CHARLESTON, W.Va. –
Saturday, Mar. 13, 2021 marks the one-year anniversary of Governor Jim Justice mobilizing the West Virginia National Guard to assist the Mountain State in its preparation for and response to the COVID-19 pandemic, making it the longest continuous activation of Guard personnel in state history.
“Over the past year, since I called them into action, the incredible men and women of the West Virginia National Guard have not stopped for a single moment and have led the charge in our fight against the COVID-19 pandemic,” Gov. Jim Justice said. “From securing and managing our state PPE supply, to administering COVID tests and vaccinations, to providing critical leadership to many of our agencies on the front lines of this battle, and many more contributions, they have been with us every step of the way and have saved countless lives in the process.”
“I thank God every day that, when we were in our time of greatest need, the National Guard was there to answer the call and run to the fire,” Gov. Justice continued. “I could never thank them enough for the leadership, bravery, and dedication they have displayed over the past year, and I know that all West Virginians are extremely proud of their efforts.”
Upon mobilization by the Governor, the WVNG immediately began work to organize multiple targeted task forces to handle specific projected needs. These task forces included Task Force Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear Response Enterprise (TF-CRE) which handled operational planning and overall mission support to include training of medical personnel and first responders in personal protective equipment use and sanitization efforts to combat viral spread. Task Force Sustainment (TF-Sustainment) which began logistics efforts including PPE stockpiling and distribution as well as food bank support and Task Force Medical (TF-Medical) which began providing assistance to the state COVID-19 hotline operated by the Poison Control Center and coordinating with the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources (WVDHHR) on statistical monitoring and information collection systems needed for epidemiology support.
Even before the first case of COVID-19 reached the state, the WVNG was fully engaged and working with public and private sector partners at the local, state, and federal levels.
Once the pandemic began to take hold in the state, the mission set of the WVNG evolved and grew with each task force adding additional roles to its operations.
TF-CRE began deploying teams across the state to sanitize schools, government offices, and first responder vehicles utilizing innovative approaches and techniques. TF-Sustainment worked with the West Virginia Department of Education to create Wi-Fi access points to students and parents to facilitate virtual learning, including at more than 20 National Guard armories, via the Governor’s Kids Connect initiative, and assisted Workforce West Virginia with handling backlogged unemployment claims. TF-Medical began deploying teams of personnel around the state to assist local health departments and partners with COVID-19 testing and voluntary COVID-19 mapping operations.
At the height of response operations, the WVNG had more than 700 Soldiers and Airmen on duty supporting COVID-19 relief efforts.
By late fall 2020, WVNG efforts grew to include planning for eventual vaccine distribution. On November 30th, Governor Justice established the Joint Interagency Task Force (JIATF) for COVID-19 Vaccines, whose mission was to prepare for and implement a vaccination plan for the state. This team, including the newly established Task Force Vaccines (TF-Vaccines), would compile key personnel from the WVNG, various state agencies and private sector partners to ensure a functional statewide whole-of-community operational model for vaccine administration was built and implemented.
Once vaccine supplies eventually began to flow to the state in mid-December, West Virginia quickly became a national and worldwide leader, recognized for its ability to receive, deliver and administer vaccinations for its citizens. Under the direction of Governor Justice and the JIATF leadership team, West Virginia began targeting the state’s most vulnerable populations to reduce deaths, hospitalizations and ensure the critical services could be maintained. Quickly, West Virginia became the first state in the country to vaccinate all of its nursing homes and long-term care facilities and has continued to be a worldwide leader in vaccine administration with more than 500,000 West Virginians having received at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine.
Throughout the entire grueling response, WVNG personnel have remained ever vigilant and always ready to conduct not only COVID-19 mission requirements, but to respond to the Guard’s normal operational missions as well.
Guardsmen have supported the Presidential Inauguration, responded to storm, flooding, and winter storm events at home, continued to operate and manage the Mountaineer ChalleNGe Academies and the Future Leader Programs for high school students across the state, and remain engaged in our federal mission with more than 200 personnel currently deployed supporting contingency operations around the globe.
“One full year into the longest sustained activation in our history, the men and women of the West Virginia National Guard… our One Guard Family… continue to serve and protect the citizens of West Virginia with all the pride, respect, and love we have always committed to,” stated Brig. Gen. William “Bill” Crane, The Adjutant General of West Virginia. “Our greatest honor is to serve our fellow West Virginians and to answer the call to duty during our most pressing times of need. Governor Justice has empowered us with this great responsibility and our Soldiers and Airmen are meeting that responsibility each and every day. The work they have done over the past year has resulted in lives saved across the Mountain State, and we owe a sincere debt of gratitude to them and all the front line workers who have been at the forefront of this pandemic response.”
Currently, more than 550 West Virginia Guard members remain federally activated in West Virginia with authorization through Sept. 30, 2021, to respond to the ongoing pandemic.