Soldiers can eat in local restaurants until Jan. 3

An opportunity for Fort Rucker personnel to eat in local restaurants off-post has been temporarily authorized.

In a virtual news conference held at the Army Aviation Museum on Fort Rucker Monday, Dec. 14, Maj. Gen. David Francis and Command Sgt. Maj. James Wilson addressed holiday block leave and the post’s plan for after the Christmas holidays.

Francis is the United States Army Aviation Center of Excellence and Fort Rucker commanding general. Wilson is the Aviation Branch Command Sergeant Major.

The commanders held the news conference in advance of the holiday block leave which began Monday and ends Sunday, Jan. 3, 2021.

Francis issued General Order Number 7 and announced implementation of Phase 1 of the Home of Army Aviation’s holiday block leave. “The purpose of these restrictions and the remote monitoring when you get back on Jan. 3, 2021 is to re-establish the ‘training bubble’ here at Fort Rucker and to prevent the spread of infection,” Francis said. “These control measures are what make it possible for us to have holiday block leave.”

General Order Number 7 allows the Fort Rucker military and civilians to dine inside any on or off post restaurant until Jan. 3, 2021. The preceding general order prohibited Fort Rucker military and civilians from eating inside any off post eating establishments.

“The temporary lifting of the in-restaurant ban is to facilitate travel and ease the burden of families away from home during the holidays,” Francis explained, adding that soldiers are still required to wear face coverings and only patronize restaurants that are adhering to social distancing mandates. “If the establishment is not taking these measures, you should leave,” he said.

The newest general order also allows travel during the holiday period to exceed the previously established travel mileage limits. “I’m confident that you all will continue to remain vigilant and protect our people, our mission and our local community,” Francis said.

Phase 2 begins at the completion of holiday block leave Jan. 3, 2021 and General Order Number 8 will go into effect. Fort Rucker will return to Health Protection Condition Charlie for a minimum of two weeks “where heightened levels of restriction will be reapplied while the command and medical professionals reassess the local COVID environment,” Francis said.

Fort Rucker will return to Health Protection Condition Charlie for a minimum of two weeks while the command and medical professionals reassess the local COVID environment, Francis said. “Our military and civilian workforce will maximize the ability to telework and Parker Elementary School will remain on virtual learning until Jan. 15, 2021.”

Phase 2 details will be outlined in a video that will be posted to the Fort Rucker website Dec. 30, Francis said.

“It is important that we all return safely so we must continue to follow the COVID precautions,” Wilson said.

“Even if you are low risk, you could easily pass the virus on to a high risk individual,” Francis added. “We all have a responsibility to do the right thing.”

The Fort Rucker Command team has held virtual news conferences since April 2 to disseminate information to the public about the COVID-19 pandemic’s impact on policies at the Home of Army Aviation.

In a series of General Orders tailored to the ever changing current pandemic statistics, Francis has outlined precautionary preventive policies for soldiers and civilians who work on the military installation regarding on and off post activities.