COVID mandates lessened for vaccinated military personnel

Taking the COVID vaccine remains an individual choice for military personnel but COVID-created mandates have been lessened for Fort Rucker personnel who are “fully vaccinated.”

In an 11th General Order issued May 17, Maj. Gen. David Francis outlined updated mandates and activities permitted on and off post for Fort Rucker personnel both vaccinated and “non-fully vaccinated.”

Francis is the United States Army Aviation Center of Excellence and Fort Rucker Command General. In a series of General Orders tailored to the ever changing COVID pandemic statistics, Francis has outlined precautionary preventive policies for soldiers regarding on- and off-post activities since the United States President declared a national state of emergency March 13, 2020.

Reiterating that taking the COVID vaccine remains an individual choice, Francis in G.O. 11 defines “fully vaccinated” as those who are at least two weeks beyond their final dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.

Fully vaccinated personnel are no longer required to wear a face covering indoors or outdoors on Fort Rucker or at other Department of Defense facilities, according to G.O. 11. Fully vaccinated personnel are not required to wear a face covering on or off post, unless a mask is required by a business or establishment.

Non-fully vaccinated personnel are prohibited from visiting off post bars, night clubs, dance clubs, spas, massage parlors and tattoo parlors regardless of changes to state and local policies, according to the order. Fully vaccinated personnel will comply with the mask covering requirements of all establishments.

Daily status updates on operations and services on Fort Rucker are available on the post’s website and social media page. The newest updates are highlighted in red type.

The General Orders issued apply to “all individuals who are subjected to the military authority of the Senior Mission Commander at Fort Rucker.” Family members, Department of the Army civilians and contractors are “requested and strongly encouraged to abide by the restrictions,” according to the General Order. “Failure to abide by this request may result in denial of access to the installation.”