BRIG. GEN. GREG KNIGHT'S COMMAND MESSAGE
"THE VERMONT NATIONAL GUARD HAS MAINTAINED AN ACTIVE ROLE IN SUPPORTING GOVERNOR SCOTT & VERMONTERS, HELPING TO WORK THROUGH THE RESPONSE TO THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC. WHILE CHALLENGING, THIS CRISIS HIGHLIGHTS THE IMPORTANCE OF HAVING A STRONG NATIONAL GUARD, READY TO RESPOND TO SITUATIONS LIKE THIS. SINCE THE BEGINNING OF THIS CRISIS, YOUR VERMONT NATIONAL GUARD HAS PROVEN A READY PARTNER TO HELP GET THROUGH THIS PANDEMIC. OUR 158TH FIGHTER WING'S CIVIL ENGINEERING SQUADRON & THE 40TH ARMY BAND BUILT A 400-BED ALTERNATE HEALTH CARE FACILITY IN ESSEX JUNCTION, INCLUSIVE OF ELECTRICITY & HOT & COLD WATER. THEY DID THIS IN ABOUT SEVEN DAYS. THIS EFFORT BECAME THE STANDARD FOR COST EFFECTIVE CONSTRUCTION OF FACILITIES LIKE THIS, WITH THE DESIGN BEING SHARED WITH MULTIPLE STATES AND FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY REPRESENTATIVES ACROSS THE U.S. OUR MEDICAL COMPANY, 186TH BRIGADE SUPPORT BATTALION (BSB), QUICKLY ESTABLISHED A TRIAGE SITE AT THE UNIVERSITY OF VERMONT MEDICAL CENTER, HELPING TO ADDRESS POTENTIAL FOR A SURGE OF PATIENTS. THE 15TH CIVIL SUPPORT TEAM SET UP AND RAN A MOBILE TEST SITE IN PUTNEY; BRINGING TESTING CAPABILITY TO SOUTHERN VERMONT. THE VTNG HAS AN ADDITIONAL FOUR TEAMS READY TO ASSIST WITH TESTING IF THE CALL COMES. OUR TRANSPORTATION COMPANY FROM THE 186TH BSB AND SOLDIERS FROM THE 172ND CAVALRY, ALONG WITH THE VERMONT FOOD BANK, HAS FACILITATED THE DISTRIBUTION OF OVER 520,OOO FEMA-PROVIDED MEALS READY-TO-EAT TO VERMONTERS IN NEED AT MULTIPLE SITES THROUGHOUT VERMONT. WHILE WE DON'T KNOW WHERE THIS CRISIS WILL TAKE US, KNOW THE VERMONT NATIONAL GUARD STANDS READY TO ASSIST THE GOVERNOR & VERMONTERS IN THIS TIME OF NEED. WE ARE ALWAYS READY, ALWAYS THERE."