"These are challenging times," the commander at Selfridge Air National Guard Base in Harriston Township says near the start of a message to all personnel. Brig. Gen. Rolf Mammen's next sentence drops this:



Rolf Mammen, Selfridge commander: "These are challenging times."

(Photo: Michigan Air National Guard)

"The current Health Protection Condition at Selfridge is Charlie, and we have had a handful of members from the 127th Wing who have tested positive for COVID-19. We are doing everything we can to support them and their families as they recover."

In milspeak, Charlie signals "substantial sustained community transmission." It's the second-highest of five HPCON (Health Protection Condition) levels, just below Delta ("severe, widespread").

It means remote work, cancelled events and activities, and "the potential of limited access to supplies and services, including severely restricted access to military installations."



Health protection condition levels

Mammen's post adds: "As we look out for one another we are taking further steps at the base to help curb the spread of the Coronavirus. Effective tomorrow morning [Friday], everyone on Selfridge Air National Guard Base is required to wear cloth face coverings when they cannot maintain six feet of physical distance in public areas or work centers. To protect their employees and customers, both the Selfridge Base Exchange and Commissary will not allow access to patrons if they are not wearing a mask. ...

"We are minimizing areas where people may group together in lobbies or waiting rooms. All customer support functions within the 127th Wing are by appointment only."

Among cancellations is a yearly open house and air show June 6-7 that was to feature aerial maneuvers with the Canadian Foireces Snowbirds. "This was truly a disheartening decision to make," the brigadier general says in a release.

-- Alan Stamm