{"id":69886,"date":"2020-03-24T15:56:03","date_gmt":"2020-03-24T15:56:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/uncategorized\/2020\/03\/24\/secdef-urges-commanders-to-practice-social-distancing-where-possible\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T14:17:17","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T14:17:17","slug":"secdef-urges-commanders-to-practice-social-distancing-where-possible","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/news\/pentagon-congress\/2020\/03\/24\/secdef-urges-commanders-to-practice-social-distancing-where-possible\/","title":{"rendered":"SECDEF urges commanders to practice social distancing where possible"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

A day after he told reporters he fully trusted commanders on the ground to make smart decisions to reduce the spread of coronavirus<\/a>, Defense Secretary Mark Esper spoke directly to those leaders on the ground, urging them to take social distancing<\/a> seriously if they are in an environment that allows it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In recent weeks, the Pentagon has taken measures to reduce the number of attendees at meetings, in addition to sending much of its workforce home to telework, but Esper\u2019s guidance to the force has been inconsistently implemented<\/a>, according to numerous readers who have detailed their experiences to Military Times.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYou take prudent measures as best you can given the situation you\u2019re in,\u201d Esper said in a live town hall meeting Tuesday, broadcast from the Pentagon\u2019s briefing room. \u201cIf you can avoid putting a large number of people in small rooms, you should do it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Commanders should hold formations outside where possible, he said. And if others in the chain of command are concerned that their higher-ups aren\u2019t taking things seriously, he added, they should speak up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIf you\u2019re a young [noncommissioned officer] and you see something that doesn\u2019t make sense, if you\u2019re a young officer and you see something that doesn\u2019t make sense, raise it privately with your chain of command,\u201d Esper said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Those junior leaders have been raising concerns all over Facebook and Twitter, as guidance from the top gives full leeway to commanders about how they do business during the pandemic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI can\u2019t put out a blanket policy, if you will, that we would then apply to everybody, because every situation\u2019s different,\u201d Esper told Military Times on Monday. \u201cTell me how I would implement six-feet distancing in an attack submarine? Or how do I do that in a bomber with two pilots sitting side-by-side?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\t