For U.S. military, coronavirus is an enemy to be fought
The commander of a U.S. military post near the center of a coronavirus outbreak in South Korea delivered the sobering news to his troops in warriors’ terms: “We had a breach in our perimeter.”
A soldier at the post, Army Garrison Daegu, had tested positive for the virus Tuesday — the military’s first active-duty case — and the commander, Col. Edward Ballanco, told the troops in a video address, “Let’s regroup and attack the virus.”
The battle plan he announced was aggressive: Close the office buildings the infected soldier used. Have “clean teams” disinfect anywhere the soldier had been. Quarantine whoever he had come in contact with. At the post gates, screen everyone for fever, troops and civilians alike. Tell many civilian workers to stay home. Close the post’s schools, golf course and bowling alleys. Cancel upcoming social events such as the father-daughter dance.
The coronavirus threat may still seem distant to much of civilian America, but it has been a clear and present danger for the military almost from the start. The U.S. has more than 75,000 troops stationed in countries that are experiencing outbreaks, including South Korea, Japan, Italy and Bahrain.
Several U.S. bases sit next to cities where the virus is spreading, and they are intertwined with local communities, employing numerous civilian workers and housing many troops off base. A civilian worker at another Army post in South Korea tested positive Thursday.
As the virus spreads around the globe, Defense Secretary Mark Esper told
Congress last week, the “first priority is protection of our people, both service members and families, and then make sure we protect our ability to accomplish our mission.” Whatever tasks troops may be called upon to perform, from erecting field hospitals in overwhelmed communities to transporting patients in cargo planes filled with isolation pods, military leaders have emphasized that they can be accomplished only if the troops are healthy.
Last week the military took several defensive steps against infection, curtailing some operations and restricting leave.
But like the global business supply chain, the U.S. military relies on constant movement of people and material among far-flung countries, so force protection can come at a cost. Steps meant to stave off or contain the virus may also compromise training and readiness.
That is already happening in South Korea, which has reported more than 1,700 cases of the viral illness, known as COVID-19. United States Forces Korea announced Thursday that it was canceling annual joint military exercises with the South Korean military.
In many ways, the military is better positioned than the civilian population to respond to a global outbreak. The armed forces are a young, healthy population that has universal health care. Bases with gates can easily limit access. Commanders have far more authority than civilian leaders to impose quarantines and vaccinations, close facilities and order troops to stay away from public gatherings.
“It’s the ideal public health environment, but it’s a double-edged sword,” said Carol R. Byerly, a former research historian for the Office of the Army Surgeon General. “You have great resources, great monitoring, but the needs of the military can also make the military more vulnerable.”
In February, the military began executing a plan it developed in 2005 to battle a pandemic.
As the threat levels laid out in military plans have been raised in recent weeks, more restrictions have been imposed. In several countries, including Bahrain, military schools have closed and students switched to online classes. At an Army post in northern Italy, theaters, gyms, day care centers and chapels have also been closed. Troops in South Korea were told Thursday to cut all nonessential off-base activity.
Some Navy ships near infected ports have been ordered to stay at sea at least 14 days as a safeguard. Troops stationed in the Middle East and Central Asia were told Thursday they could no longer take leave or liberty.
“The situation is not going to cure itself overnight,” Maj. Gen. Roger Cloutier said in a video briefing to troops at the base in Italy. “In fact, it could get worse before it gets better.”