Photo By Sgt. Finis Dailey | Airman 1st Class Marialuz Deavers, a combat medic with Nashville’s 118th Medical...... read more read more
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When COVID-19 appeared in Tennessee, Guardsmen from across the state were
ready to serve their community. Thousands volunteered to help in the fight against COVID-19,
which gave some Guardsmen valuable experience while protecting the state.
Airman 1st Class Marialuz Deavers, a medic with Nashville’s 118th Medical Group, was
training to become an Advanced Emergency Medical Technician at Smyrna’s Motlow State
Community College when the Tennessee National Guard began accepting volunteers to join the
COVID-19 Task Force. Soldiers and Airmen were needed in March 2020 to help the Department of
Health with testing, and later, vaccinations.
Deavers wanted to serve and knew that the medical training she already received would be valuable
during the pandemic.
“When COVID-19 became more prominent, my school’s classes went virtual,” Deavers said. “With
me training to be an Advanced EMT, the hands-on experience part of the course was impossible to
simulate. When the Guard asked for volunteers to help at testing sites, I knew this would give me the
chance to serve my community and get additional training. So, I volunteered for Tennessee’s
COVID-19 mission.”
Deavers used her training at several sites during her time. She traveled throughout the state on quick
response missions to administer COVID-19 tests to nursing homes, state employees and private
companies. She also supported hospitals in Memphis and worked at sites in Nashville and
Chattanooga. Currently, Deavers is providing tests and vaccines at the Putnam County Fairgrounds in
Cookeville.
“I have given several thousand COVID-19 tests since I started this mission as well as vaccines,” said
Deavers. “My goal is to attend nursing school once this mission is complete. The experience I have
received during this operation will help me provide the best care for my future patients.”
| Date Taken: | 06.02.2021 |
| Date Posted: | 06.02.2021 10:20 |
| Story ID: | 397928 |
| Location: | SMYRNA, TENNESSEE, US |
| Web Views: | 47 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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