The move goes beyond precautions recommended by the Obama
administration for civilians, although President Barack Obama has made
clear he feels the military's situation is different from that of
civilians, in part because troops are not in West Africa by choice.
Just over 1,000 U.S. troops are in Liberia and Senegal supporting efforts to combat the virus.
Hagel also directed the Joint Chiefs to provide him within 15 days a detailed implementation plan for how the supervised isolation of troops will be applied.
He also ordered the chiefs to conduct with 45 days a review of this new regimen, which Hagel called "controlled monitoring."
"This review will offer a recommendation on whether or not such controlled monitoring should continue based on what we learn and observe from the initial waves of personnel returning from Operation United Assistance," Hagel's spokesman, Rear Adm. John Kirby, said in a written statement, using the official name of the military mission against Ebola in Africa.
Hagel said he acted in response to a
recommendation sent to him Tuesday by Army Gen. Martin Dempsey, chairman
of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, on behalf of the heads of each of the
military services. They cited numerous factors, including concerns among
military families and the communities from which troops are deploying
for the Ebola response mission.
Hagel also directed the Joint Chiefs to provide him within 15 days a detailed implementation plan for how the supervised isolation of troops will be applied.
He also ordered the chiefs to conduct with 45 days a review of this new regimen, which Hagel called "controlled monitoring."
"This review will offer a recommendation on whether or not such controlled monitoring should continue based on what we learn and observe from the initial waves of personnel returning from Operation United Assistance," Hagel's spokesman, Rear Adm. John Kirby, said in a written statement, using the official name of the military mission against Ebola in Africa.
"The secretary believes these initial steps
are prudent given the large number of military personnel transiting from
their home base and West Africa and the unique logistical demands and
impact this deployment has on the force," Kirby added.
"The secretary's
highest priority is the safety and security of our men and women in
uniform and their families."
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