SAN ANTONIO (May 26, 2020) – On April 5, the Navy released NAVADMIN 100/20 requiring all servicemembers, civilians and spouses to wear cloth face coverings while on base whenever social distancing could not be practiced. On April 6, Navy Medicine Training Support Center (NMTSC) answered the call, forming a group known as the ‘Joint Mask Task Force.’ This group, made up of 23 staff members from two commands, was formed to meet the demand for face coverings in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“When the guidance was put out that everyone needed to have masks, I volunteered to take the lead on it,” said Senior Chief Hospital Corpsman Jennifer Jevne, leading chief petty officer for Staff Education and Training. “The need for masks presented itself and so did the opportunity to step up and do something about it.”
At the end of the first week, 120 masks were sewn and distributed. By week three, a total of 460 masks had been handmade and delivered.
After the demand to provide masks to all instructors and support staff was met, the Joint Mask Task Force began sewing and delivering masks to dependents and NMTSC students.
“Masks were on order, but the delivery times were 45 days or more due to the high demand,” said Jevne. “Our command answered the call and 21 Sailors and two civilians volunteered their time ensuring we were covered.”
The efforts of NMTSC’s Joint Mask Task Force resulted in the production and delivery of 2,970 masks to staff, students, and families, including 1,570 hand-sewn, 500 donated and 1,000 purchased masks.
“I am so thankful there were so many volunteers to make the cloth face coverings,” said Capt. Maryann C. Mattonen, commanding officer of NMTSC. “Because of the sewing talents of the Joint Mask Task Force, we were able to comply with the COVID-19 force health protection guidelines much sooner than expected.”
NMTSC is the Navy component command providing administrative and operational control over Navy staff and students assigned to the Medical Education and Training Campus (METC) and other medical programs in the San Antonio area.
Join the conversation with NMTSC online at www.facebook.com/NMTSCFSH/.
| Date Taken: | 05.26.2020 |
| Date Posted: | 06.03.2020 15:43 |
| Story ID: | 371341 |
| Location: | SAN ANTONIO, TX, US |
| Web Views: | 40 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, NMTSC’s ‘Joint Mask Task Force’ Meets Demand for Masks, by PO1 Shayla Hamilton, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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