Photo By Sgt. 1st Class Shane Klestinski | Army Capt. Nicholas Fasanella, headquarters company commander for the 50th Regional...... read more read more
Soldiers of the 50th Regional Support Group (RSG) became the first deploying unit in the Florida Guard to begin receiving COVID-19 vaccinations on Jan. 8, 2021, at the Homestead armory in Homestead, Florida.
Prior to receiving the first of two rounds of the Moderna vaccination, Soldiers received an informational briefing from the Florida Guard’s Joint Forces Area Medical Detachment, which explained the potential side effects of the vaccine.
“As part of our efforts to offer the vaccine to the maximum number of Florida Guard Soldiers, we want to share the appropriate information prior to inoculating them,” said Sgt. 1st Class Marion Mau, the 50th RSG’s brigade medical noncommissioned officer. “While taking the vaccine is voluntary at this time, we are encouraging all of our Soldiers who can take the vaccine to do so.”
Approximately 40 Soldiers chose to receive the vaccine, to include its senior leadership team, Army Col. Ricardo Roig, 50th RSG commander, and Command Sgt. Maj. Robert Sweat, command sergeant major for the 50th RSG. Roig and Sweat were the first two Soldiers inoculated.
“As commander, I have a responsibility to ensure the welfare of my Soldiers, which includes their general health,” Roig said. “With our deployment coming up, maintaining the health of our Soldiers is critical to accomplishing our mission. If Soldiers get sick from COVID-19, we lose readiness.”
About 100 Soldiers from the 50th RSG are deploying to Poland in support of the European Deterrence Initiative mission as part of Operation Atlantic Resolve by providing management and base operations for several forward operating sites throughout the country. However, while mission readiness is always a priority, some Soldiers also had very personal reasons for wanting the vaccine.
“My wife is due to deliver our son in March,” said Chief Warrant Officer 2 Clifford Paulenka, mobility officer for the 50th RSG. “I’m expecting to go on leave around that time for the birth, and we decided that it would be safest for the baby if I got vaccinated ahead of time.”
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| Date Taken: | 01.08.2021 |
| Date Posted: | 01.14.2021 10:31 |
| Story ID: | 386850 |
| Location: | HOMESTEAD, FL, US |
| Web Views: | 122 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Deploying Florida Guardsmen receive COVID-19 vaccine, by SFC Shane Klestinski, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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