JOINT BASE CHARLESTON, S.C. -- Within 48 hours of notification, the Air Force Reserve mobilized more than 120 medical personnel across the nation to Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J. to help with the fight against COVID-19 in New York City.
Joint Base Charleston’s 315th Airlift Wing mobilized a doctor, physician assistant and four nurses who are in the process of departing for JBMDL then to New York City’s Jacob Javits Convention Center
“I couldn’t be more proud of the men and women of the 315th Airlift Wing who stepped up to take on this mission,” said Col. Adam Willis, commander of the 315th Airlift Wing.
Through the volunteer process, members were screened for impact to their civilian communities and professions.
“We did not want to pull a doc or nurse out of their community clinical practice or hospital if already ensconced in coronavirus operations,” said Col. Teresa Bisnett, Air Force Reserve Command’s surgeon general. As the top doctor at the command, Bisnett, her team of medical specialists, and the unit and wing commanders, took care to ensure the balance between civilian responsibilities and military requirements were considered in Citizen Airmen deployment selection.
“It was truly a team effort with our units to ensure the right Reservists were selected to provide this surge capability to our nation,” Bisnett added.