Coronavirus Impacts Service Academies

West Point and the Air Force Academy cadets are relatively easy to isolate in their cadet areas; the Naval Academy, given its location, is less so.  On the other hand, if coronavirus were to get inside West Point or the AFA, it would be able to spread like wildfire.  So what's the right thing to do: get the cadets back at the Academies, test them for the virus, and try to keep them isolated from the outside world? or not risk the wildfire scenario, and keep them away?

West Point has made its decision:

Due to the significant changes regarding the health risks associated with COVID-19, the U.S. Military Academy will delay the return of the Corps of Cadets from spring break until March 29, 2020. We continue to encourage our cadets, staff and faculty to practice heightened hygiene measures. Some of the planned precautions include: 

• Individual screening   
• Isolation for those who have traveled to specific areas of concern  
• Implementing social distancing measures   
• Remote learning   

Cadets should remain in contact with their chain of command for instructions on returning to the academy and reporting of travel. Staff and faculty should contact their supervisors for the latest information regarding their work status.  If you do not feel well or are experiencing flu like symptoms, do not come to work.

The U.S. Military Academy will be temporarily closed to visitors beginning Friday evening, March 13, until further notice. 

Air Force has made its decision as well:

After much deliberation and discussion, we have made the conservative decision to begin an orderly dismissal cadet candidates at the prep school and four, three and two degrees (freshman, sophomores and juniors). The first class (seniors) cadets will remain on campus and continue their studies. The goal of this action is to maximize the chances of graduating our senior class on time for our Air and Space Forces while ensuring the best possible care for the entire base populace.

No cadet will be forced to leave our campus. Instead, we are providing our population the best possible opportunity to implement social distancing and the other preventative measures recommended by the CDC and our medical professionals here at USAFA. We intend for classes to begin on March 23, and have begun making preparations for remote instruction.

Ultimately, the deciding factor was recommendations from our public health officials and the inability to execute social distancing over 4,000 cadets on campus. We did not make this decision lightly; we consulted with our medical professionals, sister service academies and local civic leaders, among others.

Navy has also made a decision:

The U.S. Naval Academy is delaying the return of midshipmen from spring break through March 28.

The Annapolis-based service academy announced the extension Thursday amid continued concern over the spread of COVID-19, or novel coronavirus, and as Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan closed the state’s public school system beginning March 16 through March 27...

Midshipmen began their spring break March 7 and were expected to return Sunday. While they might not have to come back to campus for another 14 days, the Academy is prepping so that midshipmen will commence remote studies on March 20, Buck wrote.

I would classify this as unprecedented in modern times.