RICHMOND, Va. — More than 540 members of the Virginia National Guard are ready to assist Virginia’s COVID-19 response with testing, distribution of food and key supplies and training people how to use personal protective equipment (PPE).
“I am extremely proud of the great work from our personnel supporting Virginia’s COVID-19 response, and I know we are putting their skills, experience and knowledge to good work where it is making a difference,” said Maj. Gen. Timothy P. Williams, the adjutant general of Virginia. “We are now posturing forces to be able to provide additional capabilities to help our fellow Virginians, and we will continue to work with our state agency partners to make sure any support we can provide will be ready when it is needed.”
Virginia’s emergency declaration March 12 activated the VNG and authorized personnel to begin coming on duty to support COVID-19 response operations. Guard members immediately began assisting with operations, logistics and medical planning with the Virginia Emergency Support Team and in multiple VDEM regions across the state.
VNG Soldiers and Airmen assigned to the Richmond-based 34th Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear and High-Yield Explosives Enhanced Response Force Package are training to be able to demonstrate proper use of PPE and how to administer COVID-19 tests.
Virginia National Guard Soldiers assigned to the Fredericksburg-based 229th Brigade Engineer Battalion, 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, began supporting the Fredericksburg Regional Food Bank April 22 in Fredericksburg. Soldiers are preparing food boxes in the warehouse and delivering food and supplies.
The VNG has established three multi-function “strike teams” in the east, west and central areas of the state. A strike team is a battalion-level mission command headquarters with subordinate units with transportation and material handling capabilities as well as organic medical support. These units could help load supplies and transport them where they need to go.
“As is the case in everything we do, we wouldn’t be able to conduct our missions without the support of our families, employers and communities,” Williams said. “Now more than ever, we all need to come together and work as a team, and the support of our loved ones and the patience and flexibility from employers is absolutely critical. I thank them all for the important contributions they are making.”
The VNG conducts domestic operations as part of the coordinated multi-agency state team. Requests for assistance are screened by the Virginia Emergency Support Team and assigned to the Guard.