Photo By Master Sgt. Michael Matkin | Airman 1st Class Samantha Gomez, 162nd Medical Squadron, aerospace medical technician,...... read more read more
The Arizona National Guard is partnering with their active duty counterparts from the 56th Medical Group at Luke Air Force Base, Glendale, Ariz. and the 355th Medical Group at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Tucson, Ariz. to vaccinate active duty members, dependents, Department of Defense civilians and military retirees.
Arizona National Guard’s State Surgeon, Army Col. Tom Leeper, said due to deployments, Luke AFB and Davis-Monthan AFB had identified opportunities where vaccination teams from the Arizona Guard could help supplement their losses.
“The partnership between the guard and active duty is really important because we help support one another, whether it’s in times of a pandemic or national contingencies,” said Air Force Capt. Jessica Bunker, 161st Medical Group, officer in-charge of Infection Prevention, currently serving on the COVID-19 response mission. “We [the National Guard] can help step up and support them in areas they need.”
Airmen from the 161st MDG don’t always have the opportunity to work alongside active duty service members; however, this mission has provided an opportunity for them to work alongside active duty airmen and see a different way of doing things. It also allowed them to build relationships that will benefit both components in the future.
“This mission is so important, because not only are we building bonds between the guard and active duty - as well as reservists - the civilians are seeing us working together, and that the military, as a whole, wants to keep people safe,” said Bunker.
Bunker also stated the partnership has been so successful that they were originally scheduled to be at Luke for only a few weeks supporting their mass vaccination effort; however, due to the joint team’s success, the guard has been requested to stay at least another month, if not two.
Senior Master Sgt. Jessica Munoz-Stewart, 162nd Medical Technician superintendent, currently serving on the COVID-19 response mission, said their medical group often works directly with Davis-Monthan’s 355th MGD during non-pandemic times and often relies on the active component’s help.
“This mission has really helped better our relationship with them,” said Munoz-Stewart. “It has allowed us to do some networking and receive training. They have been really welcoming. We are sharing roles and forming a really solid partnership.”
The Citizen Soldiers and Airmen from the Guard are not the only ones benefiting from this military partnership. For many of the active duty Airmen, this is the first time they have worked along side their reserve counterparts.
“We are a team. We are all working together trying to get the same mission done,” said Senior Airman Anthony Hernandez, 56th MGD, aerospace medical technician, currently serving in the joint vaccination team. “Having the Guard here has really helped out a lot, we’ve had a lot of people deploy, and they’ve provided a lot of help.”
The joint COVID-19 teams at Luke AFB and Davis-Monthan AFB have provided more than 5,000 vaccinations; providing, on average, 200 vaccinations per day.
To get vaccinated, you can reach out to your local medical group or go online to schedule an appointment. Walk-in vaccinations are also allowed.
| Date Taken: | 05.26.2021 |
| Date Posted: | 05.26.2021 11:34 |
| Story ID: | 397454 |
| Location: | PHOENIX, AZ, US |
| Web Views: | 158 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
This work, AZNG partners with active component to provide COVID-19 vaccinations; More than 5,000 vaccinations provided and counting, by MSgt Michael Matkin, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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