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Guardsmen Move Protective Equipment to Safeguard North Carolina Students

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The North Carolina National Guard helped to distribute about 8,000 thermometers, 4,000 face shields, 39,000 gowns and 166,000 surgical masks to support school nurses in public and charter schools throughout the state.

The guard is working with state agencies and local food banks to support COVID-19 relief efforts.

National Guardsmen load boxes of food into a vehicle.
Loading Supplies
Army Sgt. Brandon Eller, with the North Carolina Army National Guard, loads boxes of personal protective equipment into a light medium tactical vehicle at a warehouse in central North Carolina for distribution to public and charter schools in surrounding counties, June 29, 2020. The guard is working with state agencies and local food banks to support COVID-19 relief efforts.
Photo By: Army Spc. Hannah Tarkelly, North Carolina Army National Guard
VIRIN: 200629-Z-AI968-061A

With schools scheduled to reopen in the fall, the guard is working hard to ensure schools have the personal protective equipment necessary to help protect students from COVID-19. For the first time since the pandemic began, the guard distributed PPE to all public and charter schools in North Carolina.

It means a lot to me to be able to help the community, first responders, nurses, doctors, and now kids."
Army Spc. Pressley, North Carolina National Guard

Soldiers and airmen used a five-step process. The operation began by ensuring the PPE and its designated locations were identified for accurate distribution and necessity. The soldiers and airmen then gathered the PPE, boxed it, weighed and labeled the boxes for shipment, and finally shipped them out.

"I enjoy being able to serve my country," said Army Sgt. Carl Orander, assigned to the 1451st Transportation Company. "It's what I signed up for."

The school packs were shipped to central locations where staff members from surrounding schools could pick up the supplies.

National Guardsmen load boxes of food into a vehicle.
Loading Supplies
Army Spc. John Hanna, with the North Carolina Army National Guard, loads boxes of personal protective equipment into a vehicle at a warehouse in central North Carolina, for distribution to public and charter schools in surrounding counties, June 29, 2020. The guard is working with state agencies and local food banks to support COVID-19 relief efforts.
Photo By: Army Spc. Hannah Tarkelly, North Carolina Army National Guard
VIRIN: 200629-Z-AI968-020

The guard distributed the products and worked with shipping companies to transport the medical supplies across the state.

Army Spc. Pressley, assigned to the 1451st Transportation Company, has been on orders to help support COVID-19 relief efforts since March 25 and has clocked in more than 11,000 miles driving light medium tactical vehicles to deliver medical supplies.

"It means a lot to me to be able to help the community, first responders, nurses, doctors, and now kids," Pressley said.

(Army Spc. Hannah Tarkelly is assigned to the 382nd Public Affairs Detachment.)

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