As of this morning, more than 31,000 National Guard members are supporting homeland operations at the direction of their governors. The current number includes activations for COVID-19 and civil disturbance missions.
Presently, there are more than 63,700 Guard men and women engaged in homeland and overseas missions. More than 20,800 National Guard professionals continue COVID-19 response efforts at the direction of their governors in all 50 states, three territories and the District of Columbia.
“Right now [Jan. 11], we have approximately 6,200 National Guard soldiers and airmen from six states and the District of Columbia on the ground in the NCR supporting civilian authorities.” Army Gen. Daniel Hokanson, Chief of the National Guard Bureau. “We have received support requests from the Secret Service, Capitol Police, and Park Police, and have been authorized to provide up to 15,000 Guard members to meet current and future inauguration support requirements.”
With nearly 440,000 soldiers and airmen across 50 states, three territories and D.C., the National Guard has a deep bench of experience and capabilities to call upon. At the National Guard’s historic activation peak on June 6, 2020, roughly 120,000 Guard members were engaged worldwide.
National Guard civil support missions are generally conducted to assist:
- Supporting civil authorities whose capabilities or capability is insufficient to meet current requirements.
- Protecting the life, property and safety of U.S. citizens.
- Protecting critical U.S. infrastructure.
- Providing humanitarian assistance during disaster response and domestic emergencies.
- Providing support to designated law enforcement activities and operations.
- Providing support to designated events, and other activities.
Utah:
At the request of the District of Columbia National Guard, the Utah Air National Guard’s 130th Engineering Installation Squadron will provide Joint Incident Site Communication Capability in support of the 59th Presidential Inauguration scheduled on Jan. 20.
The JISCC, a routine communication support package requested for presidential inaugurations, is comprised of 12 Airman and communication equipment. The Utah JISCC team will provide interoperability for communication systems used by supporting agencies throughout the National Capital Region.
South Carolina National Guard administers COVID-19 vaccine
The South Carolina National Guard vaccinated 76 Palmetto State citizens at the Tidelands Waccamaw Community Hospital in Murrells Inlet on Jan. 7. (https://ngpa.us/11617)
This is the first time the South Carolina National Guard has administered the COVID-19 vaccine to non-military personnel during its support of the state’s pandemic efforts.
“For more than 10 months the South Carolina National Guard has stood side-by-side with our state partners in providing critical support to state agencies, local health care providers, school districts, and the South Carolina Department of Corrections,” said U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Van McCarty, the adjutant general for South Carolina.
Since the SCNG was activated by Gov. Henry McMaster in March, members have assisted with COVID-19 testing of more than 242,179 patients across the state, helped provide medical surge personnel to 10 hospitals, medically screened 229 patients at six congregate care facilities and more than 346,100 inmates at 17 state corrections facilities, participated in 62 facility sanitation missions, delivered more than 18,139 meals, and distributed more than 200,000 masks, 31,968 shields, and 205,825 gloves.
Additionally, as of this morning, 12 states – Arizona, California, Maryland, Michigan, Mississippi, New Hampshire, Nevada, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Carolina and Tennessee– are utilizing their National Guard to actively administer COVID-19 vaccines to the civilian population.
A repository of National Guard Bureau Press releases are available online at https://www.nationalguard.mil/Resources/Press-Releases/. For 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.