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Combat Aviation Brigade Prepares to Deploy During Pandemic

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Despite challenges presented by COVID-19, soldiers with the Pennsylvania Army National Guard's 28th Expeditionary Combat Aviation Brigade mobilized from their home stations to Fort Hood, Texas, to prepare for their deployment to the Middle East.

Soldiers receive COVID-19 tests.
COVID Testing
Soldiers with the 28th Expeditionary Combat Aviation Brigade receive COVID-19 tests at their mobilization station at Fort Hood, Texas, July 9, 2020. The soldiers are taking COVID-19 tests as one of the measures to ensure the task force is healthy to train for its upcoming deployment to the Middle East and to limit the spread of the virus.
Credit: Army Capt. Travis Mueller, Pennsylvania Army National Guard
VIRIN: 200709-Z-IK914-001

The 28th ECAB is preparing for deployment and is taking precautions to ensure soldiers receive the training, experience and confidence to accomplish their missions and stay safe. They will soon deploy to the Middle East, where they will assist U.S. Central Command with increasing regional security and stability in support of U.S. interests.

Our soldiers have been counseled frequently about the precautions for COVID-19 and the importance of wearing masks, and we keep up on each other and keep an eye out for each other."
Army Maj. Todd Lupold, Surgeon, 28th ECAB

Though he acknowledged that there were some delays due to weather and lost baggage, Army Col. Howard Lloyd, commander of the 28th ECAB, described the movement of the brigade to Fort Hood as "spot on."

"Almost 1,400 soldiers embarked for this place without any hiccups," Lloyd said. "They are here, all safe. They are all bedded down. Our unit movement officers and logisticians did a great job to support the force."

Soldiers line up dozens of stuff duffel bags after unloading them from a truck.
Duffel Deployment
Soldiers with the Pennsylvania Army National Guard’s 28th Expeditionary Combat Aviation Brigade unload bags from a truck at their mobilization station at Fort Hood, Texas, July 7, 2020. After training at Fort Hood, the 28th ECAB will deploy to the Middle East to assist U.S. Central Command’s mission of increasing regional security and stability in support of U.S. interests.
Credit: Army Capt. Travis Mueller, Pennsylvania Army National Guard
VIRIN: 200707-Z-IK914-202A

The command team understands the concerns about COVID-19 and its potential to spread within the formation. It is very important that soldiers remain healthy, and the brigade has taken numerous steps to ensure the virus doesn’t spread.

"Some of the precautions we are taking to prevent transmission of COVID-19 are wearing masks whenever we are within 6 feet of each other," said Army Maj. Todd Lupold, surgeon with the 28th ECAB. "We are socially distancing as much as possible. We are also keeping up with frequent hand washing and sanitization of our areas. Our soldiers have been counseled frequently about the precautions for COVID-19 and the importance of wearing masks, and we keep up on each other and keep an eye out for each other."

The soldiers also underwent COVID-19 testing in the first couple days after arriving at Fort Hood. A small number of positive cases were discovered, but although the soldiers were asymptomatic, they were taken into isolation to receive the best care and stop any potential spread of the virus.

Soldiers are engaged in a mandatory 4-day quarantine. They are unable to shop at the post exchange, go to the normal dining facilities or use the post gym.

A parking lot is dotted with several white tents.
Tent City
Soldiers with the Pennsylvania Army National Guard’s 28th Expeditionary Combat Aviation Brigade are taking numerous COVID-19 precautions including a 14-day quarantine at Fort Hood, Texas. Soldiers are using separate tents for feeding, morale and exercise to limit the spread of any illnesses in common areas. Each cohort of barracks is assigned a separate cohort of tents.
Credit: Army Capt. Travis Mueller, Pennsylvania Army National Guard
VIRIN: 200710-Z-IK914-003

Two to three barracks are grouped into cohorts. Each cohort is assigned a dining tent, a morale tent and an exercise tent with select gym equipment. Separating cohorts this way limits the spread of any viruses in common areas, officials explained.

At the end of the mandatory 14-day period, assuming there are no outbreaks of the virus, things will open up for the 28th ECAB soldiers However, they will still be advised to take personal measures to prevent the spread of illness and stay healthy.

Following these precautions will keep the threat of COVID-19 in the formation low, and will allow the 28th ECAB to aggressively train without fear of spreading the virus deploying personnel training for the deployment. Meanwhile, they're doing what they need to do to be ready for their deployment.

"The soldiers are owning it," Lloyd said. "They are doing a fantastic job to get the job done. We're already out there at the airfield doing maintenance on aircraft. We're doing maintenance on vehicles. We're setting up our mission command right now. Everything is on-track, even with the restrictions."

(Army Capt. Travis Mueller is assigned to the 28th Expeditionary Combat Aviation Brigade.)

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