ALCOAST 408/20 - NOV 2020 COVID-19: CONTINUITY OF FORCECOM READINESS ACTIVITIES (TO INCLUDE CLASS “A” AND “C” SCHOOLS)

R 091540 NOV 20
FM COMCOGARD FORCECOM NORFOLK VA//FC-C//
TO ALCOAST
UNCLAS //N06200//
ALCOAST 408/20
COMDTNOTE 6200
SUBJ:  COVID-19: CONTINUITY OF FORCECOM READINESS ACTIVITIES
(TO INCLUDE CLASS “A” AND “C” SCHOOLS)
A. COMCOGARD FORCECOM NORFOLK VA 200952 MAY 20/ALCOAST 180/20
B. COMCOGARD FORCECOM NORFOLK VA 232031 MAR 20/ALCOAST 101/20
C. COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC 061306 MAR 20/ALCOAST 071/20
D. COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC 202055 MAR 20/ALCOAST 098/20
E. FORCECOM “CONTINUITY OF TRAINING AND READINESS SYSTEM” MEMO 1000 OF 20 MAR 2020
F. COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC 171929 APR 20/ALCOAST 144/20
G. Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) Planning Order (series)
H. Coast Guard Assessment, Inspection, and Audit Governance, COMDTINST 5040.6 (series)
I. Coast Guard Assessment, Inspection, and Audit (AIA) Business Rules, FORCECOMINST
M5040.6 (series)
J. UNDER SECRETARY OF DEFENSE, PERSONNEL AND READINESS MEMO OF 12JUNE2020
K. DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY, NAVY INTERNATIONAL PROGRAM OFFICE MEMO 4920 OF
01JULY2020, Tab E
L. COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC 012111 JUN 20/ALCOAST 211/20
M. Air Operations Manual, COMDTINST M3710.1 (series)
1. This ALCOAST updates REF (A), issuing clarifying policy for formal training,
exercise support, and assessment activities and updates REF (C) regarding
international military students (IMS) only. This ALCOAST implements Home ROM for
Training (HT-ROM) procedures for certain Coast Guard provided courses to increase
student throughput and lessen time spent away from operational units to help enhance
fleet wide readiness during this ongoing pandemic. In addition, this ALCOAST
implements “bubble-to-bubble” transfers for students from major cutters to reduce
the burden on our members who have already met the medical precautions necessary to
prevent the spread of COVID-19. Training facilities present a unique challenge in
preventing the spread of this disease as we continue to bring geographically diverse
populations together to learn, in some cases engaging in close contact evolutions
such as law enforcement training. FORCECOM hopes to continue to partner with
operational units on implementing common sense solutions designed to minimize the
burden on our personnel while protecting the health and readiness of the force.
2. FORCECOM has continued to deliver training, assessments and exercise support
throughout this pandemic to ensure the workforce continues to be mission ready.
Since the onset of the COVID-19 Pandemic, FORCECOM has provided more than 10,345
members with critical training and convened 1,013 courses across the country
including new accessions from recruit training in Cape May and “A” schools.
In addition, FORCECOM teams conducted 147 audit, inspection or assessment events
and more than 475 training events. In addition, FORCECOM has supported two
contingency exercises with virtual and in-person elements with plans to continue
supporting scheduled contingency exercises throughout this pandemic in concurrence
with the operational commander.
3. The current status of all FORCECOM Readiness Activities (AIA Activities, Exercise
Support Activities, and Class "A" and "C" schools) are updated regularly, and can be
found on the ETQC Portal site at:
https://cg.portal.uscg.mil/units/forcecom/ETQC/SitePages/Home.aspx. "C" school
course session dates may include a medical monitoring period, also known as a
Restriction of Movement (ROM) if required by the DHS or DoD training site.
4. FORCECOM has implemented extensive risk mitigation at training centers and when
FORCECOM teams conduct activities at field units. One practice in place to reduce
the risk of a large scale infection event is a 14-day medical monitoring period,
also known as Restriction on Movement (ROM). This period is based on the Centers
for Disease Control (CDC) defined 14-day incubation period for COVID-19 and is
necessary to evaluate members for signs or symptoms of COVID-19 infection.
   a. Home ROM for Training (HT-ROM). An alternative to completing an on-site 14-day
ROM that enables the member to remain at the home unit prior to training. HT-ROM
protocol is being implemented to reduce time members spend away from their home
unit and increase throughput by freeing up TRACEN berthing capacity through reduced
ROM at: TRACENS. Members must adhere to the guidance in FORCECOM’s HT-ROM Guide found
at: https://cg.portal.uscg.mil/units/forcecom/ETQC/SitePages/Home.aspx. Failure to
adhere to the HT-ROM guidelines will result in disenrollment. No unit substitution
requests will be permitted for courses in which the HT-ROM period has already
commenced. If a member is unable to conduct a HT-ROM due to unique challenges such
as living onboard cutters or barracks with shared facilities, they must reach out to
the appropriate TRACEN to obtain onsite berthing to conduct an onsite ROM prior to
training. There are 112 Coast Guard provided courses which now allow HT-ROM as an
alternative to ROM at a TRACEN.  
   b. Some courses delivered by DoD and DHS partners still require an in-person ROM
period regardless of their point of origin; attending members will be subject to
their rules and operating procedures. All students undergoing a medical monitoring
period must remain aboard the training center (or in the designated facility) and
will be subject to any additional restrictions to base facilities and services
during the period. These requirements may vary depending on the location of and the
service delivering the training. All DoD training centers require the use of cloth
face coverings. Members should contact the receiving DoD training center at least
three weeks prior to the start of the course for more detailed guidance. 159 courses
held at DoD or DHS facilities require ROM.
   c. All accessions sources (Recruit Basic Training, Officer Candidate School, etc.)
and A-schools require an in-person 14-day medical monitoring period. Several of
these course have been restructured to provide “Training during ROM” (T-ROM) using
Facilitated Online Training or other distributed training (i.e. self-study or
e-learning), to maximize the learning during the ROM period.
   d. Major Cutter to TRACEN transfer checklist. Members underway and deployed on
major cutters will be able to travel directly to TRACENS to commence training if the
criteria contained in the Major Cutter to TRACEN Transfer Questionnaire are met and
certified by the unit. This is considered a “bubble to bubble” transfer, going from
one COVID-19 free environment to another with no HT-ROM required. Details can be
found at: https://cg.portal.uscg.mil/units/forcecom/ETQC/SitePages/Home.aspx.
   e. Students are encouraged to plan ahead prior to departing for training. Students
are encouraged to bring necessary sundries and supplies to include prescriptions,
as they will be unable to leave the training center during the training period.
The training center will contact incoming students two weeks prior to arrival for
a course to confirm transportation arrangements/airport pickup and provide a package
of information on requirements and expectations.
   f. All students will adhere to cloth face covering guidance in REF (F) and as
directed by the hosting training center. Additional resources are located on the PPE
one stop Portal site at:
https://cg.portal.uscg.mil/units/cg113/PPE_One_Stop/SitePages/Home.aspx.
   g. For training that does not require close contact, but does not allow for
appropriate 6-foot social distancing, FORCECOM will reduce the number of available
seats to allow for social distancing. Students will be subject to additional
restrictions as directed by the hosting training center, and in accordance with state
and local guidance. 37 courses are using social distancing practices.
5. In addition to HT-ROM Practices, upon receipt of orders and no more than 48 hours
prior to traveling to training, commands and supervisors of trainees must screen
their members using Enclosure (2) of REF (G): COVID_19 RISK Assessment Flowchart.
If the result of the flowchart is isolation or quarantine of the member, or if in
the last 14 days the member has been restricted from returning to a CG workplace
due to travel in accordance with REF (D), the member's command must submit a
training cancellation message via Admin OIX, stating the member did not meet
requirements per paragraph 4 of this message. Message templates can be found on
the ETQC Portal site at:
https://cg.portal.uscg.mil/units/forcecom/ETQC/TO/SitePages/Home.aspx
6. Under existing policy, orders to pre-arrival training courses may not be
cancelled by units, supervisors, or members without the concurrence and approval
of the cognizant CGHQ program office. In view of the need to protect force
readiness and be responsive to rapidly changing family support issues, which may
impact a member’s availability to travel, requests for cancellation must have an
endorsement from the first O-6/GS-15 in the submitting unit’s chain of command to
be considered for a waiver by the program office. Message templates can be found
on the ETQC Portal site at:
https://cg.portal.uscg.mil/units/forcecom/ETQC/prearrivaltrng/SitePages/Home.aspx.
7. If a course is being delivered virtually, the member will receive no-cost
orders to the course and will be provided information from the training provider
regarding the course execution procedures and student expectations. While executing
the course virtually, the member is to be considered TDY for training, must not be
tasked with collateral duties and additional work outside training, and must be
allocated time to complete training during work hours. 29 courses are being
delivered virtually.
8. Commands may submit training cancellation or substitution messages via
Admin OIX for members who are at higher risk of serious complications from
contracting COVID-19 or living with someone who is at higher risk. See:
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/need-extra-precautions/people-at-
higher-risk.html for more information. Message templates can be found on the ETQC
Portal site at: https://cg.portal.uscg.mil/units/forcecom/ETQC/TO/SitePages/Home.aspx.
9. FORCECOM continues to conduct unit assessments in the current COVID-19
environment.
   a. When determined feasible, AIAs will be delivered remotely. A virtual,
remote, or self-assessment is an acceptable and effective platform for many of
the AIA activities, but should be done with endorsement from the respective CGHQ
program office. Unit self-assessments must be conducted IAW the provisions of
5.B.2. of REF (H).
   b. AIA activities may be conducted in-person if the assessed unit approves
visitor attendance, and FORCECOM HT-ROM procedures are followed prior to departure. 
Commercial air travel is authorized for AIA events outside of one-day driving range
for regularly scheduled events. Priority must be given to events that have been
requested by the operational commander and deemed necessary to reduce risk. N95
respirators are required to be worn during commercial air travel. The use of
military aircraft should also be considered if available, if such travel complies
with Chapter 5 of REF (M), and while following air crew preventative requirements.
FORCECOM AIA teams making official unit visits are directed to ensure all preventive
measures and personal protective equipment are in place and acknowledged by all
team members prior to making in-person contact with the unit. Units may have
stricter guidelines for personnel visiting their units (i.e. requiring COVID-19
testing prior to visit, restricting visitors inbound from high threat regions of
the country, etc.). FORCECOM AIA teams must comply with those requirements prior
to and during the unit visit. FORCECOM AIA Teams are authorized multiple unit
visits in nearby locations as ‘bubble to bubble’ transfer similar to the Major
Cutter to TRACEN Transfer practices. In addition, the team leader must conduct an
initial COVID-19 medical brief and confirm with the unit's command that all
preventative and pre-arrival requirements have been met prior to stepping onboard
the unit. FORCECOM highly recommends the assessed unit conducts a 14-day medical
monitoring period or COVID-19 testing of the unit's personnel prior to the
scheduled event to prevent any infection event. AIA activities that require
foreign travel must be the only events that require a 14-day post-event quarantine
IAW REF (L).
   c. The official repository for current AIA checklists is the AIA checklist
library (https://cglink.uscg.mil/38cba0d5) on CGPortal. Any AIA checklists stored
or displayed at any other source must be replaced with a link to the repository of
AIA checklists.
10. Exercise Support. Exercise Support will be provided in coordination with
supported commands. Planning meetings will be conducted virtually. If planning
meetings must be conducted in person, facilities should allow for appropriate
social distancing and masks should be used IAW current guidance. Commands are
also encouraged to consider the guidance from the Enclosure 11 of REF (G). 
11. International Military Students (IMS). Close consultation and coordination
with DCO-I, the sponsoring U.S. agency and appropriate U.S. country team
representative(s) are required when dealing with IMS COVID-19 related issues.
Upon arrival at the CG installation, unit commanders will brief international
students IAW REF (J) and ensure signed acknowledgement of REF (K) Tab E is retained
as part of IMS training record. CG unit commanders will monitor all IMS, and
authorized dependents accompanying the IMS IAW the latest CDC, State and Local
requirements while they are assigned to the CG installation. In the event an IMS,
or authorized dependent, begins to show symptoms of COVID-19 while attached to
the CG installation, the unit and supporting military medical treatment facility
will notify DCO-I and coordinate with the sponsoring U.S. agency, state and local
health departments to take appropriate action in accordance with installation
protocols.
12. This guidance will be modified (as needed) IAW any new or updated COVID-19 policy.
13. Planning efforts assume a gradual, multiyear recovery during which time-adaptive
policies may be required. FORCECOM will continue to work with operational commanders
to ensure practical solutions are considered and implemented to minimize impacts on
the unit and service-wide readiness while preserving the health of the workforce.
14. Points of Contact:
    a. ETQC Customer Service Phone Number: (757) 366-6583.
    b. ETQC POC: LT Erica Linnemann, Erica.L.Linnemann@uscg.mil or YNCS Richard
Bullard, Richard.P.Bullard@uscg.mil.
    c. FC-T POC: CDR Matthew Chong, Matthew.M.Chong@uscg.mil.
    d. FC-A POC: CDR Marcus Ivery, Marcus.A.Ivery@uscg.mil.
    e. FC-ES POC: Mr Eric Gandee, Eric.J.Gandee@uscg.mil
15. Dr. G. Brignoni, Director, Force Readiness Command, sends.
16. Internet release is authorized.