It is a wonder with the Covid-19 pandemic almost one year since being declared as such, the U.S. Army still has to issue an official face mask for use by soldiers. But now, we do hear that they are finally going to issue one to soldiers next year according to an announcement at the U.S. Army’s official website.

The Combat Cloth Face Covering (CCFC), which is designed and tested in house, will be provided to soldiers in the second quarter of 20201. At present, the Army has largely supplied disposable or reusable, solid color masks to soldiers who have also been permitted to use neck gaiters, bandanas and scarves, as face coverings. N95 masks and other medical masks are reserved for use in medical settings.

The CCFC was recommended for approval last summer by the Army Uniform Board (AUB) which was then approved by Army Chief of Staff General James C. McConville as part of the clothing bag of Soldiers at Initial Entry Training (IET).

U.S. Army Combat Cloth Face Covering (CCFC)

During the 152nd AUB, officials announced that the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) will start issuing two CCFCs to each new soldier during the second quarter of FY2021. It is also seen that the CCFCs will be available for purchase at the Army & Air Force Exchange Service (AAFES) uniform stores sometime later in 2021.

The U.S. has the most number of Covid-19 cases in the world and even the U.S. Military is not immune to the coronavirus, the data below shows the number of cases and deaths according to the Department of Defense (DoD) as of December 16:

While there will be an official face mask, the existing guidelines will remain in place:

SOLDIERS ARE AUTHORIZED TO WEAR THE NECK GAITER AND OTHER CLOTH ITEMS, SUCH AS BANDANAS AND SCARVES, AS FACE MASKS. TO PROTECT THE FACIAL AREA, THE CLOTH ITEM MUST COVER THE MOUTH AND NOSE AND EXTEND TO THE CHIN OR BELOW AS WELL AS TO THE SIDES OF THE FACE. THE ITEM MUST ALSO BE SECURED OR FASTENED TO THE FACE IN A MANNER THAT ALLOWS THE SOLDIER TO BREATHE WHILE ALSO PREVENTING DISEASE EXPOSURE OR CONTAMINATION.

SOLDIERS WILL NOT WEAR MASKS THAT HAVE PRINTED WORDING, PROFANITY, RACIST, DEMEANING OR DEROGATORY LOGOS, SCRIPT OR IMAGERY. SOLDIERS MUST NOT ATTEMPT TO CUT UP CLOTHING MATERIALS SUCH AS ARMY COMBAT UNIFORMS TO USE FOR FACE MASKS AS THESE MAY HAVE BEEN TREATED WITH CHEMICALS. IF AVAILABLE, CLOTH COLORS SHOULD BE SUBDUED AND CONFORM TO THE UNIFORM. LEADERS SHOULD APPROACH THIS AS A FORCE PROTECTION ISSUE; THEY ARE ASKED TO USE THEIR BEST JUDGMENT REGARDING THE CLOTH COLOR AND DESIGN OF FACE MASKS AND MUST ALSO CHECK FOR THE SERVICEABILITY OF FACE-SHIELDING MATERIALS. SOLDIERS SHOULD REPLACE ITEMS THAT BECOME SOILED, DAMAGED, OR DIFFICULT TO BREATHE THROUGH.

Top photo: Gen. James C. McConville, and Lt. Gen. R. Scott Dingle seen wearing masks that are said to be similar to the CCFC. (Photo by Rebecca L. Westfall/U.S. Army)