JOINT BASE LANGLEY-EUSTIS, Va. –
Team JBLE,
When I updated you almost three weeks ago, we were preparing to receive 29 Airmen to JB Langley-Eustis from their mission supporting Ebola response in West Africa. I am happy to report that tomorrow these Airmen will clear their 21-day 'monitoring' period--all are free of the Ebola Virus Disease (just what we expected).
Having said that, Airmen and Soldiers from JBLE continue to serve in West Africa in support of Joint Task Force UNITED ASSISTANCE. Our mission to support the international community's humanitarian relief operations in Ebola-stricken African nations remains critical. In the face of this crisis, JBLE personnel have joined more than 700 military personnel from across the Department of Defense to support this relief effort. I know you join me in feeling pride in the outstanding work all of our Service members are doing to halt the outbreak of Ebola in West Africa.
As the efforts in West Africa continue, more of our military personnel will begin transitioning to their home stations in the coming weeks and months. As we welcome home our loved ones from their vitally important work, we'll shift our focus to ensuring their well-being, as well as that of their families and our communities. Both the Secretary of Defense and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff have made safe and responsible redeployment a top priority. To that end, Secretary Hagel has signed into action a 21-day 'controlled monitoring' period for all returning service members from West Africa, and JBLE-Langley has been designated as one of DoD's controlled monitoring sites.
What that means is that Service members returning from West Africa will stay at JBLE-Langley for a period of 21 days, prior to returning to their home stations. During this 21-day period, these Service members will be isolated from their families and the outside public and medically monitored for any symptoms consistent with the Ebola Virus Disease. It's important to note these Service members have had NO KNOWN EXPOSURE to the disease and DID NOT directly interact with Ebola patients. The medical facts regarding the transmission of Ebola haven't changed. Ebola spreads from person to person by direct contact with blood and other bodily fluids of infected people. People without symptoms are not at risk to spread the disease. However, the well-being of our returning personnel and communities is a top priority. Controlled monitoring is a precaution that not only ensures public safety but helps instill confidence in our communities.
In carrying out this mission we will use our contingency training site on Langley as the controlled monitoring area. Airmen from the 633d Air Base Wing have been working tirelessly for the last four days to build out that training site. They have provided hard-stand billets, an expeditionary dining facility, a contingency fitness center, MWR facilities, high-speed Internet access, and cable television. Though our returning Service members will be secluded, we are doing all we can to provide them with a tremendous quality of life. As the installation commander, I am extremely proud of the men and women who have designed and built this site on such short notice. We take seriously our responsibility to prevent the transmission of Ebola as our Service members redeploy, and the fact the JBLE was selected as a controlled monitoring site for members of all services speaks volumes about our Airmen and Soldiers on the installation.
It is possible JBLE will house multiple groups of service members upon their return during the next few months. I know that the men and women on this installation take this mission seriously and will uphold our responsibility to execute it successfully. You may see some of our base resources, such as gym equipment, being moved to the controlled monitoring site. I thank you for your understanding and cooperation. We will do everything in our power to assist in this effort, and that includes sharing resources on the installation.
Just as I wrote three weeks ago, I hope this summary of our tremendous efforts addresses any concerns you have at this time. For more information or questions on anything outlined in this letter, please contact the 633d Air Base Wing Public Affairs office at 757-764-5701.
Sincerely,
