U.S. Army Reserve Soldiers recently mobilized to support Urban Augmentation Medical Task Force-7452, from San Diego, Calif., as part of the Department of Defense Support to the Federal Emergency Management Agency response to COVID-19. U.S. Army North, U.S. Northern Command's Joint Force Land Component Command, is overseeing the military operations in support of federal efforts and the state.

Specifically created to respond in times of crisis, the 85-Soldier team will augment the civilian medical community by delivering a wide range of medical capabilities, including medical providers, nurses, respiratory specialists, an infectious disease specialist and behavior health professionals.

"The 7452nd is the third Army Reserve Medical Command Urban Augmentation Medical Task Force to be mobilized to assist the state of Texas,” stated Maj. Gen. Jonathon Woodson, the commander of Army Reserve Medical Command, based in Pinellas Park, Fla.

“Like the other two formations, the team consists of skilled providers and medical support personnel with significant capabilities acquired from their military and civilian experience. These medical Soldiers expand the capacity of the community medical structure to care for all patients, to include those suffering from the COVID-19 virus,” he explained.

The unit is led by Col. Robert Black, who hails from Howard, Kan.

"We are honored to be a part of the Joint Force Land Component Command efforts to bring help in support of FEMA and local officials," said Black. "We are providing nurses, physicians, behavioral health professionals, dietitians, pharmacists, physical, and occupational therapists to meet the needs of the residents in the Rio Grande Valley."

The task force is comprised of Soldiers representing 14 states.

Staff Sgt. Anne Carmichael is a licensed practical nurse from Aurora, Colo.

“I am proud to get in there and do the work,” she shared. “To serve the people of the United States when we are needed I think is going to be an amazing and humbling experience.”

“This is not what I envisioned would be my first call,” 1st Lt. Marcelo Gerjoi, a physician assistant from Marietta, Ga., said about this this being his first mobilization. “But I am really honored to help American people in this joint effort of supporting hospitals so we can get this under control.”

An intensive care nurse from Eugene, Ore., Col. Yee Ong-Lilienthal started her military career 26 years ago as a private and now serves as the deputy commander of the 7452nd.

“Morale is very high and we are ready to go to work,” said Ong-Lilienthal. “The majority of our team volunteered for this mission, and we are looking forward to helping our fellow Americans. We just want to help serve the population.”

Capt. Kristin Pruitt, a perioperative nurse from Southlake, Texas, is on her second UAMTF mobilization.

“We have a really good group of professionals that have a wealth experience with COVID patients,” she stated. “We have built each other up as a team and we are going to lean on each other to help stress levels from getting too high.”

Pruitt closed by sharing.

“We will pull together and face whatever COVID throws at us. Any Soldier that walks onto the battlefield has to rely on their training to take care of the patient. We will do the job we need to do.”