Arkansas National Guard COVID-19 status update, support to civil authorities continues to strengthen state’s response

PA-001-20 | April 3, 2020

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MEDIA ALERT

April 3, 2020
Contact: Lt. Col. Brian L. Mason
State Public Affairs Officer
Arkansas National Guard
501-212-5020 / 501-590-0318
ng.ar.ararng.mbx.daily-guard@mail.mil

Arkansas National Guard COVID-19 status update
~ Support to civil authorities continues to strengthen state’s response

WHO:
  The Arkansas National Guard

WHAT:  By order of the Governor, has mobilized additional Guardsmen from various units

WHEN:  April 1, 2020

WHERE:
Arkansas Dept. of Health

WHY:        The Arkansas Division of Emergency Management has tasked the Arkansas National Guard to provide planning teams to assist the Arkansas Department of Health with planning for future operations is response to COVID-19. 
The additional support includes 2 medical planners and 3 logistics planners from the 189th Airlift Wing, 7 logistics and communications planners, and 3 information analysts from the 39th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 2 medical planners from Joint Force Headquarters Medical Command, and one logistics planner from 87th Troop Command. 
The total number of Arkansas National Guard Soldiers and Airmen on supporting COVID-19 operations on April 3 is 95.  
Guardsmen supporting COVID-19 operations are transitioning from state active duty to Title 32, which means the state will be federally reimbursed the cost for their duty while helping combat this pandemic. For Guardsmen, Title 32 incurs better benefits for each member to include points toward retirement credit and Tricare medical benefits for each Guardsman and their entitled family members for orders more than 30 days.

Imagery of Arkansas Guardsmen in action can be found here: https://dvidshub.net/r/a68xu4

B-roll of Arkansas Guardsmen in action can be found here: https://dvidshub.net/r/qaglfl

The Arkansas National Guard assumes support roles to augment civil authorities, where needed and directed by the Governor, to help in a crisis. 

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  • Arkansas National Guard Public Affairs Office
  • PO BOX 30, Camp Robinson, North Little Rock, AR 72199
  • Phone:501-212-5098
  • Fax: 501-212-5019
  • ng.ar.ararng.mbx.daily-guard@mail.mil