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| Pentagon leaders stand their ground in debate over Ebola quarantine | Pentagon leaders stand their ground in debate over Ebola quarantine |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel ordered on Wednesday that all U.S. troops who deploy to West Africa be put in 21-day “controlled monitoring,” effectively a quarantine, after their tours there are over as part of the Pentagon’s effort to prevent the spread of the Ebola virus. The decision was panned by some as excessive considering the troops will not be treating Ebola patients directly. But it speaks to a larger issue: Reassuring the troops and families involved that they will be OK. | Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel ordered on Wednesday that all U.S. troops who deploy to West Africa be put in 21-day “controlled monitoring,” effectively a quarantine, after their tours there are over as part of the Pentagon’s effort to prevent the spread of the Ebola virus. The decision was panned by some as excessive considering the troops will not be treating Ebola patients directly. But it speaks to a larger issue: Reassuring the troops and families involved that they will be OK. |
| While dozens of U.S. health workers have come back from work in Ebola-infected countries safely, they volunteered to go and have medical training. Service members, on the other hand, are required to go, regardless of any concerns they or their family members may have. | While dozens of U.S. health workers have come back from work in Ebola-infected countries safely, they volunteered to go and have medical training. Service members, on the other hand, are required to go, regardless of any concerns they or their family members may have. |
| Hagel acknowledged that difference in comments Wednesday. The policy was “discussed in great detail” by the communities and the families of service members deploying, he said. Science may say that the odds of a service member becoming infected are small, but Hagel said the families “very much wanted a safety valve on this.” | Hagel acknowledged that difference in comments Wednesday. The policy was “discussed in great detail” by the communities and the families of service members deploying, he said. Science may say that the odds of a service member becoming infected are small, but Hagel said the families “very much wanted a safety valve on this.” |
| The Joint Chiefs of Staff, which recommended the monitoring to Hagel on Tuesday, also stand by the decision. A spokesman, Col. Edward Thomas, said the course of action they recommended is “admittedly a more comprehensive approach,” but is “the right approach in response to the long-term concerns of the service members, their families and their communities.” | The Joint Chiefs of Staff, which recommended the monitoring to Hagel on Tuesday, also stand by the decision. A spokesman, Col. Edward Thomas, said the course of action they recommended is “admittedly a more comprehensive approach,” but is “the right approach in response to the long-term concerns of the service members, their families and their communities.” |
| “This approach towards safety is something we owe them all,” Thomas said. He added that it is consistent with the military’s culture. | “This approach towards safety is something we owe them all,” Thomas said. He added that it is consistent with the military’s culture. |
| “The stringent requirements and procedures implemented by our military chain of command during periods of redeployment have proven time and again to be an advantage to our force,” he said. “Our approach to Ebola is no different.” | “The stringent requirements and procedures implemented by our military chain of command during periods of redeployment have proven time and again to be an advantage to our force,” he said. “Our approach to Ebola is no different.” |
| Army Chief of Staff Gen. Raymond T. Odierno also acknowledged families in the decision in an interview with CNN on Wednesday night, saying that although he and other senior members of the military realize the risk of a service member getting Ebola is low, “it’s important for us, for the morale of the units, for the morale of the family members, that they understand we’re going to do everything we can to protect our soldiers.” | Army Chief of Staff Gen. Raymond T. Odierno also acknowledged families in the decision in an interview with CNN on Wednesday night, saying that although he and other senior members of the military realize the risk of a service member getting Ebola is low, “it’s important for us, for the morale of the units, for the morale of the family members, that they understand we’re going to do everything we can to protect our soldiers.” |
| “So we feel confident that it’s the right decision,” Odierno said. “We’ll continue to assess this and if, over time, we believe we don’t have to be this strict, then we’ll re-look at the policy.” | “So we feel confident that it’s the right decision,” Odierno said. “We’ll continue to assess this and if, over time, we believe we don’t have to be this strict, then we’ll re-look at the policy.” |
| The decision comes despite a White House push against quarantining health workers who return from West Africa. President Obama said Tuesday that doing so would undermine the effort to stop the spread of the virus. | The decision comes despite a White House push against quarantining health workers who return from West Africa. President Obama said Tuesday that doing so would undermine the effort to stop the spread of the virus. |
| “So we don’t want to discourage our health-care workers from going to the front lines and dealing with this in an effective way,” the president said. “The point is this disease can be contained. It will be defeated.” | “So we don’t want to discourage our health-care workers from going to the front lines and dealing with this in an effective way,” the president said. “The point is this disease can be contained. It will be defeated.” |
| But Obama left some wiggle room for the military to proceed differently, if it chose. Asked about the discrepancy between the way service members and health workers were being treated, he drew a distinction between their circumstances. | But Obama left some wiggle room for the military to proceed differently, if it chose. Asked about the discrepancy between the way service members and health workers were being treated, he drew a distinction between their circumstances. |
| “They are not there voluntarily, it’s part of their mission that’s been assigned to them by their commanders and ultimately by me, the Commander-in-Chief,” he said. “So we don’t expect to have similar rules for our military as we do for civilians. They are already, by definition, if they’re in the military, under more circumscribed conditions.” | “They are not there voluntarily, it’s part of their mission that’s been assigned to them by their commanders and ultimately by me, the Commander-in-Chief,” he said. “So we don’t expect to have similar rules for our military as we do for civilians. They are already, by definition, if they’re in the military, under more circumscribed conditions.” |
| The comments have drawn fire from some military family groups, even as they say they are open to the idea of quarantines. | The comments have drawn fire from some military family groups, even as they say they are open to the idea of quarantines. |
| “The President’s comments on the differences between the quarantine policies for members of the military and civilian volunteers seemed to dismiss the fact that every member of [the] military has, indeed, volunteered to serve,” Rebekah Gleaves Sanderlin, an Army wife and board member for the Military Family Advisory Network, told The Hill. | “The President’s comments on the differences between the quarantine policies for members of the military and civilian volunteers seemed to dismiss the fact that every member of [the] military has, indeed, volunteered to serve,” Rebekah Gleaves Sanderlin, an Army wife and board member for the Military Family Advisory Network, told The Hill. |
| “We fully recognize and accept that public safety may dictate that 21 additional days apart is necessary, but we don’t appreciate our sacrifices being diminished or taken for granted,” Sanderlin added. | “We fully recognize and accept that public safety may dictate that 21 additional days apart is necessary, but we don’t appreciate our sacrifices being diminished or taken for granted,” Sanderlin added. |
| About 1,000 service members already are in West Africa for the mission, known as Operation United Assistance. The Pentagon is planning for up to 4,000 to deploy, and has acknowledged that the number could climb from there if required. | About 1,000 service members already are in West Africa for the mission, known as Operation United Assistance. The Pentagon is planning for up to 4,000 to deploy, and has acknowledged that the number could climb from there if required. |
| Tweets like this from apparent service members, veterans and military family members underscore their concern: | Tweets like this from apparent service members, veterans and military family members underscore their concern: |
| If I were on active duty in the military today, I would not go to an Ebola infected area, I would go AWOL first, for my family and my safety — SgtMaj-USMC (@retireleo) September 17, 2014 | If I were on active duty in the military today, I would not go to an Ebola infected area, I would go AWOL first, for my family and my safety — SgtMaj-USMC (@retireleo) September 17, 2014 |
| If I were on active duty in the military today, I would not go to an Ebola infected area, I would go AWOL first, for my family and my safety | If I were on active duty in the military today, I would not go to an Ebola infected area, I would go AWOL first, for my family and my safety |
| — SgtMaj-USMC (@retireleo) September 17, 2014 | — SgtMaj-USMC (@retireleo) September 17, 2014 |
| Infections go through #military populations faster http://t.co/ojkBFE7BpK #Ebola #MilFam #Quarantine — NatlMilitaryFamAssoc (@military_family) October 28, 2014 | Infections go through #military populations faster http://t.co/ojkBFE7BpK #Ebola #MilFam #Quarantine — NatlMilitaryFamAssoc (@military_family) October 28, 2014 |
| Infections go through #military populations faster http://t.co/ojkBFE7BpK #Ebola #MilFam #Quarantine — NatlMilitaryFamAssoc (@military_family) October 28, 2014 | Infections go through #military populations faster http://t.co/ojkBFE7BpK #Ebola #MilFam #Quarantine — NatlMilitaryFamAssoc (@military_family) October 28, 2014 |
| @USArmy at least some one in the US Government has some common sense. #USArmy #Ebola #EbolaNurse — Chris Robbins (@Redleg_92) October 29, 2014 | @USArmy at least some one in the US Government has some common sense. #USArmy #Ebola #EbolaNurse — Chris Robbins (@Redleg_92) October 29, 2014 |
| @USArmy at least some one in the US Government has some common sense. #USArmy #Ebola #EbolaNurse | @USArmy at least some one in the US Government has some common sense. #USArmy #Ebola #EbolaNurse |
| — Chris Robbins (@Redleg_92) October 29, 2014 | — Chris Robbins (@Redleg_92) October 29, 2014 |
| Related on Checkpoint: Military defends its Ebola precautions as stricter than CDC’s, tries to reassure troops | Related on Checkpoint: Military defends its Ebola precautions as stricter than CDC’s, tries to reassure troops |
| U.S. military will need until December to complete Ebola treatment units in Liberia | U.S. military will need until December to complete Ebola treatment units in Liberia |
| If U.S. troops get Ebola in Africa, they’ll get treatment in the U.S. | If U.S. troops get Ebola in Africa, they’ll get treatment in the U.S. |
| U.S. military force fighting Ebola virus could grow to 4,000 troops | U.S. military force fighting Ebola virus could grow to 4,000 troops |
| Meet the new U.S. military force that Obama is deploying to fight Ebola | Meet the new U.S. military force that Obama is deploying to fight Ebola |
| Craig Whitlock contributed to this report. |
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