JUL 3O2021 - Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center ...

UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS
                     MARINE AIR GROUNO TASK FORCE TRAINING COMMAND
                        MARINE CORPS AIR GROUND COMBAT CENTER
                                       BOX788100
                         TWENTYNINE PALMS, CALIFORNIA 92278-8100

                                                                     1000
                                                                     CG

                                                                     JUL 3 O2021
POLICY LETTER 4-21

From:   Commanding General
To:     All Hands

Subj:   IMPLEMENTATION OF COVID-19 MITIGATIONS ABOARD MARINE AIR GROUND TASK
        FORCE TRAINING COMMAND, MARINE CORPS AIR GROUND COMBAT CENTER

Ref:    (a) MARADMIN 277/21
        lb) Force Health Protection Guidance (Supplement 16)
        (C) MEMO SECDEF 20210316
        Id) SECNAV Memo 20210405
        (e) Force Health Protection Guidance (Supplement 20)
        If) MEMO DEPSECDEF 20210728
        (g) Force Health Protection Guidance I Supplement 17)
        (h) I MEFO 1050.4A
        Ii) USMC HPCON Guidance of 24 Mar 20
        (j) MEMO SECDEF 20210429
        (kl MARADMIN 354/21

1. Purpose. Reference (a) implements references (b) through (e) and is the
most current U.S. Marine Corps guidance for the Coronavirus Disease 2019
(COVID-19) policies. This Policy Letter serves to amplify the COVID
mitigation guidance and to provide amplifying instructions on the
implementation of reference (f) for the Marine Air Ground Task Force Training
Command (MAGTFTC), Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center (MCAGCC).

2. Cancellation. Commanding General, MAGTFTC, MCAGCC Policy Letter 4-20, 1-
21, 2-21 and 3-21.

3.  Background. Our country, the Navy/Marine Corps team, and the Combat
Center has exhibited some success in the fight against the spread of COVID.
However, we continue to see spikes in COVID positive cases, and we can
anticipate this will continue for the foreseeable future. We will adjust our
Health Protection Condition (HPCON) status and our posture based on the
situation. The COVID is now endemic, meaning it is and will continue to
exist in our environment. Therefore, the actions of both subordinate units
and tenant commands down to the individual level remain critical. The
references provide specific actions that enable us to effectively counter the
COVID threat. These actions help protect all personnel, meet training
requirements, and ensure mission accomplishment. As such, all personnel are
encouraged to be vaccinated and will continue to practice personal health
protective measures recommended by the United States Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention (CDC} regarding social distancing, personal hygiene
and sanitization, and the wearing of face coverings.

4. Personnel Movement and Travel. Paragraphs 2 and 3 of reference (a)
detail travel guidance for both official and unofficial travel for Marines,
Civilians and Contractors. All MAGTFTC, MCAGCC personnel will adhere to this
guidance.

POLICY LETTER 4-21

    a.  Restriction of Movement (ROM). Pre and post-travel ROM is not
required for individuals who are fully vaccinated; defined as 14 days post
last vaccination shot.  Individuals fully recovered from a laboratory
confirmed diagnosis of COVID-19 infection with the previous 90 days are not
required to ROM as long as they are symptom free.  Individuals exempt from
ROM will continue to adhere to public health measures.  International travel
requirements are addressed in detail in reference (a); however, travelers
should be cognizant of current travel restrictions and host nation (HN)
requirements.

         (1) Steps to be taken during ROM. During any required or recommended
ROM period, Service Members will adhere to the requirements outlined in
reference {e).

            {a) Restrict movement to their residence or other appropriate
domicile.

            {b) Limit close contact {i.e., within 6 feet)     with everyone,
including family members or roommates.

            {c) Consider their ROM location as their official duty location.

            (d) Self-monitor for fever (greater than or equal to 100.4°F) by
taking their temperature twice a day, cough, difficulty breathing, or other
COVID-19 symptoms.

            {e) Immediately notify their chain of command or supervisor, if
they or their family members develop a fever or other symptoms consistent
with COVID-19.

         (2) ROM Duration. If ROM is required the standard duration is 14 day
with no negative COVID-19 test and 10 days with a negative COVID-19 test.
Under certain circumstances this can be reduced by the Commanding General
(CG), MAGTFTC, MCAGCC to 10 days without a test and 7 days with a negative
test drawn within 48 hours of the end of the 7-day ROM period.  Such requests
should be routed to the CG via the Assistant Chief of Staff (AC/S)
Installation Support Directorate (ISO).

        (3) ROM Requirements.   There are two forms of ROM:

             {a) Quarantine, which separates and restricts the movement of
people who were exposed, or potentially exposed to COVID-19 but who have not
tested positive or are asymptomatic.

             (b) Isolation, which separates sick or symptomatic people with
COVID-19 from people who are not sick.

             {c) ROM can also be required when a risk assessment warrants it,
even if no close contact has taken place, such as travel associated ROM.
Reference (a) provides detailed guidance on when ROM is required.
Effectively, ROM is required for travel to and from designated foreign
countries, in cases where a person is designated as a close contact as
designated by medical authorities and in cases of a positive COVID test.
Travel from MCAGCC to another country will {at a minimum) be in compliance
with the requirements outlined in reference {a); Service Members, Department
of Defense {DoD) Family Members, DoD Civilian employees and contractors will

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POLICY LETTER 4-21

conduct a pre-travel 14-day ROM, unless the Geographic Combatant Commander
(GCC) or HN requires a 14-day ROM at the destination location, or the HN has
determined ROM is no longer necessary for travel to the destination location.
Only one ROM is required, either before travel or after arrival, unless
otherwise required by applicable HN procedures.  In all other cases a
decision to execute ROM will be based on a risk assessment as articulated in
reference {a) and below in paragraph 4.c.

        (4)   Isolation and Quarantine.       The Medical Isolation and Observation
Center (MIOC) will remain open.   However, based on capability and
availability of quarters isolation and quarantine is primarily a unit
responsibility.   To the greatest extent possible subordinate and tenant units
will quarantine and isolate within their assigned billeting spaces.   The MIOC
will be available when that capacity cannot be accomplished and to support
exercise force units during Service Level Training Exercises (SLTE).    Those
Marines/civilians who reside off base or in Public Private Venture (PPV)
housing will normally isolate/quarantine at their residence.   Personnel who
reside in bachelor enlisted quarters will execute quarantine or isolation in
rooms designated by the unit Commander.   Unit Commanders should ensure
quarantine and isolation are conducted according to CDC guidelines such that
the individual has a separate room and separate bathroom from others.    When
designated quarantine/isolation rooms are no longer available within a unit's
designated spaces, contact Bachelor Billeting at (760) 830-8295 or the MCAGCC
Command Duty Officer after hours at (760) 830-7200 to coordinate for
additional rooms.   Bachelor billeting will retain a reserve of empty barracks
rooms for this purpose. Again, if individuals listed as a close contacts are
fully vaccinated or recovered from COVID-19 in the last 90 days, they are
exempt from quarantine if asymptomatic.

    a.  Testing.  Testing refers to tests that utilize molecular, or in
certain limited cases, antigen testing methods.  Reference {e) deleted the
previously authorized waiver of pre-travel testing for air travel.    Personnel
conducting official international air travel from the Continental United
State to a foreign country will be tested with a viral test conducted during
the three days prior to departure of the commercial or military airlift and
maintain proof of the negative test result during travel.   Personnel
identified in paragraph 4.a. are also exempt from this testing requirement
unless stricter testing requirements are established by the respective GCC or
the destination country.

    b.  Risk assessments for official travel.  Commanders (0-5 equivalent or
higher) will establish pre and post-travel screening for all Service Members,
civilian personnel, contractor personnel, and family members to determine
risk to mission and risk to force per the references.  Risk assessments will
determine at a minimum:

         (1) Whether the individual is familiar with how to self-monitor, and
what actions to take if he or she develops COVID-19 symptoms or contracts
COVID-19

        (2) Whether the individual has exhibited any signs or symptoms of
COVID-19 within the previous 14 days.

        (3) Whether the individual has had contact with anyone having, or
known to have exhibited signs or symptoms of COVID-19, or who has tested
positive for COVID-19 within the previous 14 days.

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POLICY LETTER 4-21

        (41 Whether the individual has recently recovered from COVID-19 and,
if so, when and if they have documentation of a positive viral test and
documentation of recovery from a healthcare provider.

        (51 Whether the individual has completed a COVID-19 immunization
series and, if so, when.

         (61 Whether the individual has traveled to a country, state,
territory, county or city with high or increasing COVID-19 transmission as
defined by the CDC within the previous 14 days.

        (7) Whether the individual is at increased risk of severe illness of
COVID-19.

         (81 The status of community spread of COVID-19 for the travel
destination.   The below website can assist in this assessment.
https://covid.cdc.gov/covid-data-tracker/#county-view.

5.  Service Level and non-tenant unit training exercises.  The AC/S MAGTF
Training Directorate will publish COVID-19 related guidance for SLTE and
other significant training events, as necessary.  As a general rule,
quarantine will be conducted at Camp Wilson, space permitting.   In cases that
exceed the capacity at Camp Wilson, the exercise force will coordinate with
AC/S ISD for quarantine space on Mainside.  Units will be responsible for
providing medical and general support, to include meal delivery.   Depending
on MIOC space availability, I MEF training units from Camp Pendleton will be
prepared to return personnel who require quarantine or isolation to home
station.  Exercise participants that require testing will be tesled for
COVID-19 aboard MCAGCC to allow Preventive Medicine to track positive cases
and conduct contact tracing.

6.   Use of masks.  Per references (fl, (gl and (kl in areas of substantial or
high community transmission, all Service members, Federal employees, onsite
contractor employees and visitors, regardless of vaccination status must wear
a mask in an indoor setting.   MAGTFTC, MCAGCC is currently in an area of
substantial transmission.   Exceptions are when alone in an office with floor-
to-ceiling walls and doors closed, brief periods of time when eating and/or
drinking (and only if able to maintain 6 feet distance between personnel) and
when required to be lowered for identification purposes.   Should transmission
conditions for our area change, updated guidance on indoor mask wear will be
promulgated.   Fully vaccinated Service members should be prepared to show
proof of vaccination.   As a general matter supervisors may not inquire about
or verify the vaccination status of civilian employees.   For purposes of
determining whether a civilian employee must wear a mask on the installation,
unmasked civilian employees may be asked to confirm their vaccination status
only if the supervisor has a reasonable basis to believe the unmasked
employee has not been fully vaccinated, based on reliable evidence such as
firsthand knowledge of voluntary employee statements.   Supervisors will
implement appropriate workplace measures to protect all employees, assuming
not everyone is vaccinated.

7.  Leave and liberty.  MCAGCC Service Members will follow I MEF's leave and
liberty policy, reference (h}.

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POLICY LETTER 4-21

8.   Services and facilities limitations.   MAGTFTC, MCAGCC will adjust our
installation services and facilities based on HPCON levels. As we· adjust
specific services and mass gathering limitations, this guidance will be
updated on the MAGTFTC, MCAGCC COVID web page accordingly at
https://www.29palms.marines.mil/C0VID-19/. Per references (ii and (j), for
capacity/gathering rates per HPCON levels, the below table outlines the
current guidance. For all HPCON levels, require physical distancing,
minimize in person social gathering and time spent in crowded environments
per reference (j).

 HPCON              Outside            Inside/    Note:
 Level                                Worksoace
     A   No more than 250 personnel