At the request of the Federal Emergency Management Agency and state officials, about 740 Defense Department medical and support professionals from the Army, Navy and Air Force are assigned as part of DOD's ongoing COVID-19 operations in Texas and California.
As part of the whole-of-America response, U.S. Army North, U.S. Northern Command's joint forces land component command, will oversee the military operation in support of federal and state efforts.
''We are committed to assisting those in need as part of the ongoing whole-of-America response to COVID-19,'' said Army Lt. Gen. Laura J. Richardson, the commander of U.S. Army North. ''At the same time, we remain flexible and capable of providing other defense support to civil authorities as necessary.''
In Texas, Northcom assigned about 580 Army and Navy medical and support personnel to support FEMA and the state. An 85-member enhanced urban augmentation medical task force from the 627th Hospital Center, Fort Carson, Colorado, was the first group of the 580 medical personnel to arrive.
On July 10, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott announced a second 85-member task force would go to Houston.
''Texas is grateful to the U.S. Department of Defense for providing these additional resources to Houston and San Antonio as we work to slow the spread of COVID-19 and care for our fellow Texans,'' Abbott said. ''We will continue to work with our local and federal partners to help ensure that all medical needs are met in Houston, San Antonio and throughout the state.''
Four additional 85-person teams, along with a 44-person acute care team and four seven-member rapid rural response teams from the Navy were also activated at the behest of Texas to support statewide efforts.
The first task force to arrive, designated Urban Augmentation Medical Task Force 627, began treating patients at five San Antonio hospitals July 9.
''It's an honor to be in San Antonio, Texas, providing care to patients alongside local hospital staff,'' said Army Capt. Sarah Kopaciewicz, a critical care nurse embedded with Christus Westover Hills Medical Center. ''I was doing similar work, treating COVID-19 positive patients, at Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Washington state before being employed here. ''In addition to Christus Westover Hills Medical Center, critical care nurses, emergency room nurses, medical surgical nurses and respiratory specialists from the task force are serving at Baptist Health Center, Christus Santa Rosa Medical Center, Methodist Metropolitan and University Hospital. The task force is composed of soldiers from Colorado and elsewhere, including Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio.
''Our soldiers train daily to maintain clinical skills so we can save and sustain lives wherever and whenever the nation calls,'' said Army Lt. Col. Jason Hughes, the Task Force 627 commander. ''We're proud to be here to support FEMA and Texas, and will work side by side with hospital workers to help communities as long as we are needed.''
In California, Northcom assigned about 160 Air Force medical and support personnel to support FEMA and the state.
(Bruce Anderson is assigned to U.S. Army North.)