As of this morning, more than 1,560 Air and Army National Guard professionals in 22 states are actively supporting the COVID-19 response at the direction of their governors. Those numbers can change rapidly as states identify needs and communicate them to their National Guard.
Current National Guard COVID-19 response missions include, but are not limited to: response planners; support to medical testing facilities; response liaisons and support to state Emergency Operations Centers; support to healthcare professionals; logistics support; assisting with disinfecting/cleaning of common public spaces; providing transportation support for health care providers; collecting and delivering samples; and assisting with sample administration.
"This COVID-19 pandemic is a historic event and it requires a historic response from the National Guard. My number one priority is taking care of our National Guard Soldiers, Airmen and their families. The readiness of our force will be critical to the success of this nation's COVID-19 response efforts, "said Air Force Gen. Joseph Lengyel, National Guard Bureau chief.
The National Guard Bureau (NGB) facilitates integration and synchronization of National Guard support to civil authorities and associated planning between states, the Department of Defense and federal partners. The National Guard's Coordination Center is a 24/7 operation working at increased capacity in anticipation of COVID-19 requirements and to ensure unified and rapid response efforts between its state and federal partners.
Regarding COVID-19, the National Guard Bureau has not received any requests for assistance from the states regarding COVID-19. We will continue to closely monitor the situation and are postured to play a critical role.
National Guard COVID-19 Response Efforts and State PAO Contact Information:
The Arkansas National Guard Guardsmen mobilized 20 medics from the 39th Infantry Brigade Combat Team for State Active Duty with Arkansas Department of Health. They will also provide medics to answer phone calls and return phone calls from calls that might be missed, due to call volume, in support of the Arkansas Department of Health's Emergency Operations Center. Please attribute to Lt Col Brian L. Mason, public affairs officer. He can also be reached at ng.ar.ararng.mbx.daily-guard@mail.mil or (501) 212-5020 or (501) 590-0318.
About 50 Colorado National Guard members have been mobilized and are on State Active Duty. An additional more than 30 Soldiers and Airmen are serving in their full-time roles supporting from our Headquarters. These personnel are assisting local and state agencies with medical support and logistics at drive-up COVID-19 testing centers in various communities throughout the state. Most of these National Guard warriors are the state's resident trained and equipped experts in biological hazards. They are assisting with testing and testing support and advising Colorado local and state partners with validated tactics, techniques and procedures for future screening missions in Colorado. Beginning March 17, 2020, they are assisting San Miguel County and Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment at a testing center in Telluride, and then other communities across Colorado for about 10 days. Please attribute to Elena O'Bryan, State Public Affairs Officer. She can be reached at (720) 250-1053 or elena.k.obryan.civ@mail.mil.
Iowa National Guard liaisons officers are assisting State Emergency Operations Center (SEOC) and a planning cell to analyze potential state support missions. Additionally, the Iowa Air National Guard is providing facilities and flight line support to the Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) as the department works to process Iowans returning from the Grand Princess Cruise Ship. Currently, there are approximately six Iowa National Guard members in a State Active Duty (SAD) status at this time. Please attribute to Col Michael Wunn, public affairs officer. He can also be reached at michael.a.wunn.mil@mail.mil@mail.mil or (515) 252-4582.
The New Jersey National Guard is preparing for 150 Soldiers and Airmen to be prescreened for State Active Duty. They are preparing to assist the state with logistics, transportation, traffic control, security, and engineering support. Please attribute to LTC Barbara Brown, public affairs officer. She can also be reached at barbara.g.brown26.mil@mail.mil or (609) 530-6939.
The New York National Guard has more than 600 personnel assisting state authorities with COVID-19. Guard personnel are assisting at drive-thru test centers; performing administrative and logistics support missions; conducting public building cleaning missions in New Rochelle area and delivering school meals in New Rochelle area; and providing personnel at New York State Call Center. Please attribute to COL Richard Goldenberg, public affairs officer. He can be reached at richard.l.goldenberg.mil@mail.mil or (518) 786-6150.
Over 50 Pennsylvania National Guardsmen have been placed on state active duty to provide assistance to state partner agencies in their response to COVID-19 as passengers from a Grand Princess Cruise returned home today. Their first two assigned missions were to provide multiple subject matter expert planners to assist the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency and provide transportation Guardsmen to support 38 Pennsylvania residents, who had been quarantined at Dobbins Air Reserve Base, Ga. The group was flown to the Harrisburg International Airport in Middletown, Pa. and individually driven by Guardsmen to their homes throughout the commonwealth. The residents, who were aboard the Grand Princess Cruise Ship prior to their quarantine have been determined to be asymptomatic but will remain in isolation until test results are returned. "One of the most important National Guard missions is to support our own communities," said Maj. Gen. Anthony Carrelli, Adjutant General of Pennsylvania. "Assisting and serving our fellow neighbors is a very personal effort as this is where we live. We are all in this together."
The National Guards of the 50 states, 3 territories and the District of Colombia have a very deep bench of nearly 450,000 experienced and proven Air and Army National Guard professionals. Guard units frequently train side-by-side with state and local emergency responders, making them well-suited for domestic operations.
National Guard members work and live in every community across the nation and have a proven track record of success supporting civilian authorities after homeland emergencies. The National Guard has unique capabilities such as its Civil Support Teams and CERFPs that could provide local first responders with additional resources to combat COVID-19.
For more information regarding this press release, please send an email to the National Guard Bureau Media Operations desk at ng.ncr.ngb-arng.mesg.ngb-media-desk-owner@mail.mil.