Fort Campbell to resume requiring face masks indoors regardless of vaccination status

FORT CAMPBELL, KY (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – Fort Campbell will begin requiring all individuals who visit or work at the installation to wear face masks indoors regardless of their vaccination status.

According to a statement Wednesday evening by Deputy Pentagon Press Secretary Jamal Brown, the Department of Defense has updated its face mask guidelines for all military installations and facilities.

“Deputy Secretary Hicks has directed that all individuals, regardless of vaccination status, wear masks in indoor settings at Department of Defense installations and facilities in areas of substantial or high transmission, as defined by the CDC, to protect against rising COVID-19 cases,” the statement said.

“Today’s announcement applies to all service members, federal personnel, contractors and visitors when indoors at all properties owned by the department in those areas, in accordance with updated CDC guidelines,” the statement continued.

As defined by the CDC’s COVID-19 data tracker, Montgomery County falls under the “high” level of transmission category, while several others surrounding Fort Campbell fall under the CDC’s “substantial” or “moderate” levels.

Fort Campbell last changed its mask policy in late May, which allowed those who were vaccinated to take their masks off with a handful of exceptions.

“All Defense personnel should continue to comply with CDC guidance regarding areas where masks should be worn. The department will review and revise all applicable Force Health Protection guidance to address the new CDC guidelines,” the statement continued.

Fort Campbell Public Affairs Officer Brendalyn Carpenter-Player told Clarksville Now that in the coming days, installation officials will release a local policy with detailed implementation guidance.

“Fort Campbell, in consultation with U.S. Army Forces Command and the Department of the Army, is developing local policy to fully implement the Department of Defense Updated Mask Guidance for All DoD Installations and other facilities, released yesterday,” Carpenter-Player said in a prepared statement.

“In the meantime we continue to emphasize vigilance. The data and our experience here at Fort Campbell has proven the vaccine combined with other force health protection measures like physical distancing, hand washing and wearing a mask is the most effective way to prevent further spread of the virus,” she said.