WEBVTT 00:00.000 --> 00:01.680 - Hello, Keesler, I'm Colonel Blackwell. 00:01.680 --> 00:03.030 - And I'm Chief Esparza. 00:03.030 --> 00:05.220 - We're here with another weekly update. 00:05.220 --> 00:08.310 As always for this update, we wanna start with COVID. 00:08.310 --> 00:11.810 As you can see on the Mississippi Public Health webpage 00:11.810 --> 00:14.210 the numbers for Mississippi continue to go up. 00:14.210 --> 00:16.290 They're higher than we've seen in a long time. 00:16.290 --> 00:18.780 And that 14-day average is actually high 00:18.780 --> 00:20.900 both on base and off base. 00:20.900 --> 00:22.860 So unfortunately that means we have to put 00:22.860 --> 00:24.680 in some mitigation measures 00:24.680 --> 00:26.680 or re-implement some mitigation measures, 00:26.680 --> 00:27.513 which we don't like to do 00:27.513 --> 00:29.530 but we have gotta stay ahead of this virus. 00:29.530 --> 00:33.830 So Keesler this week is going to go to HPCON Bravo-Plus. 00:33.830 --> 00:35.000 What does that mean to you? 00:35.000 --> 00:36.570 That means some of the mitigation measures 00:36.570 --> 00:37.900 we're gonna put back in place 00:37.900 --> 00:41.330 is take-out only for restaurants off base. 00:41.330 --> 00:44.030 That means no dining in whether it's an indoor space 00:44.030 --> 00:45.240 or an outdoor space. 00:45.240 --> 00:46.140 And I hate saying that 00:46.140 --> 00:47.700 but again we have gotta get ahead of this. 00:47.700 --> 00:51.700 And many of our tracings when we do the positive traces 00:51.700 --> 00:54.510 go back to eating in restaurants. 00:54.510 --> 00:57.870 Another thing that we will put in place is for some 00:57.870 --> 00:59.310 of the things on base. 00:59.310 --> 01:00.730 We're gonna cancel some of the events 01:00.730 --> 01:02.670 that we had like Finally Dragon Friday. 01:02.670 --> 01:05.700 For restaurants on base, we're gonna take a lot 01:05.700 --> 01:07.860 of the chairs out so that there are very few chairs. 01:07.860 --> 01:11.580 And on base, of course, increase the ability to do take-out. 01:11.580 --> 01:14.500 Again, it's not what we want to do but we've gotta keep 01:14.500 --> 01:17.270 this mission on Keesler Air Force Base going forward. 01:17.270 --> 01:19.960 Again, not really where I want it to be for December 01:19.960 --> 01:21.500 but COVID is still a threat. 01:21.500 --> 01:24.930 - Yes, ma'am, so as we've been preparing for Exodus, 01:24.930 --> 01:28.270 we actually were really hoping that the COVID numbers 01:28.270 --> 01:31.220 would allow us to give some more liberties 01:31.220 --> 01:33.570 off the installation for our Airmen that are in training. 01:33.570 --> 01:35.500 However, the numbers are increasing. 01:35.500 --> 01:39.070 So we've been preparing for this scenario anyway. 01:39.070 --> 01:42.460 So I will tell you that we have a lot of events planned 01:42.460 --> 01:44.020 to keep our Airmen safe. 01:44.020 --> 01:47.680 We've rented out facilities to keep our Airmen away 01:47.680 --> 01:52.050 from the community at large and any COVID spread. 01:52.050 --> 01:53.680 We'll have our own transportation 01:53.680 --> 01:55.240 and events that are happening. 01:55.240 --> 01:59.130 So stay tuned to our social media because we will put out 01:59.130 --> 02:02.340 more information and we have a lot of information to share. 02:02.340 --> 02:04.100 But this is to keep our Airmen safe 02:04.100 --> 02:05.950 while they're here on Keesler. 02:05.950 --> 02:07.370 - And the Airmen that Chief is talking about 02:07.370 --> 02:09.270 is our Airmen in Training. 02:09.270 --> 02:11.530 Those Airmen went from Basic Military Training 02:11.530 --> 02:14.800 where they were not exposed to COVID, kind of in a bubble, 02:14.800 --> 02:17.620 then they were brought here to Keesler Air Force Base 02:17.620 --> 02:22.210 where we again decreased their exposure to COVID 02:22.210 --> 02:24.010 from off-base or high risk activity. 02:24.010 --> 02:27.460 So because we have kept that population safe, 02:27.460 --> 02:28.980 we are able to take a little bit more risks. 02:28.980 --> 02:32.410 So you'll see some areas where we can do some activities 02:32.410 --> 02:34.010 for those Airmen and still keep them safe. 02:34.010 --> 02:39.010 And to our parents and families who have military ID cards, 02:39.520 --> 02:42.800 many of you have said I wanted to come down and see my son 02:42.800 --> 02:45.180 or daughter, but I know that the COVID threat 02:45.180 --> 02:47.400 is still very high, so you decided not to do that. 02:47.400 --> 02:48.600 I thank you. 02:48.600 --> 02:50.270 COVID is still a threat. 02:50.270 --> 02:52.330 Parents and families flying down 02:52.330 --> 02:54.550 through the COVID environment to come see your Airmen 02:54.550 --> 02:56.020 puts our Airmen at risk. 02:56.020 --> 02:59.280 So I thank parents and families for helping us reinforce 02:59.280 --> 03:02.260 that core value of service before self. 03:02.260 --> 03:04.790 And changing the subjects, one of the other priorities 03:04.790 --> 03:07.280 that we have here on Keesler Air Force Base is housing. 03:07.280 --> 03:09.400 We continue to try to make sure that we have safe 03:09.400 --> 03:13.560 and healthy homes for our residents on Hunt housing. 03:13.560 --> 03:16.720 During November, we did see an increased number 03:16.720 --> 03:18.550 of trouble tickets on the bases 03:18.550 --> 03:20.930 to include an increased number of families 03:20.930 --> 03:23.880 that had moisture and mold issues. 03:23.880 --> 03:26.470 So Hunt has worked diligently over the month of November 03:26.470 --> 03:29.460 to bring in eight crews from across the nation 03:29.460 --> 03:31.910 to start going after all of those homes 03:31.910 --> 03:32.743 and issues that we have. 03:32.743 --> 03:35.670 So right now we have eight crews on station actively working 03:35.670 --> 03:38.600 in 23 homes and Hunt will continue to push through 03:38.600 --> 03:40.590 and make sure that we're addressing those issues 03:40.590 --> 03:42.060 within those homes. 03:42.060 --> 03:44.360 So the KRAB is just one area where we are trying 03:44.360 --> 03:46.966 to improve the processes here at Keesler Air Force Base. 03:46.966 --> 03:48.310 - Speaking of processes, another process 03:48.310 --> 03:51.020 that we've been looking at is the amount of time 03:51.020 --> 03:53.020 that it takes for one of our Airmen to graduate 03:53.020 --> 03:55.450 from tech training and actually PCS 03:55.450 --> 03:56.840 to their next duty station. 03:56.840 --> 03:59.570 So since COVID, we've noticed that there's been a gap 03:59.570 --> 04:02.620 in time from the graduation date to when that Airman gets 04:02.620 --> 04:03.690 to the next base. 04:03.690 --> 04:05.590 So what we've done is we have teamed up 04:05.590 --> 04:08.000 with Sheppard Air Force Base, AFPC 04:08.000 --> 04:09.970 and a couple other business process owners 04:09.970 --> 04:13.570 to really dig in and find out where these problems lie. 04:13.570 --> 04:17.300 So we are excited to see what the working group 04:17.300 --> 04:20.030 comes up with and where we can improve our processes 04:20.030 --> 04:22.440 so that we can get the Airmen that graduate 04:22.440 --> 04:23.490 on to the next duty station 04:23.490 --> 04:25.550 'cause they're ready for them and we're ready for them 04:25.550 --> 04:28.270 to start the next chapter in their careers. 04:28.270 --> 04:29.880 - That's right, and the last thing we'll end with 04:29.880 --> 04:31.110 is the Dragon March. 04:31.110 --> 04:33.610 We're still on for the Dragon March tomorrow. 04:33.610 --> 04:36.333 Again, this is our last Dragon March for 2020. 04:36.333 --> 04:40.910 2020 has been a crazy year, but we've seen 04:40.910 --> 04:43.930 that through hurricanes, through confronting diversity 04:43.930 --> 04:48.000 and inclusion, through COVID and taking on other missions 04:48.000 --> 04:50.320 that we can do all that when we work together. 04:50.320 --> 04:52.140 We are stronger together. 04:52.140 --> 04:55.080 So the Dragon March tomorrow is just another representation 04:55.080 --> 04:56.670 of how we are stronger together. 04:56.670 --> 04:57.620 Keesler Air Force Base, 04:57.620 --> 04:59.490 Chief and I are extremely proud of you. 04:59.490 --> 05:02.070 Keep doing what you're doing, keep taking care of each other 05:02.070 --> 05:03.570 and we will see you next week.