. The Defense Department is directing its workforce to begin wearing masks indoors again—even if they are vaccinated—in locations that are seeing high community transmission, Defense One reports. This includes the Pentagon installation, which has workers commute from several states and counties with transmission risks varying from moderate to substantial.
Preparing for wildfires. The National Guard on the West Coast is changing its approach to fighting wildfires, by training and preparing like southeastern units do for hurricanes, Defense One reports. This wildfire season is already worse than last year, and Guard units from three states are helping to fight fires in California.
https://www.defenseone.com/policy/2021/07/army-brief-vaccination-requirements-masks-make-comeback-olympic-gold-medal-and-more/184170/
