U.S.
No Santa, Bane or Darth Vader: Military mask advice gets humorous
Stars and Stripes
April 15, 2020
This detail of a post on U.S. Army Garrison Stuttgart's Facebook page shows garrison commander Col. Jason Condrey with various unapproved masks. (Facebook)
This detail of a post on U.S. Army Garrison Stuttgart's Facebook page shows garrison commander Col. Jason Condrey with various unapproved masks. (Facebook)
A post from Fort Stewart Hunter Army Airfield features a virtual version of Hunter Army Airfield garrison commander Lt. Col. David Escobar. (Facebook)
A 1st Armored Division tweet featured virtual versions of Fort Bliss garrison commander Col. Stuart James. (Twitter)
A masks post on U.S. Army Garrison Stuttgart's Facebook page featured Stuttgart garrison commander Col. Jason Condrey. (Facebook)
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A Hannibal Lecter mask is out because it looks a little “bitey,” a horse mask is not “functional and conservative in nature” and a fake glasses-and-mustache combo is “not so great for virus protection.”
Such advice is being offered by some Army garrisons, which have taken to outfitting their commanders with comical masks — at least virtually — to illustrate “what not to wear” when it comes to military face coverings. Guidance posted to pages affiliated with garrisons offer humorous don’ts for military mask wearing, alongside examples of recommended coverings.
This month, the Defense Department began requiring everyone on DOD property to wear face coverings in public or work settings, “to the extent practical,” when six feet of physical distance cannot be maintained.
Here’s a sampling of graphics that have been produced, featuring Hunter Army Airfield garrison commander Lt. Col. David Escobar, Fort Bliss garrison commander Col. Stuart James and Stuttgart garrison commander Col. Jason Condrey.