GILLEM ENCLAVE, Ga. –
Over 400 Army Reserve Soldiers from the 3d Medical Command (Deployment Support), in partnership with Army Reserve Medical Command, have mobilized as part of a Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) request to support COVID-19 operations. These Soldiers are supporting U.S. Northern Command, in support of FEMA, providing rapid response support capability to the Javits Center, medical facilities in the New York and New Jersey and Bennett Hospital, in Stamford, Connecticut.
Specifically created to respond to crisis, these Soldiers are part of five Urban Augmentation Medical Task Forces (UAMTF). UAMTFs are 85 Soldier teams with medial capabilities to support up to 250 low-acuity patients.
“Our primary mission is to restore peace in times of chaos and this is no different. Just as the Army has done since 1775, we will lead the way with premiere medical support,” Maj. Gen. Joe Robinson, Commanding General, 3D Medical Command (Deployment Support).
Mobilizing in only a matter of days, and going from home station to areas of support, the units rapidly focused on organization and preparation. “As Army Reserve Soldiers, we work and practice every day in our communities. We are proud to do our part to support fellow citizens. This fight required an immediate response and as Soldiers, we are trained and ready to deploy anywhere at any time,” said a group of mobilized Soldier as they departed from Gillem, Enclave, Georgia.
With Reserve Soldier support from Maine to Florida, and beyond, this is a both a personal and military mission. "This was perhaps the easiest decision in my life . . . There can never be a better opportunity to serve the American people who are, in many cases, in desperate need of healthcare” shared Maj. Brehon Charles Allen, Jr. an Army Reserve Soldier who is mobilizing in his role as a, 66P, nurse practitioner.
Allen, the officer in charge of the 7404th Troop Medical Clinic and transferred to the 3D MC(DS) for the mission, is employed by the Iowa City branch of Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care System in his civilian capacity.
"This past few weeks have shown more than ever the Army is truly a team sport. AR-MEDCOM has proven the value of the Operational Readiness Units to assist the 807th and 3d MC(DS) fill out their formations to rapidly deploy,” said Brig. Gen. Joseph Marsiglia, Deputy Commanding General, Army Reserve Medical Command.
Army health care professionals are equipped with first-rate training, equipment and technology in order to deal with emergent health issues. Soldiers are trained to provide routine and emergency medical support with UAMTFs expanding the medical community’s ability to tend to all patients, to include COVID-19 positive patients.
Although this is simply the beginning, there is pride in what has been accomplished and optimism for the future. "Our world-class doctors, nurses, medics are at the forefront of this mission and we are proud to support the whole-of-nation response to the coronavirus. What the Soldiers of the 3D MC(DS) are embarking on, has never been done in the history of Army Reserve medicine,” said Robinson.