Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- March 31, 2020

Daily Mail: USS Theodore Roosevelt WILL evacuate and quarantine some of its 4,000 crew on Guam after unprecedented plea by captain of the aircraft carrier that sailors could die as coronavirus cases QUADRUPLE on board

* Acting Navy Secretary Thomas Modly said Tuesday that the Navy is working to evacuate some of the 4,000 people aboard the USS Theodore Roosevelt
* Secretary of Defense Mark Esper said the outbreak on board did not yet call for a full evacuation
* The warship was taken out of duty and docked in Guam last week after 25 crew members tested positive for COVID-19
* The Navy is working with the government in Guam to find hotel space or facilities for tents
* Crew who do not have coronavirus must be identified and remain on the ship to ensure that it is defense ready
* Modly's comments came after a plea from the ship's captain Brett Crozier to disembark 90 percent of the crew
* 'We are not at war. Sailors do not need to die,' the captain wrote

Sailors aboard the USS Theodore Roosevelt will be evacuated from the nuclear warship, according to Acting Navy Secretary Thomas Modly, a week after at least 25 positive cases of coronavirus were identified on board and the ship was forced to dock in Guam.

Modly told CNN Tuesday afternoon that the Navy is working with the captain of the ship, its medical officer and the government in Guam to bring many of the sailors to shore as quickly as possible but there currently not enough beds available.

Secretary of Defense Mark Esper told CBS News Tuesday evening, however, that the entire crew is not to be evacuated as it will need to remain ready to defend the United States if needed.

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Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- March 31, 2020

US Defense Secretary: COVID-19-Consumed Navy Carrier Will Not Be Evacuated -- Sputnik

Coronavirus Is Rising Around U.S. Military, Defense Infrastructure, Analysis Shows -- Government Executive

With Coronavirus Already On 97 American Military Bases, the Armed Forces Struggle With Their Many Missions -- Newsweek

Pentagon tells bases not to reveal coronavirus data so that it 'doesn't fall into the hands of our adversaries' as military-linked cases surpass 1,000 -- Daily Mail

Pentagon orders military bases to stop releasing specific COVID-19 numbers -- The Hill

First US service member dies from coronavirus -- The Hill

Pentagon has not yet sent 2,000 ventilators due to lack of shipment location -- The Hill

Coronavirus battle rips up soldiers' playbook: forces Army to forget routines, focus on health -- USA Today

US Army issuing volunteer call up of Individual Ready Reserve members to fight coronavirus -- CNN

US Secretary of Defense Mark Esper on the U.S. military's fight against coronavirus -- CBS

Military's Plan to Cut 18,000 Medical Staff Should Be Shelved During Pandemic, MOAA Says -- Military.com

Nearly 4 years after commissioning, the US Navy is about to get a fully working stealth destroyer -- Defense News

Lockheed awarded $4.9B for work on F-35s -- UPI

The Air Force’s KC-46 tanker has another serious technical deficiency, and Boeing is stuck paying for it -- Defense News

Boeing nets $1.6B for P-8A Poseidons for Navy, New Zealand, Korea -- UPI

Oshkosh wins contract to modernize US Army’s heavy tactical vehicles -- Defense News

Air Force will transfer 23 missions, 1,840 billets to Space Force -- Air Force Times

'Space Fence' radar operational, tracks objects as small as 10 centimeters -- UPI

Workforce cuts in April could hinder US-South Korea negotiations -- Defense News

Thousands go on unpaid leave as US, South Korea fail to agree on military costs -- Reuters

US Marine Corps Halts 2,500-Troop Deployment to Australia Amid COVID-19 Travel Ban -- Sputnik

No 'greater threat' to Canada than COVID-19, military says, as 24,000 troops activated to help fight it -- National Post

Canadian military has plan to mobilize 24,000 personnel to respond to COVID-19 -- Ottawa Citizen

EU launches new naval mission to police Libya arms embargo -- Defense News/AP

The Coronavirus Pandemic Should Be NATO’s Moment -- Defense One

Su-57 Chief Engineer Explains Why Russian Jet is Superior to US F-22 and F-35 Fighters -- Sputnik

North Korea missile images raise questions about authenticity -- UPI

Taiwan anger over China military drills during virus outbreak -- AFP

China’s version of GPS is almost complete. Here’s what that means. -- Popular Science

Japanese warship, China fishing boat collide in East China Sea -- Al Jazeera