Photo By Sgt. Finis Dailey | Sgt. Justin Chambers, a combat medic with Smyrna’s 208th Areas Support Medical...... read more read more
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MURFRESSBORO, Tenn. - When COVID-19 began spreading across Tennessee in March 2020, Sgt. Justin Chambers, a combat medic with Smyrna's 208th Area Support Medical Company, was attending college at Middle Tennessee State University and working for the Rutherford County Emergency Management Service. A Spring Hill native, Chambers knew that his military training
would be helpful during the pandemic.
"When Tennessee's Adjutant General announced that the National Guard was
mobilizing to fight COVID-19 last year, I knew my training would be needed," said Chambers. "So I decided to put school and work on hold and do wherever I could to help."
Using his skills as an Emergency Management Technician and a combat medic, Chambers joined the first group of Tennessee Guardsmen to volunteer. They started setting up testing sites throughout the state in direct support of the Department of Health and the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency.
"After we received training on how to administer the COVID-19 tests, I was tasked to go to Putman County and help with the testing center that was being created there," said Chambers. "We quickly stood up the drive-thru testing site and we have since tested thousands of citizens for the virus."
Throughout the year, Chambers used his medical training to administer
COVID-19 tests and assist with all of the administrative aspects of tracking those tested. Starting this past January, he began administering vaccines and monitoring for potential side effects as well as being promoted to the noncommissioned officer in charge of the Guardsmen at the site.
"Not only am I still testing, I am helping to vaccinate citizens and I'm
managing my team's work schedule," said Chambers. "I also coordinate with the Tennessee Department of Health to provide personnel to operate various pop-up testing and vaccination sites throughout Putnam County."
As testing and vaccinations begin to slow, Chambers is looking to the
future.
"Soon this mission will be complete and I look forward to returning to MTSU and the Rutherford County EMS," said Chambers. "I love what I've been doing and feel privileged to be able to help during this crisis."
| Date Taken: | 06.02.2021 |
| Date Posted: | 06.02.2021 11:50 |
| Story ID: | 397935 |
| Location: | MURFREESBORO, TN, US |
| Web Views: | 146 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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