Fort Campbell command officials are in dialogue with the Department of Defense Education Activity about their decision to shut down high school sports at its military schools. DoDEA announced Aug. 11 that high school sports at military installations at Health Protection Condition level Bravo, such as Fort Campbell, would not be allowed to play high school sports with a high or moderate infection risk such as football, soccer, and volleyball. The decision effectively canceled those sports seasons at Fort Campbell and Fort Knox. Golf and cross country were not affected.
Senior Commander Major General Brian Winski said Tuesday that Fort Campbell is continuing to assess the situation and make recommendations to DoDEA.
Fort Campbell Garrison Commander Col. Jeremy Bell said they will continue to fight the blanket decision made by DoDEA.
The KHSAA voted last week to continue with the fall sports season with a three-week delay. This decision left parents and students at Fort Campbell and Fort Knox disgruntled since their fate was decided with minimal input by DoDEA. Soccer and volleyball are scheduled to start Sept. 7 with the first football game scheduled for Sept. 11. However, many of Fort Campbell’s opponents in those sports have already rescheduled games when the DoDEA announcement was made.
Several online petitions have been started around the nation, including one at Fort Campbell, asking DoDEA to reverse their decision.
YSE reached out to DoDEA Wednesday to ask about the status of sports and whether there was a chance a decision reversal could be made in time to salvage a fall sports season at Fort Campbell. The calls were not returned.
