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NATIONAL GUARD ON-THE-RECORD TELEPHONIC MEDIA ROUNDTABLE

APRIL 08, 2021

TOPIC SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTS

Over 6M Shots in the Arm – Healing 

Highlights of National Guard COVID 

Missions

§ Army Brig. Gen. Adam Flasch, Maryland National 

Guard director of joint staff and Dual-Status 

Commander for Title 10 Active Duty troops 

assigned to the Federal Pilot Community 

Vaccination Center in Greenbelt, Md.

§ Army Col. Larry D. Fletcher, deputy director, Office 

of the Joint Surgeon, National Guard Bureau

§ Air Force Col. Russell W. Kohl, commander, 131st 

Medical Group, Missouri National Guard

§ Army Staff Sgt. Shavonne Santiago, combat medic 

and medical section noncommissioned officer in 

charge, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 

101st Engineer Battalion, Massachusetts National 

Guard

§ Army Spc. Garett Rollag, combat medic, 2nd 

Battalion, 134th Infantry Regiment (Airborne), 

Nebraska National Guard

Background:

The National Guard currently has 2,250 vaccinators at more than 1,000 fixed and mobile sites helping 

vaccinate our communities against COVID-19. This week, the National Guard hit the milestone of 6 

million vaccinations provided to the civilian population.

Dialogue:

[Name] [QUESTION/RESPONSE]

Wayne Hall (Moderator) [00:04:40] All right, folks, I know that we still are anticipating a few members 

of the media to join us, but I've got one o'clock and in the interest of 

time, I'm going to go ahead and press on. So good afternoon. Thank you 

for joining us for today's media roundtable, focusing on the National 
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Guard COVID-19 vaccination efforts that to date have successfully 

assisted in vaccinating more than 6 million members of the American 

public. Before we begin, I want to remind everyone that this event is on 

the record. The National Guard has been at the forefront of the COVID19 pandemic response across the nation, providing support to federal, 

state and local authorities. Last June, 47,000 Guardsmen and women 

supported COVID operations, and currently more than 31,800 remain on 

duty, battling the pandemic in all 50 states, three territories in the District 

of Columbia. The depth and breadth of knowledge and skills that the 

National Guard brings to the COVID-19 fight is making a difference in 

the communities they serve ..it's truly about neighbors helping neighbors. 

This round table will last approximately 45 minutes. And we'll begin 

with opening remarks and introductions from the panel members. 

Today's panel includes Army Brig. Gen. Adam Flasch, Maryland 

National Guard Director of Joint Staff and dual status commander for 

Title 10 active duty troops assigned to the Federal Pilot Community 

Vaccination Center in Greenbelt, Maryland. Army Col Larry Fletcher, 

deputy director, Office of the Joint Surgeon National Guard Bureau. Air 

Force Col. Russell W. Kohl, commander of the 101st Medical Group, 

Missouri National Guard. Army Staff Sgt. Shavonne Santiago, Medical 

Section, noncommissioned officer in charge, Headquarters and 

Headquarters Company, 101st Engineer Battalion, Massachusetts 

National Guard; and Army Spc. Garett Rollag, combat medic with the 

2nd Battalion, 134th Infantry Regiment (Airborne), Nebraska National 

Guard. We'll begin with Colonel Fletcher for a national perspective. 

Army Col. Larry Fletcher, deputy director, National Guard Bureau Joint Surgeon's Office 

[00:06:45] Hey, thank you, Mr Hall. and good afternoon, everybody. I'm 

Colonel Larry Fletcher, the deputy director for the National Guard 

Bureau Joint Surgeon's Office. But before I get started, I do want to 

recognize that the news media. So earlier this week, it was national hug a 

news person day. But because of social distancing CDC rules, we can't 

hug. But we did want to at least thank you for everything that you do in 

supporting our free press, as well as helping us get our message out 

there. So thank you. But thank you also for taking the time to allow us to 

share the incredible work that our Army and Air National Guard 

members are doing to support their communities through the COVID-19

pandemic. We are proud of all of the National Guard soldiers and airmen 

who made it possible to administer; actually, we just reached this 

yesterday, over 6 million COVID vaccines to our citizens across the 

nation. We could not have made this happen without the support of the 
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Guardsmen's families, the civilian employers and the communities. And 

to this we say thank you. The guard continues to work hand-in-hand with 

our state and federal partners to accelerate the distribution and 

administration of COVID-19 vaccines to the American public. Each 

vaccine administered decreases the chances of another American dying 

of COVID-19. And we are so humbled to be a part of this mission and to 

help our fellow Americans. Right now we have over 31,000 Guardsmen 

directly supporting COVID operations in their respective states, 

territories and in the District of Columbia. The National Guard is directly 

involved in administering at nearly 1,000 vaccine sites across 40 states. 

More than 2,200 National Guard medical personnel are putting shots in 

arms every single day. Another unique way that the Guard has supported 

the effort is through a mobile vaccine teams that travel around the state, 

they go to small, and often underserved, communities. This allows the 

state and the partner agencies to reach some of our most vulnerable 

populations. So what have we learned from this past year and from the 

vaccine mission? What we've learned is this has proven to be a team 

effort. The National Guard has partnered with FEMA, Health and 

Human Services, the U.S. Public Health Service, as well as our state and 

local governments. These partnerships ensure that we meet the mission 

requirements and that our friends and our neighbors, families, and that 

our loved ones are getting the vaccines. In fact, the commission corps of 

the Public Health Service within HHS may soon provide up to 600 

public health service officers to work alongside our Guardsmen to 

provide vaccine and support vaccine operations to remote and 

underserved populations. We're extremely proud and are in awe, every 

single day at the commitment and the professionalism of our National 

Guardsmen. They have volunteered to put their lives, their careers, their 

school and their families on hold in order to serve their community, their 

state and this great nation. Thank you. And I look forward to your 

questions. 

Wayne Hall (Moderator) [00:09:58] Thank you, sir. Brigadier General Flash, would you please tell us 

about the efforts in Maryland? 

Army Brig. Gen. Adam Flasch, Maryland National Guard director of joint staff and Dual-Status 

Commander for Title 10 Active Duty troops assigned to the Federal 

Pilot Community Vaccination Center in Greenbelt, Md. [00:10:05] 

So good morning. As you stated I am Brigadier General Flasch, the 

director of the joint staff of the Maryland National Guard. And as of 

today, I'll be starting a new role as a dual status commander for an Air 
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Force unit assigned here to the Community Vaccination Center in 

Greenbelt, Maryland. It's been a long and challenging year for the people 

of the state and for our nation, and for the Maryland National Guard. But 

it's also been a year where we can work together with local communities 

and we've poured every ounce of our energy into defeating COVID-19 

and restoring normalcy, normalcy to our everyday lives. Today, as the 

140 active-duty members, mostly Air Force members from all over our 

nation, come together to the Greenbelt site. We all come together in an 

effort to make a difference in the community. Specifically, the 

community in Greenbelt, focused on the social vulnerability index is a 

critical part of our mission to ensure that underserved populations have 

their needs met by this site, as we do so throughout the state of 

Maryland. For nearly the entire year, over 1,000 members of Maryland 

National Guard consistently remain on duty to combat the spread of 

COVID-19. Most recently, the Maryland National Guard directly 

administered more than 100,000 shots in arms across our state. Our 

Maryland National Guard troops are now supporting five mass 

vaccination centers and about a dozen other vaccination locations 

throughout Maryland, with our mobile vaccination teams. I would be 

remiss if I didn't also mention a teammate of mine who about two 

months ago, immediately after returning from D.C. as the Task Force 

Capitol commander, was immediately appointed by Governor Larry 

Hogan as our Equity Task Force commander. She has put together a 

tremendous capability with missions, partnering with local departments 

of health, community stakeholders to bridge the health outcomes divide 

throughout the state of Maryland. It is because of her effort in the Equity 

Task Force effort that our team here at Greenbelt are able to so 

successfully get access to this social vulnerability index communities. It 

is because of General Birckhead efforts that we are being successful and 

have had an over 60-percent rate of vaccination for community members 

from those underserved communities. In fact, I'll be the first Maryland 

National Guard member to serve as a dual status commander that in 

about five dollars we'll get to a good cup of coffee at Starbucks. I'll close 

with the basic fundamental. This is why the National Guard exists where 

we are virtually in every community on a daily basis. We serve our 

neighbors, our families in our state, we truly are citizen soldiers and 

airmen. And it's my pleasure to speak with you today. I look forward to 

your questions. 

Wayne Hall (Moderator) [00:12:52] Thank you, sir. Next, we'll go to Colonel Kohl. 
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Air Force Col. Russell W. Kohl, commander, 131st Medical Group, Missouri National Guard 

[00:12:57] Thank you, I appreciate the opportunity to highlight the great 

work of our men and women of the Missouri National Guard. Almost 

1,000 troops that we have had mobilized in support of COVID for the 

entire past year. I think it's important to start by recognizing, though, that 

the rest of our work didn't stop. And so as Guardsmen, they are still 

accomplishing deployments and fulfilling our federal mission, which 

within Missouri includes the continued strategic deterrence through the 

protection of the Total Force Integrated B2 fleet, which is kind of a 

unique situation for us as we look at what we have done as a National 

Guard in Missouri to support COVID over the past year. There are a 

variety of missions that I think it's important to recognize from manning 

food banks - and we actually delivered meals to children during school 

closings; establishing and supporting COVID testing teams, both fixed 

facilities and mobile teams across the state. Our medical personnel were 

able to establish and man alternate care facilities early on during the 

outbreak when our local hospitals became overwhelmed and then really 

coordinating a whole of government planning and deployment of 

vaccinations across Missouri. When the state of Missouri first looked at a 

vaccination plan last year with the CDC, the National Guard was called 

up immediately to assist with that sort of planning and the logistics 

associated with it. And then finally supporting our federal partners. We 

in the National Guard, that's what we do on a daily basis to support other 

partners. And so we actually just earlier this week supported FEMA and 

the establishment of a Federal Type 2 mass vaccination event in St. 

Louis. And we're able to share our experience doing that over the past six 

months with them as they begin a large mass vaccination site. You know, 

I would say that it's really important to recognize the outstanding results 

that the Missouri National Guard has really accomplished. And I want to 

echo at the national level. We, as the National Guard are rapidly 

approaching three hundred thousand doses delivered to the citizens of 

Missouri. By our calculations, given the way that our mortality rate was 

calculated in Missouri, that's over 500 lives of Missourians that we've 

been able to save directly through our work as the Missouri National 

Guard. One of the things that I think is also particularly unique, which 

was mentioned, is since the very beginning, we have had a very high 

emphasis on health equity. We as the National Guard want to support our 

civilian counterparts and we recognize that the health care community 

has great reach and great capabilities. And so we've really focused our 

teams and our outstretch activities on first rural underserved areas in 

areas that essentially had primary care deserts and there were not local 
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health infrastructure. And we've been able to move that into underserved 

populations, particularly in urban St. Louis and urban Kansas City, in 

order to really make sure that we're approaching this from a health equity 

perspective, which is a really strong emphasis from our governor. I 

would also close with just two other items before we move on to 

questions. One of those, as you know, as as has been mentioned, where 

I'm a drill-status guardsman, we have a lot of drill-status guardsmen that 

are mobilized in support of COVID. And while you might think that it 

could be really hard being pulled away from folks, families and deployed 

across the state, one of the things that I think it is important to recognize 

is the impact that this has had on morale. A lot of folks actually joined 

the National Guard to help their fellow citizens. And this is one of the 

few times over my 20 years that you can directly see each day exactly 

the impact that you're having on folks. And so I've got to say that a lot of 

folks, particularly some of our aircraft maintenance guys, those sorts of 

things, don't always get to see immediately the impact. But having a 

thousand people move through a vaccination event and seeing the impact 

that you have has been really outstanding for our personnel. And then 

finally, I would just close by saying it has been a great impact for our 

entire state government of Missouri in that our governor at the beginning 

forced a very strong interagency cooperation. And I think that has 

actually been a great effort and will pay dividends for us in the future as 

we have worked right alongside every branch of government from the 

Department of Health, and Senior Services, State Emergency 

Management, down to the Missouri Department of Transportation. And 

so it's a great privilege for us as the Missouri National Guard to do this. 

We're really excited about it. And as you said at the beginning, this is a 

great example of neighbors helping neighbors, which is the reason that 

the Guard exists. Happy to take any questions. Thanks. 

Wayne Hall (Moderator) [00:17:51] Thank you, sir. Staff Sergeant Santiago, tell us a little bit about 

your role in the effort. 

Army Staff Sgt. Shavonne Santiago, combat medic and medical section noncommissioned officer in 

charge, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 101st Engineer 

Battalion, Massachusetts National Guard [00:18:03] Hi there, thank 

you, Mr. Hall, and thanks for having me. I'm Staff Sgt. Santiago and I 

am the NCOIC of the medical section within the 1st Engineer Battalion. 

As of late November, I’ve had the opportunity to serve on the task force 

here in Boston, Massachusetts, myself and about 13 other soldiers are in 

the city of Brockton. Our mission here is basically to assist Brockton 
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Neighborhood Health Community Center and vaccinate as many as 

many individuals as possible. Hopefully in later days will be able to get 

the entire community in here to vaccinate. And as Colonel Kohl said, it's 

an incredible experience for most of us being National Guardsmen. This 

is our home. This is our communities, our families. So it's a complete 

honor to be here and serve them as well. And again, thank you for having 

me. 

Wayne Hall (Moderator) [00:18:53] Thank you. And now, Specialist Garett Rollag, would you please 

tell us a little bit about your role in this effort. 

Army Spc. Garett Rollag, combat medic, 2nd Battalion, 134th Infantry Regiment (Airborne), 

Nebraska National Guard [00:19:01] I'm Spc. Garett Rollag, I'm a 

medic with an airborne infantry battalion in the Nebraska Army National 

Guard. I've been in the National Guard for under three years, pretty much 

right after high school. Since April of 2020, I've been involved with the 

COVID-19 response. I was initially on a mobile testing team, did that 

pretty much until about July of 2020 and switched over to the civilian

side until about January. Once January rolled around, I got called back 

up to do vaccinations through the National Guard. It's actually really, 

really a good time. I administered over 3,100 shots by myself. The 

Nebraska Army National Guard or Nebraska National Guard has 

administered over 50,000 since the beginning of January. Great to be in 

my own hometown. Doing it here in Omaha, I actually administered both 

doses to my grandmother. It's also been really nice seeing a bunch of 

other people that I know. Like I saw my high school counselor. I got to 

give him his vaccinations as well as a bunch of friends that I have in 

college and in high school as well. 

Wayne Hall (Moderator) [00:20:23] Great, thank you very much, thank you to all of our panelists. 

Before we begin, we respectfully ask that all participants please state 

their name and affiliation before asking a question. Actually, I will call 

on the media and also being respectful of time, we ask media, please 

keep it to one question and a follow up. And if time allows we'll ask for 

additional questions. If we are unable to answer any of your questions, 

will take note of it and get back to you as soon as we can after this event 

is done. I want to remind all members of the media we are actually 

recording the roundtable and we'll make that link available at a later 

time. And a transcript of the event will be available. And National Guard 

will as soon as we can get the transcript back, probably tomorrow. With 
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that, we'll begin AP Lita Baldor, are you on the line and do you have a 

question? 

Lita Baldor, Associated Press [00:21:18] Hi, yes, thanks, I. This is for general, you can probably to 

discuss, but can you tell me what percentage or what numbers you have 

so far, the numbers of actual National Guard members who have been 

vaccinated, one shot or two shots, and for you all who are also in your 

state, what are you seeing even anecdotally in terms of your members? 

Are they taking the shots or not? And is it a requirement at all? I know 

it's voluntary to get the shot, but is there a requirement or strongly 

encouraged of those who are actually administering or helping to 

administer at a number of these vaccination locations. Is it strongly 

suggested or required at all that they be vaccinated as they are dealing 

with the public? Thank you. 

Wayne Hall (Moderator) [00:22:17] Thank you, Lita. I do think that's probably best suited for Colonel 

Fletcher. Sir, can you address that? 

Army Col. Larry Fletcher [00:22:23] Yes. Thanks for the the question. This Is Colonel Fletcher from 

the surgeon's office? Yeah. So to date, we have given vaccines to close to 

190,000 National Guardsmen, 187,700 to be exact. We have fully 

vaccinated 76,450 National Guardsmen, and that's about somewhere 

around 18 percent of our force. And and then we have at least one dose 

for 111,300 individuals. Unfortunate, but I would say unfortunately is 

not a requirement for these it's still under EUA Emergency Use 

Authorization so it's not required for them to receive the vaccine. 

However, under the schema that was put out by CDC and by DOD, these 

vaccines were offered initially to all of the individuals that were 

supporting COVID operations in any capacity to ensure that they were 

the first available to receive the vaccine and in all of the other individuals 

were encouraged to receive the vaccine. 

Army Brig. Gen. Adam Flasch [00:23:41] I'd like to do a follow up on that question real quick, it's 

General Flash, the requirement for members working on the community, 

obviously the leadership wants to ensure that every teammate we have 

has an opportunity to get the vaccine in, to discuss the benefits of the 

vaccine, both for their health and safety and that of the community. But 

at no time our teammates interact with the community and are not in a 

fully CDC approved standard of masking and gloves. And so for those 

members that make the choice not to, they're still whether you're 

vaccinated or not, any interaction with local community requires you to 
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meet CDC standards. So the safety of our soldiers and airmen are 

paramount and equally so is the safety of the communities we're serving. 

Wayne Hall (Moderator) [00:24:32] Thank you, sir, I appreciate that, Lita. Do you have a follow up or 

are you OK? 

Lita Baldor, Associated Press [00:24:38] No, I'll something else. Go ahead. 

Wayne Hall (Moderator) [00:24:40] OK, CBS News, do we have a representative on the line from CBS 

News. Nothing heard. Fox News. Nothing heard onto NBC News, are 

you on the line? Mosheh. Nothing heard. CNBC, Amanda, are you on 

the line? Nothing heard we'll go to Davis Winkie from Military Times. 

Davis Winkie, Military Times [00:25:29] Hey Wayne, and thanks for all your work putting this 

together, Davis Winkie from Military Times, my question was for Staff 

Sgt. Santiago. I know that Spc. Rollag said that he had vaccinated his 

own grandmother. My question for you, staff sergeant is being in your 

community, have you vaccinated anyone you know, any family members 

or anything cool like that? 

Staff Sgt. Shavonne Santiago [00:25:59] Mr. Winkie. Yes, I did, I had the opportunity of vaccinating 

my grandmother as well. I do live in this within this community also, and 

with her being 74 with comorbidities, it was very important for me to 

educate her on the whole vaccination process. Never mind have the 

opportunity to it myself. So it was it was incredible. And now we can 

spend time together and share those hugs and all that love without fear of 

her potentially contracting the virus and possibly deathly ill. So it was an 

honor and it was excellent. I'm happy to do so. 

Wayne Hall (Moderator) [00:26:35] Did you have a follow up, Davis? 

Davis Winkie, Military Times [00:26:37] Yeah, one follow up, this could be for Santiago or Rollag. 

How does it feel to be on the front lines seeing this thing through after 

having participated in the early days as well? 

Staff Sgt. Shavonne Santiago [00:26:51] Personally, it's wonderful we have answers to their questions, 

we have the ability to give them what they need to protect them, keep 

them safe, keep their families safe. And again, as well as educate them 

and instill trust in the community. And then they know that we are here. 

And and this isn't to divide anybody based on opinions. This is just this 
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is medicine. This is science. And it's a hope for us to again, all get back 

to our normal lives and and hold each other again. Thank you. 

Wayne Hall (Moderator) [00:27:22] Specialst Rollag would you care to add anything?

Spc. Garett Rollag [00:27:26] It's kind of nice because initially when I was doing a testing every now 

and again, someone would ask, when's the vaccine coming? When is this 

going to end? And it's kind of nice to at least feel like things are finally 

starting to have a change towards normal again, and I would just say it's 

good. It's a really nice relief. 

Wayne Hall (Moderator) [00:27:50] Thank you. I want to circle back to CNBC, Amanda, are you with 

us? 

Amanda Macias, CNBC [00:27:57] Hi there, sorry. Issue with mute button. I just have two quick 

questions. One being as states start to open up like California, for 

instance, and some of these mandates come down, are you seeing any 

concerns from any of the Guardsmen about your efforts addressing 

COVID? Then there's still some federal health experts that are saying 

that we still need to we're not out of the dark yet. So what's sort of the 

guidance from the National Guard since you guys are on the front lines 

for this? And then my second question, if anyone can address is, are the 

finances in place? Are you guys still thinking that you're going to require 

a little bit more federal assistance in terms of getting over this pandemic? 

Wayne Hall (Moderator) [00:28:41] I think for the first question, We'll see if Colonel Kohl can offer 

some perspective. Sir, you're on mute.

Col. Russell W. Kohl [00:28:53] Well, of course, it wouldn't be a teleconference if somebody wasn't 

speaking on mute. Thank you. It's an interesting question, you know, so 

in the military, we're in the business of implementing policy as opposed 

to designing policy. So what I would say in direct response to you, 

though, is that, you know, I was mobilized first to support COVID last 

February. And I've got to echo Sergeant Santiago and Specialist Rollag 

about the difference in the situation that we were in back then versus 

now in that sense of hopefulness for the future, that sense of recognizing 

that you have more tools in your tool bag that you can use for the 

situation. And so I think the way that I would I would best answer your 

question about what's kind of the perspective of the folks on the front 

lines as we see some of these things, is we recognize that there are lots of 

different tools that go into place in order to help us get through the 
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COVID pandemic. Vaccinations are an incredibly important part of that, 

but that's not the only tool. And so we certainly continue to follow CDC 

guidelines. I think it's important for folks, regardless necessarily of what 

your local policies are, with regards to having to wear a mask versus not 

wearing a mask. We're excited to follow the CDC science that that tells 

us what the smart thing is to do and to continue to protect the civilians 

around us. So you'll still see us social distancing. You'll still see us in 

masks, and you'll see us trying to encourage as many folks as possible to 

get the vaccine, because I think it really is a multistep process for us to 

get through this pandemic and get back to any sort of normalcy to the 

extent that there will be such a thing as a normalcy as opposed to a new 

normal after the pandemic aspect is over. 

Wayne Hall (Moderator) [00:30:56] Thank you, sir. General Flash, do you have anything from the 

Maryland perspective to add? 

Brig. Gen. Adam Flasch [00:31:02] No, I simply echo those comments. We are the instruments of 

national power, not the deciders of and what the elected leaders do at the 

national and local level is in the state of their decision. And as stated, 

you know, there's good, solid science between masking, social distancing 

and handwashing as a as a means to deny the virus a vector until we can 

get vaccinated. And it's just a personal experience here as we brought in 

Air Force, active-duty Air Force from all over the United States to serve 

at the Greenbelt federal site. There was a high degree of reluctance to 

take the vaccine. And instead of telling folks to have to do we have to 

ask them to consider it. And you laid the science out in front and we 

talked about the responsibilities we had to each other and to keep each 

other safe and the means to do it both through masking and social 

distance but also through vaccinations. And I'm pleased to report we've 

got a very high uptake in the number of airmen willing to take the 

vaccine and protect themselves, their families, and to move forward as

we head towards a new standard of normal. 

Wayne Hall (Moderator) [00:32:14] Thank you, sir. 

Col. Russell W. Kohl [00:32:15] And Mr. Hall, if you don't mind, I'd like to echo that point for just a 

second. I think it goes a little bit to the question earlier to about folks 

who may have hesitancy about the vaccine. You know, I'm a family 

physician by training, so I've given lots of speeches over the years about 

vaccines and the pros and the cons and the risks and all that, and what I 

would say is that I have not run across military personnel who were 
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adamantly opposed. They simply had questions and wanted to 

understand. And what we're seeing, by and large, is that when we're able 

to provide folks with the best information and answer their questions, 

that they're able to make an informed decision. And that's all that we can 

really ask of folks and that that has been very successful across our wing. 

Wayne Hall (Moderator) [00:33:02] Thank you, sir. Amanda with regard to your second question, I'm 

not really sure that I understand, or that our panel members today can 

really address questions on funding. Can you clarify that question, 

please? 

Amanda Macias, CNBC [00:33:15] You know, I think I'm good on there. Thanks so much for your stay 

healthy. And thanks so much for your time. 

Wayne Hall (Moderator) [00:33:22] OK, thank you. Moving on to Elizabeth Howe from Defense One. 

What are you on the line? 

Elizabeth Howe, Defense One [00:33:27] I am. Can you hear me? 

Wayne Hall (Moderator) [00:33:30] Yes. 

Elizabeth Howe, Defense One [00:33:30] Thanks so much for doing this. I had a question about kind of 

the infection rates. I'm not sure if this information is available, but we 

saw a few spikes in the National Guard population specifically in late 

January, early February. I wanted to know if there was any sort of 

increase in infection based on the number of troops that are doing 

vaccination efforts. And if you guys are experiencing any sort of increase 

in infection rates among the troops that are doing vaccine operations, if 

there are any additional prevention measures that are being in place or if 

that's that's a concern that has come up and how it's being addressed. 

Thanks. 

Wayne Hall (Moderator) [00:34:09] Thank you, Elizabeth. I think Colonel Fletcher is probably best 

suited to answer that question, sir. 

Col. Larry D. Fletcher [00:34:14] Yeah, just, so back in January, February, we did have a data 

collection issue that was reported up. And so that has since been

resolved. We are not tracking any increase outdie the general population 

and in COVID positives or deaths and as well as for those people that are 

out there on the on the front lines.
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Wayne Hall (Moderator) [00:34:40] General Flasch. Do you have any comment on that as well? 

Brig. Gen. Adam Flasch [00:34:46] I'll tell you something, we try very closely. Right now, our infection 

rate is below the state standard by several percentage points. We're 

somewhere up around to slightly below two percent. And it's it ebbs and 

flows. But again, it's not sexy as far as how to combat it. It's just simply 

masking, gloving and washing your hands and sanitizing the work areas, 

which is something we know, that's something we can continue to do a 

message as we continue the vaccine and arms race as much as possible. 

Wayne Hall (Moderator) [00:35:20] Thank you, sir. Elizabeth, you have a follow up?

Elizabeth Howe, Defense One [00:35:25] No, that should be all for me. 

Wayne Hall (Moderator) [00:35:26] Thank you. OK, we'll move on to Hope Seck from Military.com. 

Are you on the line? 

Hope Seck, Military.com [00:35:33] I'm on the line, thank you so much for this helpful discussion, my 

question and forgive me, I'm not going to recall the speaker, but 

somebody mentioned the impact on morale of having this specific 

mission to do and seeing the direct impacts of that. Can you talk about 

the benchmarks by which you can say that you're seeing an improvement 

in roles or something with recruiting and retention or surveys? Or can 

you just kind of go into more detail about what you're seeing there? 

Wayne Hall (Moderator) [00:36:12] Thank you, I think Colonel Kohl might be able to address that and 

then General Flasch may have some comments to add as well. 

Col. Russell W. Kohl [00:36:18] Yeah, so I would say I don't have the benchmarks yet, you know, those 

surveys that we do within the units are done on an annual basis. And so I 

would expect over the next few months we'll be able to see what that 

actually looks like over a year to year basis. But what I've based that 

discussion on is basically walking among the troops. And so we have 33 

different active teams across Missouri. And by nature of the job that I'm 

doing, I see most of them. And so I have the opportunity to generally be 

from six to eight different events all across the state on an almost weekly 

basis. And I will tell you that when I talk to a young airman about what it 

is that they're seeing and what it is that they're doing, they're tired. 

They're hungry. Sometimes they would like to go home or just sit down 

after having stood on a parking lot for a very long amount of time during 

the day. But without a doubt, every one of them ultimately smiles, looks 
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at me and says, you know, this is what I actually got into the Guard for. I 

will throw one other item on there. So our Army colleagues, at least in 

Missouri, we have a lot of flooding on an annual basis. And so a lot of 

our Army colleagues get to use their military skills on an annual basis for 

state emergency duty. A stealth bomber mechanic is not generally called 

upon to have a state emergency duty, but that has not been the case. 

We've been able to to let folks actually see how they can help their 

neighbors. We really focused on logistics and support with the National 

Guard. Our medical folks are, by and large medical folks in the civilian 

world. And so us pulling in our doctors and nurses in the Guard would 

have actually harmed our community. We would have been pulling away 

the civilian providers who needed our help. But what we were able to do 

is to take folks that were not necessarily engaged in the civilian medical 

community and make them really force multipliers. And that's the 

exciting thing for them, is to be able to look and see that, hey, you know,

when I finished my tech school for for being a B-2 maintenance guy, I 

didn't think I was going to be able to help on state emergency duty. But it 

turns out I am and I'm able to see this make a difference. So that's that's 

the only metric I've got right now is the leadership my walking around 

survey. 

Wayne Hall (Moderator) [00:38:50] Thank you, sir. General Flasch, do you have anything you'd like to 

add? 

Brig. Gen. Adam Flasch [00:38:54] Yes, so our the metrics for our retention is we track on a monthly

basis get fed up to both army and air leadership, and we've exceeded our 

retention goals for last fiscal year and we also exceeded our recruiting 

goals last fiscal year. And that's the macro level. But I would like to give 

our our two soldiers an opportunity to tell the truth. There's nothing 

worse than a general quoting statistics when you've got two real live 

teammates on the line who are the very people that I would love to keep 

in uniform for a career. So I'd like to yield my time to them. 

Wayne Hall (Moderator) [00:39:31] Absolutely, sir. Thank you, Sergeant Santiago and Specialist 

Rollag anything else you'd like to add to that. 

Spc. Garett Rollag [00:39:41] Sure, she can go first. 

Wayne Hall (Moderator) [00:39:47] I think he's going to defer to you, 
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Staff Sgt. Shavonne Santiago [00:39:50] Yes, being in the National Guard, we have a whole life outside 

of this. We do, but for most of us, we do drill on the weekends, 

especially the younger soldiers who didn't have a chance to maybe 

support Operation Iraqi Freedom or Enduring Freedom. So this is 

something that they get to do versus a simulated training event or a 

notional training event. This is real life. So when you even growing up, 

you have that question of how can somebody do this? Could you do that? 

Well, why why am I doing this? Well, now they have that. Why all this 

training, all this education is for a reason. It's for exactly what we're 

doing right here. So to touch upon the morale, I don't think any of my 

soldiers on this team have come in without a smile or without the passion 

and compassion to be here. And if they are having a tough day, if they're 

a little homesick or whatnot, that smile on that person's face, if they just 

vaccinated that that bit of hope that that individual feels for their a better 

future, I think flip's that maybe cranky morning self back to a happy 

afternoon self ... that's all I got for you.

Wayne Hall (Moderator) [00:40:58] Thank you, Specialist Rollag, anything you'd like to add about the 

morale that you've the impact on morale, that this mission's had for you? 

Spc. Garett Rollag [00:41:07] So I, I really enjoy the recovery mission. Actually, you get a lot of people, 

you know, thanking you for it. Every now and again, you get you get 

someone they're really emotional about it because they're happy that they 

don't really have to fear the virus as much as they did, especially if 

they're predisposed. And it's also really nice because I'm going to school 

right now as a emergency management major. And this mission in itself 

actually helps me gain experience for any sort of future employment. 

Currently, I'm slated to have orders up until the end of May, actually 

extend that depending on school. But I really I really do enjoy this 

mission and I enjoy the other soldiers and other airmen that are on my 

team. I really do enjoy this mission. I'm glad that I have the privilege to 

serve on this mission. 

Wayne Hall (Moderator) [00:42:16] Thank you very much. We'll now move on to Cory Dickstein from 

Stars and Stripes. Are you with us? 

Corey Dickstein, Stars and Stripes [00:42:21] I am, thank you. Just a quick one for the vaccinators on 

the panel, just kind of following up on what Specialist RRollag just was 

talking about. Can you give an example of kind of over-the-top 

emotional reactions you guys have seen from people and kind of 
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generally just how we're, you know, what are people like when they get 

especially probably to that second dose? 

Wayne Hall (Moderator) [00:42:53] Garett, or Specialist Rollag, would you like to go first? 

Spc. Garett Rollag [00:42:55] Yeah, sure. I've seen a lot of people will kind of choke up a little bit when 

you ask all the questions. And then usually once the shot is finished, 

they'll be a little bit teary eyed and you always kind of ask and make sure 

everything's OK. Unfortunately, I have had this happen a few times 

where it's been someone who is getting a shot to actually attend the 

funeral of someone who had passed away from COVID. A few times 

that's what I've seen. Also, it's just people that are really happy that they 

get to go visit family again. I've had a lot of elderly people that are like, 

oh, I can finally go visit my children and my grandchildren again. 

Oftentimes it's usually out of state and somewhere that's a little bit more

of a hotter area than Nebraska. And this is really, really kind of 

gratifying to see that that reaction out of people. 

Wayne Hall (Moderator) [00:44:07] Thank you. That was moving .. Sergeant Santiago, anything like 

that?

Staff Sgt. Shavonne Santiago [00:44:14] I'll piggyback off of Specialist Rollag over here it's very 

emotional experiences for a lot of them, especially in the Brockton 

community. We have a lot of individuals from different countries and or 

underserved, underdeveloped populations here as well. So the fact that 

they have the opportunity to be vaccinated here it's incredible for them. 

They're very gratuitous. They get to, again, go to their countries, go see 

their families, be together again. The appreciation is I can't even put a put 

a word to it. I mean, even little treats that they come in on their second 

vaccine. You gave me your first vaccine. I thought of you when I saw 

this in the store and they'll give you a little prayer cards or, you know, 

little little trinkets just to remember you. They want you to remember 

them. It's it's it's beautiful. 

Wayne Hall (Moderator) [00:45:04] Thank you very much. Moving on in the interest of time. Do we 

have Rebecca Kirkman with us? Rebecca. Nothing heard Mosheh from 

NBC. Have you joined? Susan Phillips from WUSA, have you joined? 

Nothing heard, and with that, I think I've been through my oh, Ellen 

Mitchell from The Hill. Are you here? Ellen, are you able to come off 

mute? 
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Ellen Mitchell, The Hill [00:45:53] Yes, no question at this time. Thank you. 

Wayne Hall (Moderator) [00:45:56] OK, thank you. I think I've been through my list. Is there anybody 

else on the line who has a question or would like to offer up another 

another question? 

Hope Seck, Military.com [00:46:09] I've got a quick one, and I don't know if it's answerable or not, but 

is there any sense of timeline in terms of when you all might be mission 

complete? This is Hope Seck of Miliaty.com. 

Wayne Hall (Moderator) [00:46:23] Hope that's that may be too premature, but I will let the panel, if 

there's anybody on the panel who who has any thoughts on that. 

Brig. Gen. Adam Flasch [00:46:34] I got that same question this morning from Congressman Steny 

Hoyer and I and I'll give the same answer. It should be conditions based. 

It should be clear that we're not needed anymore. And that's when the 

mission is over. I think that'll be up to each governor to determine what 

the conditions are in their states, to determine when the Guard can hand 

over responsibility to the local authorities. And if the intention is, is to 

use the Guard as a bridging strategy until the private sector medical 

system can catch up. I don't like giving dates. That's the quickest way 

that generals get fired. So I'll tell you, when the people are well off, the 

vaccinations have taken hold and we've achieved a level of protection in 

our society that the standard systems that protect them are able to keep 

up. I think that will be the moment we can all high fives, maybe hug a 

little bit and have a barbecue. 

Wayne Hall (Moderator) [00:47:28] Very well put. Sir, thank you very much. Any any other reporters 

on the line with the initial question before we draw to a close? 

Davis Winkie, Military Times [00:47:37] Got one Wayne. 

Wayne Hall (Moderator) [00:47:37] Davis. Go ahead, please. 

Davis Winkie, Military Times [00:47:40] Hey, it's Davis Winkie military times again. I believe it was 

Colonel Kohl who had said earlier that he'd been on since February. Is 

that a continuous, unbroken period of orders since February? 

Col. Russell W. Kohl [00:47:56] No, fortunately, it was there was a break in there once we established 

our testing programs than those of us and more of an administrative role 

actually demobilized. We went back to our civilian jobs for a while. And 
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then as the vaccinations started to achieve their aims and we started to 

see that that program was going to be able to be rolled out, we were 

brought back on to conduct those sorts of planning and operations. So it's 

been it's been a break. 

Wayne Hall (Moderator) [00:48:28] Thank you, sir. Alright with that, ladies and gentlemen, will offer 

panel members, an opportunity for any closing remarks before we before 

we close things out. General, anything you'd like to add? 

Brig. Gen. Adam Flasch [00:48:44] I'd like to thank the staff sergeant and the specialist for their 

commitment to our Guard. It is soldiers and airmen like them every day 

that are making a difference in our community. I'd like to continue to just 

remind everybody that, you know, cliche as it is, we're in this together 

and being kind and patient with each other is probably the best way to 

get to a more perfect union. Get to a place where grandparents can see 

grandkids. People feel safe again. We can all sit in the same room and 

breathe the same air and not worry. Are we doing something or someone 

else doing something that might put us in a situation where we get ill? 

And and and I would just continue to thank our press for reporting on the 

things we're doing and in holding our government accountable. That's a 

unique responsibility here and in a democratic society, one that is 

absolutely critical to ensure that our citizens are the focus of our 

government. And with that, I'll turn it over. 

Wayne Hall (Moderator) [00:49:48] Thank you, sir. Colonel Fletcher, are you with us and you have any 

closing comments? 

Col. Larry D. Fletcher [00:49:53] Yeah. I also like to just, you know, Echo General Flasch and just 

thank you for taking the time to give us a chance to tell our story. I think 

it's a great story. You know, we are so, so proud of all of our soldiers, all 

of our airmen for the commitment that they make to their communities. 

And we look forward to future media engagements where we can 

continue to tell the story as we continue to support the states over. 

w [00:50:17] Thank you, sir. Colonel Kohl, any closing comments for you? 

Col. Russell W. Kohl [00:50:21] Yeah, my primary comment in closing would be, you know, over the 

time I've been in the military, I've served in Iraq, Afghanistan, the 

evacuation of Katrina, but there there have not been events over that 

entire career where I haven't been as or I have been as just daily 

reminded of how important it is, what we do in the National Guard. And 
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so I just really have to reiterate the value that exists both for the 

communities and for us as guardsmen to be able to help our neighbors. 

Our goal has always been neighbors helping neighbors and to be defense 

support to civil authorities. And so we've been privileged to provide that 

support. And the great thing about that is we'll still be here even when 

you send us home. So the question was asked earlier, what does end of 

mission look like for the National Guard? There's never been an end of 

mission. We finish one mission, we go home, we go back to our civilian 

jobs. But the next time our community needs us, we're right here again. 

And you just call us and we'll be right back. So it's it's been a great 

privilege and I'm really excited that gave us the opportunity to talk about 

the great work that our men and women are doing to thank you. 

Wayne Hall (Moderator) [00:51:34] Thank you, sir, Sergeant Santiago any closing comments? 

Staff Sgt. Shavonne Santiago [00:51:43] General Flasch, thank you for the opportunity. No, thank yous

necessary from us, we're happy to be here and truly honored. Thank you. 

Wayne Hall (Moderator) [00:51:52] And Specialist Rollag anything else you'd like to add? 

Spc. Garett Rollag [00:51:57] Just thank you for having me on here. I don't really has a whole lot to add 

I actually got to run back and I'm actually in the back room of one of our 

clinics right now. So I just gotta run back there after this and keep doing 

more shots, so. 

Wayne Hall (Moderator) [00:52:11] All right, thank you very much. So I'd like to thank our participants 

and guests for joining us this afternoon. And to the members of the 

media, if you have any additional questions, please do follow up with us 

by email. And as I said earlier, we we did record the event. It will be 

available later and we'll make that available as well as a transcript of the 

of the roundtable was the transcript is complete. Thank you very much. 

And that will end our event for today. 

[End of Audio]

Duration: 52 minutes

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