An official website of the United States government
A .mil website belongs to an official U.S. Department of Defense organization in the United States.
A lock (lock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .mil website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Home : News : Article View
NEWS | Oct. 7, 2020

Michigan National Guard tests prison inmates, staff

By Senior Airman Tristan Viglianco Michigan National Guard

IONIA, Mich. – As the fight against COVID-19 continues, so does the partnership between the Michigan National Guard and the Michigan Department of Corrections (MDOC). The Michigan Army and Air National Guard has established an extensive COVID testing program for prisons across the state.

“We are testing staff because they have to be tested on a weekly basis,” said Spc. Bethany Gurnee, a testing team leader assigned to the 46th Military Police Company. “Instead of them having to go out on their own time, they can get it done at their work.”

The partnership with the MDOC is one of the ways the Guard is working to ensure the health and safety of all of Michigan’s residents.

“We are also testing inmates because they want to identify positive cases and this is one way for them to do so,” said Gurnee. “Outside of this, we do community-based [public] testing, which is free, and then we do long-term care testing as well.”

According to the MDOC, as of Oct. 6, there have been a total of 98,184 inmate and 16,500 staff tests.

“Testing is crucial in helping us in our fight against this virus,” said Chris Gautz, MDOC spokesman. “Knowing when and where we have positive cases allows us to move quickly to stop further spread by cohorting prisoners and keeping the rest of the population and our staff safe.”

The medics responsible for the testing follow strict safety measures, wearing personal protective equipment and using proper sanitization and disposal methods. Spc. Nicholas Rittler, 126th Infantry Regiment medic, says these protocols help ensure the safety of both the medics and those tested.

Gurnee has been on the testing teams since the beginning of the pandemic. She said the Guard went through all of the correctional facilities in May.

“The testing is important because people want to know if they have [the coronavirus] and it can help protect other people,” said Gurnee. “With the prisons, if inmates are testing positive, they can separate them from the rest.”

As the battle against the virus continues, the Guard’s mission is to do everything possible to promote the well-being of Michigan residents. The partnership with the MDOC is an important part of that mission.

“We simply would not be able to do this level of testing without the Guard. This assistance has been invaluable,” said Gautz. “This partnership has gone incredibly well from the very beginning. We could not be happier with the assistance we have been provided. The professionalism and positive attitude among the Guard has been amazing.”

 

 

Related Articles
The Nebraska National Guard, shown Dec. 12, 2024, won the 54th WPW Sniper Championship and Chief David R. Logan Sniper Team Trophy is the Nebraska National Guard. The WPW Sniper Championship, held at Fort Chaffee, Ark., and hosted by the National Guard Marksmanship Training Center, brought together elite marksmen to compete in precision shooting and tactical decision-making, honoring the storied legacy of military sniper excellence.
Nebraska, Michigan, Iowa Guard Excel at Sniper Championship
By 1st Lt. Daniel Condit, | Dec. 16, 2024
BARLING, Ark. — Thirty-three two-person sniper teams showcased their precision and tactical expertise during the 54th Winston P. Wilson Sniper Championship and the 34th Armed Forces Skill at Arms Meeting Sniper Championship...

U.S. Army Brig. Gen. Ravindra Wagh, assistant adjutant general of the Michigan National Guard, with Capt. John Willie, Liberian Coast Guard commander, at Liberian Coast Guard Headquarters, Bushrod Island, Liberia, Dec. 2, 2024. Michigan and Liberia have partnered for 15 years under the Department of Defense National Guard Bureau State Partnership Program.
Michigan Guard Partner Liberia Starts NCO Pilot Course
By Capt. Andrew Layton, | Dec. 10, 2024
CAREYSBURG, Liberia – The Armed Forces of Liberia achieved a historic milestone by initiating a Noncommissioned Officer Academy at the AFL’s Armed Forces Training Center.Liberian NCO instructors are leading a nine-week pilot...

U.S. Army 1st Sgt. Derek Smith, 177th Regional Training Institute, Michigan National Guard; U.S. Air Force Capt. Andrew Layton, bilateral affairs officer, Michigan National Guard; and U.S. Army Master Sgt. Daniel Blaser, chief instructor, 177 RTI, with instructor cadre members at the Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces Training Center, Benguema, Sierra Leone, Nov. 19, 2024. The Michigan National Guard and the Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces signed an agreement Sept. 12 to become partners under the State Partnership Program.
Michigan Guard, Sierra Leone Develop New Partnership
By Capt. Andrew Layton, | Nov. 26, 2024
FREETOWN, Sierra Leone – Subject matter experts from the Michigan Army and Air National Guard visited Sierra Leone Nov. 14-23 to begin developing their State Partnership Program relationship with the Republic of Sierra Leone...