GOODFELLOW AIR FORCE BASE, Texas -- Raiders,
Goodfellow has sustained additional confirmed cases of coronavirus, and our number of symptomatic service members is on the rise. The health and safety measures Goodfellow has had in place since March are now more critical than ever to contain the spread of COVID-19 in our workforce and our city. We have been preparing for this for months, and each unit and leadership team has sanitization and mitigation plans in place to ensure the health and safety of this wing. We must double down on our commitment to keeping each other safe and resilient. We can do that in a few ways:
First, remember that physical distancing remains our number one mitigation measure to contain the spread. When this becomes impossible due to mission needs, mask wear is imperative. Other health and sanitary practices, such as regular handwashing and maintaining group sizes of 10 people or less, serve to increase our chances of mitigating the spread of the virus.
Second, we must recognize that we play a role in each other’s safety and resilience. If you come to work feeling less than 100% physically, you accept risk for your teammates. There is no better time to over-communicate. Please talk with your supervisor and maximize the tools and capabilities we have generated in recent months to telework and receive the care you need to get back in the fight. Additionally, ensure you are staying fit and eating healthy. We created Mathis beach as a means to continue working out, and at-home workouts are still useful in strengthening your body and keeping your immune system in check.
Lastly, I recognize that quarantine fatigue may be setting in for many of you. The monumental efforts this wing has undertaken and executed in recent months in terms of intelligence and fire training and the support medical and mission support group efforts, have leaped us forward months – even years ahead of where I anticipated we would be at this point in my command. The level at which you are performing in this challenging environment can cause fatigue which is difficult to recover from. I ask you to understand your limits and communicate them, practice personal resilience, and encourage your teams to do the same.
The health and safety of the 17 Training Wing remain my guiding principle. Together we are #GoodfellowStrong, and we will contain the spread of COVID-19.
It is my honor to serve. BOOM!
Naz