An official website of the United States government
Here's how you know
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 | March 17, 2022

Connecticut National Guard ends COVID response mission

By Timothy Koster Connecticut National Guard Public Affairs Office

NEW BRITAIN, Conn. – The Connecticut National Guard handed over the keys to the state commodities warehouse in New Britain to the Connecticut Department of Health March 15, effectively ending its COVID-19 response mission.

On March 10, 2020, Gov. Ned Lamont declared a state of emergency due to the COVID-19 pandemic, activating the Connecticut National Guard to assist with operating the warehouse where the state received, organized, and distributed its shipments of personal protective equipment and other supplies to help battle the virus.

“To say I’m proud of all the men and women of the Connecticut National Guard who’ve assisted with the COVID-19 response would be an understatement,” said Maj. Gen. Francis Evon, adjutant general for the Connecticut National Guard. “As we rode the waves of this pandemic, we were called upon to help with many different missions, but our warehouse mission was a constant throughout it all.”

For more than 700 days, the Soldiers and Airmen working at the warehouse helped the state distribute more than 38 million KN95 and N95 masks, 82 million surgical masks, 9 million surgical gowns, 128 million non-sterile gloves, 2 million disposable face shields, and 170,000 Tyvek coveralls to 169 towns around the state.

In addition to running the warehouse, Guardsmen and members of the state militia helped increase bed capacity by nearly 2,500 with mobile field hospitals and surge capacity at the Connecticut Convention Center and other unused spaces. They helped support more than 150 testing and vaccination sites and directly vaccinated more than 55,000 people. They also assisted with more than 2,500 nursing home inspections.

During the pandemic, the Connecticut National Guard performed more than 1,000 missions. At the same time, they helped with storm clean-up after Hurricane Isaias, multiple cyberattack responses, deployment to the state and nation’s capital during civil disturbances, and the largest wave of overseas deployments in a decade.

“Over the past two years, the Connecticut National Guard has competently demonstrated its motto of ‘Always Ready, Always There,’” said Evon. “Although our COVID mission may be over for now, we’re going to continue to monitor the situation and be ready if the state calls upon us again to help.”

 

 

Related Articles
Pvt. Aduyel Kusi, right, and Spc. Jake Casucci practice loading a wheeled-stretcher into an ambulance in Brockton, Mass., Dec. 28, 2021. The Massachusetts National Guard members are providing non-clinical assistance at medical facilities across the commonwealth during a COVID-19 surge.
National Guard helps medical facilities with COVID-19 peak
By Sgt. 1st Class Zach Sheely, | Jan. 14, 2022
ARLINGTON, Va. – As COVID-19 infections surge, more than 15,600 National Guard members are supporting state and local officials dealing with the pandemic throughout the country.Of those responding, more than 6,000 Guard...

Connecticut Army National Guard Pfc. Stefanie Charpentier, 141st Medical Company combat medic, assists at a state-supported COVID-19 testing site in New Britain, Connecticut, Jan. 10, 2022. Charpentier studies biochemistry at nearby Central Connecticut State University and has volunteered twice to support the state’s COVID-19 pandemic response.
Connecticut Guardsman supports COVID response close to home
By 2nd Lt. Steven Tucker, | Jan. 11, 2022
NEW BRITAIN, Conn. – On a cold January day, four Connecticut National Guard Soldiers make their way down a line of vehicles, helping residents register for their COVID-19 tests.The parking lot at New Britain Stadium, home of...

U.S. Army Maj. Melinda F. Moyer, D.N.P., director of clinical programs, New Jersey National Guard Joint Surgeons Office, Joint Force Headquarters-Army, received the Army Nurse Corps Association 2021 Military Nursing Evidence-Based Practice Award in Lawrenceville, N.J., Dec. 8, 2021. Moyer was honored for her work with Yale University studying COVID infections among military personnel.
New Jersey National Guard nurse honored for COVID work
By Mark Olsen, | Dec. 16, 2021
LAWRENCEVILLE, N.J. – As the entire New Jersey National Guard leadership watched, Maj. Melinda F. Moyer, D.N.P., was awarded the Army Nurse Corps Association 2021 Military Nursing Evidence-Based Practice Award.Moyer, the...