Defense Secretary: Cloth Face Coverings Required While on DOD Property

Get ready to see more face masks on Department of Defense properties.

A new protocol tightening the policy on the use of face masks was issued in a memo Sunday by Defense Secretary Mark Esper. 

“Effective immediately, all individuals on DOD property, installations, and facilities will wear cloth face coverings when they cannot maintain six feet of social distance in public areas or work centers,” the memo states. “This guidance applies to all service members, DOD civilians, contractors, families (apart from residences on installations) and all other individuals on DOD property.”

The use of the masks does not extend to a service member’s home on a military base. 

The new guidelines are designed to bring the Pentagon in line with recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on the use of masks to prevent the spread of the virus, according to the Washington Times. 

Esper said each military department will issue its own formal “guidance on wear” for service members.

“As an interim measure, all individuals are encouraged to fashion face coverings from household items or common materials, such as clean T-shirts or other clean cloths that can cover the nose and mouth area,” the memo states.