Here's how you know
 **Official websites use .mil** .mil
 **Secure .mil websites use HTTPS** lock () https://


Skip to main content (Press Enter).
 Toggle navigation
            
            
            
            
            National Guard
                        Always Ready Always There
                    National Guard
            
            Search National Guard:
                        Search
                    Search
                        Search National Guard:
                            Search
    Home

    News
    
        Guard News

    Overseas Operations

    State Partnership Program

    News Features

    RSS Feeds

    Press Releases

    Transcripts

    Features
    
        Features by Year

    Posture Statement

    State Partnership Program

    Special Features

    About the Guard
    
        How We Began

    Air National Guard

    Army National Guard    
    
        DEERS Soldier Journey

    Leader Development Program

    History and Heritage

    I am the Guard

    NGB Official March

    Leadership
    
        CNGB

    VCNGB

    SEA

    DANG

    DARNG

    Joint Staff    
    
        J-1

    J-2

    J-3

    J-4

    J-5

    J-6

    J-7

    J-8

    Personal Staff    
    
        Inspector General

    General Counsel

    Public Affairs

    Executive Support Services

    Legislative Liaison

    Special Staff    
    
        National Guard Office of Special Victims' Counsel

    Office of the Provost Marshal

    Office of the Joint Surgeon

    Director of Acquisitions

    Small Business Programs

    Chaplain

    Senior Leader Management Office

    Diversity Equity Inclusion

    Comptroller

    Resources    
        National Defense Strategy Implementation Guidance

    Community Engagement

    FOIA

    Fact Sheets

    Helpful Links

    Image Gallery
    
        News Images

    Graphics

    Historical Paintings

    Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

    Legislative Liaison

    Small Business Programs

    Social Media

    State Websites

    Videos    
    
        Featured Videos

    On Every Front

    2019 Videos

    2020 Videos

    2021 Videos

    Suicide Prevention

    Family Programs

    Environmental

    Trial Defense Service

    Holistic Wellness Challenge

    Contact Us  Home
  News
  Article View
 
 Download
 Details
 Share
 Download
 Details
 Share
 Download
 Details
 Share
 NEWS
 Wisconsin National Guard's Ebola team vital to state response, health official says By Capt. Joe Trovato
                Wisconsin National Guard
 VOLK FIELD, Wis. - Two hand-selected teams of Wisconsin National Guard Soldiers and Airmen trained at Volk Field, Wisconsin, Oct. 30-Nov. 2 to respond in the event of an Ebola Virus Disease outbreak in the state. The teams, known as Joint Healthcare Assistance Teams, could augment hospitals and medical professionals if the virus was to surface in Wisconsin. The National Guard will train and prepare a third JHAT Dec. 10. Made up of Wisconsin Army and Air National Guard nurses, physicians' assistants, doctors and medical liaison personnel, the teams trained at the state's Regional Emergency All-Climate Training Center at Volk Field, where officials from the Wisconsin Department of Health Services validated their training. The partnerships between the National Guard and other state agencies have been crucial to preparing the teams. "The Wisconsin National Guard is a welcome partner and a vital part of the state's overall Ebola preparedness," said Karen McKeown, State Health Officer. "I and other representatives from the Department of Health Services had an opportunity to observe their training for an Ebola response, and we are confident they would be ready to respond if needed. We are grateful for their willingness and abilities to protect the health and safety of Wisconsin residents." During their training, the teams received background information on the virus, how it can be transmitted and information on treatment procedures. Members of the Wisconsin National Guard 54th Civil Support Team and hazardous materials team representatives from the Appleton and La Crosse Fire Departments also instructed the JHATs how to properly don and doff protective suits without contaminating themselves or others and how to handle hazardous materials. The JHAT is made up of Guard members who already work as medical professionals in their civilian lines of work. In the National Guard, they also serve as doctors, nurses and other medical professionals. The teams were called to state active duty by the governor to prepare for a potential response. As a civilian, Capt. Jennifer Reetz is a nurse at the Veterans Affairs Hospital in Madison. She also serves as a nurse in the Wisconsin Army National Guard's medical detachment. She is relishing the opportunity to serve her state in a military role. "I am very excited, because as a nurse, sometimes my roles are limited in the military setting, and years ago when I became a nurse, I did it because I was passionate about patient care," she said. "So this is actually a chance for me to combine the two entities into one and really do what I'm passionate about, which is to take care of the ill." Her role on the team, she said, would be similar to what she does as a floor nurse in a civilian hospital, but the training at Volk Field taught her how to properly use protective equipment and procedures to ensure she keeps herself, her patients and the greater community safe. "This was all voluntary," she said. "We were approached with the mission to want to be part of this select team, and the selflessness of putting a person out there in the situation to care for a patient with this disease and be able to want to do it...It's definitely a great organization." "I think that it shows our commitment to the community," Nelson added. "I think it shows our willingness to want to protect them and put ourselves in front of the actual population." Maj. Gen. Donald Dunbar, the state's adjutant general, noted that the National Guard has a unique ability to respond to the needs of the state and nation, whatever they may be. "Whether we're serving in combat overseas, or we've been called to a wildfire, flood, tornado or to combat the spread of a deadly disease, the National Guard remains ready to answer the call when asked," he said. "Our organization was proud to partner with the Department of Health Services to develop this capability." Wisconsin Air National Guard Maj. Karice Stern, a physician and flight surgeon with the 176th Fighter Squadron, agreed. "It proves as Guard and Reserve troops that we are huge assets to the United States military," she said. "We are people who have civilian lives, civilian careers and civilian expertise that we can integrate into this military response but also enhance what the military is trying to do." Stern said the training that the JHAT received was well-researched and well-organized. She also noted the National Guard's ability to respond so quickly and build a professional team ready to assist. "I think that as Guard and Reservists we take a lot of pride in our ability to multi-task and to have multiple responsibilities, and I think the fact that we can step away from our civilian lives and or civilian jobs to respond when called upon is something we can be very proud of," she said. The training the JHAT received was in accordance with Center for Disease Control decontamination protocols and Wisconsin Department of Health Services training validation guidance.
 SHARE
 PRINT
 Health.mil Ebola page
 
 Pennsylvania Army Guardsmen Complete Combat Lifesaver Course
 By Sgt. 1st Class Shane Smith,
  38th Infantry Division Soldiers Conduct Warfighter Exercise
 By Master Sgt. Jeff Lowry,
  Puerto Rico Air National Guard Trains at Red Flag-Alaska
 By 156th Wing
  More
 Pennsylvania Army Guardsmen Complete Combat Lifesaver Course Guard News • 3 hours ago
 38th Infantry Division Soldiers Conduct Warfighter Exercise Guard News • 11 hours ago
 Puerto Rico Air National Guard Trains at Red Flag-Alaska Guard News • 11 hours ago
 Air National Guard Conducts Sentry Savannah Exercise Guard News • yesterday
 Hawaii Air National Guard Hosts Sentry Aloha Joint Exercise Guard News • yesterday
 2024 (196)  2023 (427)  2022 (526)  2021 (697)  2020 (936)  2019 (387)  2018 (323)  2017 (346)  2016 (245)  2015 (356)  2014 (399)  2013 (469)  2012 (556)  2011 (533)  2010 (1071)  2009 (357)  2008 (638)  2007 (295)  2006 (188)
 Home
 Site Map
 Privacy & Security Policy
 Link Disclaimer
 Web Policy
 DOD Information Quality
 DOD Open GovernmentFOIA
 No FEAR Act
 Accessibility/Section 508
 Contact Us
 Army Guard Careers
 Air Guard Careers
 USA.gov
                    
Staying Connected
    XYouTubeFlickrFacebookInstagram
                 
                
                

Hosted by Defense Media Activity - WEB.mil