GLR-WI-057
Main Content

Coronavirus Pandemic (COVID-19)

 

Due to the continued threat of the Wahun Coronavirus (aka COVID-19) National HQ and Wing HQ have developed some guidelines for the squadrons to follow.  Please check back to our website for more updates as this is rapidly evolving.  The most important thing we all can do to help prevent the spread of the virus is to stay home if your sick, wash hands frequently (eg, before/after eating, before /after bathroom visits), do not touch your face or eyes, and to cough into your arm (not your hand). 

 

  • 3/15/20     National HQ ordered all non-mission essential operations that require meeting or gathering are suspended until 11 May.  
  • 3/15/20     Watertown School District closes school starting Monday the 16.  This was due to guidance from the Watertown health department.  To date, the return date is set for April 6th.
  • 3/13/20     Governor Evers issues an executive order mandating the closing of public schools starting the end of the school day March 18th.  Return date set for April 6th.  Watertown CAP followed suit.

 

 

 

        

MEMORANDUM FOR ALL CADET AND COMPOSITE UNITS                                                                                  11 MAR 2020

 

FROM: WIWG/CP

SUBJ: Guidance on unit meetings and activities during Novel Coronavirus (SARS-COV-2) outbreak

 

1.  The SARS-COV-2 virus is present in the United States and is undergoing “community spread” in some places. It is expected to continue spreading and to undergo community spread in most communities across the country over the next few months. The Centers for Disease Control have stated that the containment phase is no longer viable, and that the goal is now to reduce the speed of the spread of the virus so that the country’s healthcare system can keep up with patient treatment and not become inundated and overrun with those with severe illness.

2.  It is expected that some CAP members will contract the virus and potentially develop COVID19, the disease that comes from the SARS-COV-2 virus. Note that CAP’s membership is comprised of a significant number of individuals over the age of 60; these individuals are in the higher morbidity risk group for COVID-19. Therefore, limiting their exposure to younger members who are more likely to not show symptoms if they are infected, is important.

3.  Prevention activities: Use the following suggestions during activities and meetings:

  • Wipe down surfaces with a disinfectant before and after.
  • Avoid handshakes. Replace handshakes with fist bumps or other low or no contact greetings.
  • Create distance by having members sit at least six feet away from each other when possible.
  • Consider having members transport themselves to/from activities rather than confining people in the same van.
  • Strongly encourage members who feel ill to not attend meetings/activities.

4. Cancelling activities/meetings. Use the following suggestions on when to cancel meetings/activities:

  • If a member tests positive for the SARS-COVID-2 virus, cancel meetings and activities for at least 14 days and possibly longer. Simply excluding that member is not enough as that member was likely shedding virus prior to the positive test and has possibly exposed other members. The exception would be if a member tests positive, but that member has not been attending meetings (but if they frequently are around other cadets/members then you should cancel meetings)
  • If a local school district closes due to the virus then suspend meetings during this period as well.
  • If the local public health department recommends suspending youth group events/meetings then follow this guidance until it is changed.
  • If conditions in your community are such that you think it is wise to suspend meetings.

5. What to do if meetings are cancelled. It is not recommended to simply cancel meetings and not offer any programming in its place. While offering non-standard training that isn’t face-to-face may feel odd, it is important to maintain a connection with our cadets. Here are some ideas:

  • Movie or TV show and discussion. Ask cadets to watch a leadership or aerospace movie and then all meet online via Facebook, Microsoft Teams, or some other online medium to discuss the movie. As an example: “Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist”, a new show on TV, is a very accessible primer in the development of a servant leader.
  • Book club. Assign an age-appropriate book and have cadets read it and then meet online for discussion. For larger units, different books could be assigned to different age groups or phases with online discussions led by Phase 3 and 4 cadets.
  • Online scavenger hunt. Assign cadets to groups and have them work collaboratively to find facts and information related to aerospace and leadership in a scavenger hunt format.
  • Online classes. Platforms such as teachable.com offer low cost options for doing online, asynchronous courses. Create content around leadership chapters or aerospace modules. This may be a good solution for Character Development.
  • Create Quizlets. Have Phase 3 and 4 cadets create quizlets about topics and have groups of cadets research and then test themselves. Make it competitive.
  • Speeches. Have cadets perform speeches on topics and record themselves. Share the videos and have constructive feedback provided.
  • You Tube viewing party. Have cadets nominate their best You Tube videos that relate to a centralized theme or topic. Everyone drops into the video on your meeting night and leave comments or have a discussion on the video via Teams or Facebook.
  • Testing night. Encourage cadets to use the normal meeting time to sit down and take online tests via eServices.
  • AMA with military recruiters. Contact a local military recruiter and see if they would agree to spend an hour or so answering questions via an online forum (Facebook works well for this) from your cadets. Hold this during normal meeting times.
  • More ideas? As you come up with creative solutions send them to me and I will share them out! Hopefully you will only need to alternate-style meetings for a few weeks if at all. 

6. Can cadets promote? The requirements for promotion have not changed at this time.

  • Achievement tests. Cadets can complete achievement tests online.
  • Character Development. Character Development only requires attendance at one session per promotion, so if a cadet has one session since their last promotion then they have met that requirement.
  • Physical Fitness. Physical Fitness credentials are good for six months from the last test date, so if your unit has test recently cadets are in a good position. I would strongly recommend that you conduct a CPFT in the next few weeks if at all possible so that cadets have a valid PT credential for as long as possible during this time.
  • Milestone exams. Milestone tests will still require an in-person proctor, however “social distancing” guidelines don’t prevent this; they just require extra work on everyone’s part. Testing officers can still meet with cadets and administer tests. Two seniors need to be present so be sure to coordinate that and meet somewhere that does not have a lot of people or is open. For example: Meet in a park shelter with the cadet and two seniors and use a cell phone hotspot to gain internet connection. Or meet at the library but use hand washing and cleaning protocols to protect yourself from picking up the virus in such a public space. If your unit has a building you could meet there, with two seniors, and administer the test. If multiple cadets are testing, keep them at least six feet apart.
  • Review Boards. Consider suspending in-person boards or have participants sit six feet from each other. If meetings are not being held, conduct the boards via conference call or video chat.
  • Activity participation. If activities are being curtailed due to COVID-19, then use good judgement on expected levels of involvement.

7. Will Wing events be cancelled? Wing will decide on a case-by-case basis whether to hold events. National Headquarters is also engaged with the Air Force Surgeon General and the Centers for Disease Control on determining risk and risk management strategies for larger summer events. We will comply with whatever direction is received from those efforts.

8. Unit guidance to cadets on attending events. If you know that a cadet is sick, please tell them to stay home from an event. If you know that a cadet has been exposed to the virus, again, have them stay home and inform the event’s project officer so that the cadet can be disenrolled. If there are registration or other fees, contact the project officer and see if the costs can be refunded so that the cadet is not penalized for following guidance that will enhance everyone else’s safety.

9. Is their technical help available? WIWG/CP has spoken with WIWG/IT that there may be an increased interest in using Microsoft Teams to facilitate online meetings/education. They are preparing training videos and additional support to units who aren’t familiar with Teams. Questions may be directed to helpdesk@wicap.us.

 

                                                                                                                             FOR THE COMMANDER

 

                                                                                                                             TODD A. MANDEL, Major, CAP

                                                                                                                              Director of Cadet Programs

© 2024 Civil Air Patrol. All rights reserved.
×