The Navy issued COVID-19 vaccine guidance to combat the coronavirus pandemic with NAVADMIN 327/20 Dec. 16. The COVID-19 vaccine distribution will be a phased, standardized, and coordinated plan for administering COVID-19 vaccines to protect our people, maintain readiness, and help return to normalcy. All Navy Reserve personnel are strongly encouraged to take the vaccine to protect their health, their families, their community, and lower the public health risks associated with the COVID-19 pandemic. The NAVADMIN also provides guidance for Navy Reserve Sailors:
The message in its entirety can be read here: https://www.public.navy.mil/bupers-npc/reference/messages/Documents/NAVADMINS/NAV2020/NAV20327.txt Questions/Answers: Q. Will vaccines be available at Military Treatment Facilities? When will they be available? A. DoD initially expects limited quantity and a phased delivery of COVID-19 vaccine following FDA Emergency Use Authorization. Initial DoD distribution sites were selected by the DoD’s COVID Task Force from sites recommended by the military services to best support several criteria: anticipated supply chain requirements for initially approved vaccines (i.e. ultra-cold, bulk storage facility); sizeable local population to facilitate rapid vaccine administration to priority personnel across the military services; and sufficient necessary medical personnel to administer vaccines and actively monitor vaccine recipients after initial and second-dose administration. Initial vaccine doses will become available at select locations in late 2020 and early 2021, and at additional sites in spring 2021. Q. Who will be the first to get the vaccine? A. Vaccination distribution prioritization will focus on those providing direct medical care, maintaining essential national security and installation functions, deploying forces, and those at the highest risk for developing severe illness from COVID-19, before other members of the DoD and Navy Reserve population. Reserve units and Sailors being mobilized and in the process of activation are prioritized for vaccination per current mobilization policy COMNAVRESFORINST 3060.7D. All other reserve personnel are Phase 3 priority and will be vaccinated according to the approved Reserve Component (RC) COVID Vaccination Plan. Q. Why is the vaccine not available here? A. The distribution process is phase-driven to protect the DoD from COVID-19 as quickly as possible. In the initial phases, a limited number of sites were selected to receive vaccine. Initial sites also allow DoD to validate distribution and administration processes and structures and guide senior leader decisions to increase distribution and administration as vaccine manufacturing and CDC allocation permits. Initial site performance will guide follow on-site identification and the scaling of DoD distribution and administration processes. Q. Where should I be vaccinated? A. To the greatest extent possible, beneficiaries in priority groups who are enrolled at MTF should come to the MTF to be vaccinated. This will ensure the maximum number of vaccine opportunities allocated to jurisdictions other than DoD are available for the non-DoD population. TRICARE beneficiaries who receive care at DoD MTFs on a space-available basis can alternately receive vaccine through the local civilian jurisdiction. Q. How will the Navy Reserve track personnel who receive a COVID vaccine? A. The Navy Reserve will track COVID vaccine administration through existing medical record reporting systems. Q. If I already had COVID-19, should I still get a vaccine? A. Yes, because duration of immunity following COVID-19 infection is unknown, and the vaccine may be effective in protecting previously infected people. Q. Will we still need to wear masks and practice physical distancing once a vaccine is available? A. Yes. The intent of the vaccine is to prevent the spread of COVID 19. We will still need to wear cloth face covings and practice physical distancing to limit the spread of the virus. Additionally, we will not have enough vaccine initially to vaccinate everyone who wants the vaccine and COVID-19 pandemic risks will continue. We will continue to recommend wearing masks and practicing physical distancing, for everyone, until pandemic risk of COVID-19 is substantially reduced. Q. What about my dependents and family members? A. High-risk beneficiaries are considered Phase 2 of the DoD’s vaccine distribution plan, while healthy beneficiaries are in the final stage of the distribution plan. For more information about the COVID-19 itself vaccine, please go to https://www.health.mil/Military-Health-Topics/Combat-Support/Public-Health/Coronavirus.
Q: Are APPLY boards going to be delayed? A: The National Command/Senior Officer (O5/O6) Non-Command Billet Screening and Assignment Board (APPLY) is scheduled for 7-18 Dec 2020, with a prep week 30 Nov – 4 Dec. Key Dates:
Due to the nature of the COVID-19 operating environment, projected rotation dates may be adjusted by COMNAVRESFORCOM to accommodate future APPLY Boards. Full tenure in billet assignment may not occur as stated in Section 3 of COMNAVRESFORNOTE 5400. Dates for involuntary transfer to the Voluntary Training Unit for senior officers who do not receive an APPLY awarded billet and/or Post Board Assignment will be promulgated SEPCOR via GOVDELIVERY and the RFMT Homepage Announcement. If you were a prior applicant and can serve in October, please re-APPLY for 7-18 December APPLY Board. The new COMNAVRESFORNOTE 5400 has been signed and is located on the RFMT Website and CNRFC N12 Sharepoint. Enlisted Assignments (CSMID): CNRFC_N121_Enlisted_Assignments@navy.mil Officer Assignments (JOAPPLY): cnrfc_joapply_inbox@navy.mil
Q: What signs or symptoms should I be concerned about if I am in ROM? A: If you have an influenza like illness (ILI) as defined by: An acute respiratory infection with measured fever of 100.4F or above and cough, members must contact the local military treatment facility or emergency room via telephone and remain in isolation. Q: What if I have symptoms of COVID-19? What actions should I take? A: Communicate with your NRA and Reserve unit leadership. Members on orders should contact the MHS Nurse Advice Line (1-800-TRICARE) or their local medical treatment facility for medical advice. Isolated members not on orders should contact their medical provider or local emergency room. In all cases, members should phone ahead prior to seeking in-person medical care.
Q: I live overseas. How does this order apply to me? A: Members on orders overseas must still be declared mission essential to remain on orders, even if they reside in the same country as their duty location. Isolation procedures, and associated orders, are based on NORTHCOM regulations and only apply to members upon return CONUS. Overseas residents shall refer to guidance from local authorities on isolation requirements unique to their AOR or country of residence. Q: Is CNRF mandating 14-day isolation for Reservists returning from OCONUS? A: Following USFF guidance, compliance with the isolation order is mandatory for all service members. Members will be offered AT or ADT orders to provide compensation for their time away from work, as well as continuing medical and USERAA coverage. Q: I am returning to the Continental United States from a U.S. territory. Do I have to adhere to the Restriction of Movement (ROM) order? A: Members returning from U.S. territories are considered OCONUS and will be required to ROM. Q: Can I legally be ordered to self-isolate? A: The self-quarantine order, as it relates to Reservists, has been analyzed by the Judge Advocate General as lawful, even if Reservists do not accept AT/ADT orders. This order is a condition of employment, similar to drug testing. Q: What is local area? A: "Local area" is determined by your NRA. If you have questions about whether or not "local area" applies to your situation, direct those questions to your chain of command. Q: Where can I find information about all the PCS changes? A: Reservists who have specific questions about PCS orders should contact MyNavy Career Center (1-833-330-6622) or email askmncc@navy.mil
Q: I’m stuck at ECRC and being forced to ROM instead of going home! Why? A: “We understand that this is a very difficult time for everyone. The NAVADMIN 083/20 is consistent with CDC guidelines on mitigation of COVID-19. These new procedures and instructions are in place because the force health protection of our Sailors and their families is a priority. The 14-day monitoring period is consistent with CDC guidelines and provides the most protection possible for Sailors and their families. We are looking at ways to temporarily reduce a Reserve Sailor’s time at ECRC, other than this 14-day monitoring period, however it is important we follow the correct procedure. The mobilization and demobilization process for reserve Sailors takes time, these processes are in place to ensure we take case of the needs of all reserve Sailors during the entire mobilization. Any Reservist at ECRC may contact us at ECRC_NRFK_CDO@navy.mil with specific concerns or needs, and we will work to address those individually with each Sailor.” CAPT Matthew J. Jackson, Commanding Officer Expeditionary Combat Readiness Center (ECRC)
Q: Am I going to lose SGLI coverage? A: Reserve Sailors with SGLI, Traumatic SGLI, and/or Family SFLI coverage do not lose coverage due to non-payment of premiums when RC members do not receive active or inactive duty pay, from which premiums were normally deducted, as a result of previously scheduled IDT, AT, or ADT being cancelled, suspended, deferred, or excused. Reserve Sailors should expect that any missed premiums will be subsequently deducted in a lump sum once IDT, AT, or ADT resumes and they are once again in a pay status.
Q: I don’t have a telework agreement with my Reserve unit? Can I still telework? A: Yes! As part of the ongoing efforts to minimize COVID-19 Coronavirus transmission, Commander, Navy Reserve Force (CNRF) has waived several telework administrative requirements and increasing telework options for Reserve Sailors. Per ALNAVRESFOR 009/20, the changes are to encourage liberal telework arrangements at all Reserve command levels to the maximum extent possible in order to provide Reserve Sailors opportunities to continue to complete annual drill point requirements. Q: What’s been waived from the telework policy? A: To allow for drill points to still be accrued, the following telework administrative requirements listed under COMNAVRESFOR Instruction 1000.9A have been waived, effective immediately, through 31 May 2020 for all Reserve Force active duty, Full-Time Support and drilling Reserve Sailors. • Telework Fundamentals – Employee Training & Telework Fundamentals – Manager Training • DD Form 2946, Telework Agreement • NAVRES 1000/7, Telework Eligibility Checklist • NAVRES 1000/8, Telework Request Form • NAVPERS 1070/613, Administrative Remarks (Page 13) Q: What can I do for IDT telework? A: How about what can’t you do?! There are literally dozens of tasks and training opportunities available for Reservists to complete while on telework, including: • Personnel Qualification Standards including, Warfare Qualifications, NRAU CO/OIC Qualification • CAC updates (recommend removing per N6) • Virtual DRT • Virtual CDB • Record review for promotion/advancement including awards review • Unit management/admin including, RUAD scrub, MAS code scrub, MyNavy Assignments/JOAPPLY participation, RMFT orders scrub • E-learning in-rate training for example Basic Combat Skills This is not an exhaustive list. Work with your unit leadership to find out how you can fulfill your time. Q: Can I use Microsoft Teams for telework? A: As long as it is an acceptable to your command, then yes. Deployment of the Commercial Virtual Remote (CVR) is underway. To learn more information about the Navy’s Commercial Virtual Remote environment, please check out the following site: https://www.public.navy.mil/navwar/NAVY311/Pages/CVR.html A best practice includes using the Navy Reserve Homeport (NRH) for file sharing and storage, and using CVR for voice, video, and chat collaboration. CNRFC N6 strongly advises members to use non-NMCI devices to register and employ the CVR. The CNRFC N6 has a comprehensive library of CVR information available on the CNRFC SharePoint site. Q: Can I telework for my AT/ADT orders? A: Reserve members asked to conduct AT or Active-Duty Training (ADT) via telework by their gaining command require first flag officer approval from the command and should follow telework procedures and directives of the applicable supported command. There are no legal restrictions that prevent telework for AT/ADT provided the command authorizes it. Active component commands should ensure that sufficient controls are in place to ensure satisfactory completion of all required work by the SELRES Reservist. Orders shall not authorize travel or lodging funds as duties will be performed at home. Members with approval for telework during the COVID-19 period from the gaining command will have orders written to their local NOSC and members will coordinate with the local NOSC for muster and pay while on approved telework orders.
ADMINISTRATIVE