Oregon National Guard to Start Second Hospital Relief Mission
With the surge of COVID-19 cases, Oregon Governor Kate Brown has ordered an increase of National Guard Service Members for the second hospital relief mission, with up to 1,200 Oregon Citizen-Soldiers and Airmen mobilized today. This new activation of the Oregon National Guard is an increased from 500 to over 1,200 Service Members in 40 hospitals across the state. National Guard members will provide much-needed support for understaffed hospitals during this deployment, which will begin no later than Jan. 18, 2022.
These Soldiers and Airmen will serve in non-clinical support roles as material handlers, equipment runners, in addition to COVID testing support, laundry, custodial services, ensure hospital operations and other services in support of healthcare systems. The mission's planning is ongoing, with guard members placed on orders and assigned to hospitals.
This activation follows a prior deployment of over 1,500 Oregon National Guardsmen that provided the same non-clinical support rolls in Oregon hospitals that began in August of 2021, and ended in December 2021.
The Oregon National Guard comprises over 8,000 Citizen-Soldiers and Airmen, dedicated to serving the communities they live in and maintaining the ability to serve the nation in times of war. The organization has the motto "Always Ready, Always There" and is the largest part-time employer in the state. Its members, on average, serve one weekend a month with an additional two-week period a year while maintaining civilian employment.
Released Photos:
220112-Z-ZJ128-1001
Oregon Army National Guard Sgt. Mathew Odenthal and 2nd Lt. Benjermen Brumhagh of H Company, 145th Brigade Support Battalion, wait in line to receive written orders assigning them to the hospital relief mission at Anderson Readiness Center in Salem, Oregon, Jan. 12. The deployment is the second iteration of non-clinical support for Oregon hospitals by the National Guard, which will grow to over 1,200 Soldiers and Airmen by the end of January, filling critical hospital staffing shortages. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Maj. W. Chris Clyne, Oregon National Guard Public Affairs)
220112-Z-ZJ128-1002
Oregon Army National Guard Human resource specialist Sgt. Niki McCurdy from the 821 Troop Command Battalion, assigns Soldiers to specific hospitals at the Anderson Readiness Center in Salem, Oregon, Jan. 12. The guard member's deployment is the second iteration of non-clinical support for Oregon hospitals by the National Guard, which will grow to over 1,200 Soldiers and Airmen by the end of January, filling critical hospital staffing shortages. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Maj. W. Chris Clyne, Oregon National Guard Public Affairs)
220112-Z-ZJ128-1003
Hospital relief mission Joint Task Force Commander Lt. Col. Seth Rogers briefs senior staff members on administrative procedures at the Anderson Readiness Center in Salem, Oregon, Jan. 12. The Joint Task Force deployment is the second iteration of non-clinical support for Oregon hospitals by the National Guard, which will grow to over 1,200 Soldiers and Airmen by the end of January, filling critical hospital staffing shortages. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Maj. W. Chris Clyne, Oregon National Guard Public Affairs)
220112-Z-ZJ128-1004
Oregon Army National Guard Staff Sgt. David Seymour, temporary hospital relief mission Regional Non-Commission Officer in Charge, from C Company, 3rd Battalion, 116 Cavalry Brigade, informs Soldiers of mission requirements at the Anderson Readiness Center in Salem, Oregon, Jan. 12. The Soldier's deployment is the second iteration of non-clinical support for Oregon hospitals by the National Guard, which will grow to over 1,200 Soldiers and Airmen by the end of January, filling critical hospital staffing shortages. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Maj. W. Chris Clyne, Oregon National Guard Public Affairs)
B-Roll: https://dvidshub.net/r/x9esxh
Attachments
