BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La. -- Officials at Barksdale Air Force Base declared a public health emergency here, March 17th in response to an increase in the number of persons on the installation under investigation for possible COVID-19 infection.
In conjunction with the declaration, Col. Steven Kirkpatrick, 307th Bomb Wing commander, has approved the following actions:
- The alternate March unit training assembly has been cancelled. Members should contact their supervisors to make arrangements.
- The April UTA’s at both Barksdale AFB and Dyess AFB, Texas have been cancelled. They will be rescheduled at a later date.
- Airmen whose primary residence is more than one hour from Barksdale may not fulfill existing orders without approval from the 10th Air Force commander.
Air Force Reserve Command has also issued the following guidance regarding fitness testing:
- Effective 17 March 2020, all Official Fitness Assessment Testing is cancelled until June 2020.
- Members who are due for their Official Fitness Assessment in March will test in 6 months, September 2020
- Members who are due for their Official Fitness Assessment in April will test in 6 months, October 2020
- Members who are due for their Official Fitness Assessment in May will test in 6 months, November 2020
According to the base website, access to Barksdale is limited to military members, civilian employees and other Department of Defense affiliated personnel (e.g., retirees, dependents, contractors) who are conducting official duties or business, reside on the installation or have appointments at a medical or mission support facility.
The West Gate at Barksdale will be closed. Non-commercial access to the base will be available 24 hours a day at the North Gate.
More information on these stories and updated information can be found at on the 307th Bomb Wing public webpage at www.307bw.afrc.af.mil and on the unit Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/307thBombWing/