DoD calls on National Guard for help in health crisis
The Department of Defense (DoD) has activated 2,050 National Guard personnel in 27 states to help support efforts to stem the spread of coronavirus in the US.
National Guard units are playing differing roles across each of the 27 states. In New York State, they are delivering food and ensuring the maintenance of supply chains, whilst the Tennessee Air National Guard used C-17 Globemasters on 16 March to transport 500,000 COVID-19 testing kits from Italy to Memphis.
Additionally, 500 troops are collecting “drive-thru” samples in Florida and Guard Liaison Officers are advising and assisting the New Orleans Office of Homeland Security in Louisiana.
Air Force General Joseph Lengyel said that the National Guard remains ‘flexible and committed for whatever mission we may be called to do’.
As of 19 March, six National Guard personnel had tested positive for the virus.
Related Equipment in Defence Insight
You may also like
More from Defence Notes
-
![Intelligence innovation: From data overload to decision advantage (Podcast)]()
Intelligence innovation: From data overload to decision advantage (Podcast)
As militaries face an overwhelming flow of data, the challenge is shifting from collection to delivering fast, actionable insights that drive decision-making. Advances in AI and data integration are helping armed forces move beyond siloed systems to generate real-time intelligence across domains and allies.
-
![Teledyne FLIR adds GPS-denied 3D-mapping capabilities to its CBRN uncrewed platforms]()
Teledyne FLIR adds GPS-denied 3D-mapping capabilities to its CBRN uncrewed platforms
In a partnership with Emesent, Teledyne FLIR will equip its autonomous air, ground and detection systems with the Hovermap LiDAR payload in a move that highlights a broader market shift towards modular architectures, shared payloads and interoperability across platforms.
-
![US seeks 32% boost for missile defence budget with $23 billion earmarked for interceptors]()
US seeks 32% boost for missile defence budget with $23 billion earmarked for interceptors
The Pentagon’s proposed budget for the next fiscal year includes an impressive increase in the procurement of interceptors, with the number of the US Army’s PAC-3 MSE rounds expanding by 683%, the US Navy’s Standard Missile by 365% and the MDA’s SM-3 IIA by more than 1,000%.
-
![US Army partners with Global Military Products to surge munitions production]()
US Army partners with Global Military Products to surge munitions production
Global Military Products was selected by the US Army to operate the Quad Cities Cartridge Case Facility and ramp up the production of various calibre shell cases.
