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 | Dec. 29, 2020

Michigan National Guard supports COVID-19 vaccination effort

By Staff Sgt. Tegan Kucera Michigan National Guard

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – The Michigan National Guard, on the front lines of the fight against COVID-19 since March, is now helping the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) get Michigan residents vaccinated.

Task Force Spartan is providing more than 45 vaccination and testing teams, consisting of medical and administrative personnel, to assist in vaccination and administrative support to local hospitals.

“During Michigan’s COVID-19 response, MDHHS is ensuring medical facilities have access to the COVID-19 vaccine to safeguard our health care professionals,” said Dr. Joneigh Khaldun, chief medical executive and chief deputy for health, MDHHS. “The partnership between MDHHS and the Michigan National Guard is vital to the success of the vaccine distribution and plays a significant role in the success of our mission.”

The teamwork between MDHHS and the MING helps ensure vaccinations are distributed promptly to help mitigate COVID-19 and protect people in Michigan’s 83 counties.

“We are looking forward to ultimately trying to save lives in the state of Michigan,” said U.S. Army Command Sgt. Maj. James Taylor, 63rd Troop Command, Michigan Army National Guard, and senior noncommissioned officer in charge of Task Force Spartan.

Since the spring, the MING has had more than 1,100 Soldiers and Airmen throughout the state supporting communities during the pandemic.

“National Guard members have been essential to our testing strategy and have been providing support to help conduct testing in nursing facilities, prisons and through numerous pop-up testing events across the state,” said Khaldun. “We appreciate their support throughout the pandemic and look forward to our continued partnership as we move into their next chapter of the pandemic.”

The Guard is ready to surge testing and vaccination efforts when needed anywhere in Michigan.

“I think their (MING) ability to have a coordinated, concerted effort is great, and I’m glad they’re involved in the distribution process,” said Dr. Marc McClelland, a pulmonary and critical care physician at Spectrum Health Butterworth Hospital, Grand Rapids. “I really appreciate their support and service and especially so close to home here with COVID-19.”

McClelland was the first in his hospital to receive the vaccine.

“It was pretty exhilarating because it feels like this moment has been long in coming, and I’d like for everybody to look at this as a really great opportunity,” he said.

Even though McClelland has received the vaccine, he is not letting his guard down. He said there are too many unknowns with a new vaccine, and until most people are vaccinated, he will continue washing his hands thoroughly and wearing his mask.

“This mission is literally saving the lives of people – that is a very powerful sentiment,” said U.S. Army Maj. Douglas Smith, Michigan Army National Guard, and the officer in charge of Task Force Spartan. “The level of effort and passion that our Guardsmen have for helping our communities is amazing to witness.”

 

 

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...