Photo By Capt. Kealy Moriarty | Tennessee’s Adjutant General, Maj. Gen. Jeff Holmes (left), reviews COVID-19...... read more read more
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CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. – Since August, members of the Tennessee National Guard have been supporting local hospitals across the state as they combat the COVID-19 pandemic. One Soldier who has been on the frontlines fighting the pandemic and helping save lives is 1st Lt. Promise Newman, a field medical assistant with Smyrna's 208th Medical Support Company. Ten months ago, in December 2020, she took a leave of absence from her position at Unum Insurance and joined Tennessee’s COVID-19 task force.
“My employer has been really supportive of my military assignment,” said Newman. “During one of the company’s leadership conference calls, the CEO took time to mention what I'm doing here. It is nice to have an employer who appreciates the military service of its employees.”
From December 2020 to February 2021, Newman was the officer in charge of Guardsmen assigned to Memphis-area hospitals. She served as a liaison to the hospital staffs and provided administrative support for the Guardsmen working in the various facilities. Then, from March to September 2021, she supervised the state’s Pandemic Provider Project, which worked with the Tennessee Department of Health to increase the number of state-approved COVID-19 vaccine providers. She helped increase the availability of vaccinations, particularly in high-risk populations throughout the state.
After that project was complete, Newman was assigned to the Hamilton County area where she was instrumental in helping establishing the National Guard’s hospital presence in the Chattanooga area. Newman, a 2015 graduate of the University of Texas, said the reception the National Guard received at their assigned hospitals from staff and civilians has been positive.
“Working in the area hospitals has been phenomenal,” said Newman. “The relief on the faces of the hospital staff was immediate. The gratitude from the civilians we are serving is also evident. They see the military uniform and enthusiastically thank us for our service. It is a very humbling experience.”
Tennessee’s Adjutant General, Maj. Gen. Jeff Holmes, visited Newman and her teams in Chattanooga on Sept. 30. During the visit, Newman and her team provided him with a comprehensive view of their day-to-day workflow.
“The TAG came to Erlanger to check the progress of our mission and the welfare of our troops,” said Newman. “He commended our leadership team for how smooth our groups were operating and presented us with his challenge coin. He was impressed by the work our Soldiers, Airmen and State Guardsmen were doing.”
Newman emphasized how the Guardsmen assigned to local hospitals have exemplified the proficiency, adaptability and professionalism that is associated with the Tennessee National Guard.
“I can't reiterate enough how phenomenal a job our Soldiers are doing,” said Newman. “Our administrative troops have really jumped into this duty. It is an honor to be serving our community.”
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| Date Taken: | 10.21.2021 |
| Date Posted: | 10.28.2021 11:55 |
| Story ID: | 408023 |
| Location: | CHATTANOOGA, TN, US |
| Web Views: | 116 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Chattanooga Guardsman displays versatile leadership on COVID-19 mission, by SGT Finis Dailey, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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