Stop movement order replacement

Secretary of Defense (Dr.) Mark Esper ordered replacing the military’s large-scale movement restrictions on May 26 with a regional conditions-based set of guidelines governing when and where service members, civilian employees and dependents can travel. In March, DoD issued a sweeping stop-movement order essentially freezing most of the three million active-duty, reservist and civilian employees from traveling. The order was an attempt to contain the spread of COVID-19. The extension was to have lasted until June 30. SECDE’s recent memo canceled that date. “While the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic still presents risk … improving conditions warrant a transition … to domestic and overseas personnel travel to a conditions-based, phased approach … While we make this transition, my priorities remain” to protecting service members, civilian employees, and families; while safeguarding national security, according to Esper’s memo. Military-related moves is now allowed if it meets the following three criteria: (1) Removal of shelter-in-place orders or other travel restrictions; (20 14-day downward trajectory of flu-like and COVID-19-like symptoms; and (3) 14-day downward trajectory of new COVID-19 cases or positive tests. Other senior DoD officials released additional guidance to further detail the conditions necessary to lift existing movement restrictions pushing decisions down to the chain of command level. DoD’s leadership is pushing down the chain of command the decision of whether to open office spaces and move personnel. A host of other conditions are also to be considered, said Matthew Donovan, the undersecretary of defense for personnel and readiness. Local commanders will also consider, Donovan said, “whether there are local travel restrictions, sufficient capacity at medical treatment facilities or local hospitals, testing capability and capacity, and the availability of essential services such as school and childcare.” (Source: USNI News 05/26/20) https://news.usni.org/2020/05/26/secdef-esper-lifts-dod-stop-movement-order-replaces-with-conditions-based-guidance