MADISON (NBC 26) -- The Wisconsin National Guard said Thursday 300 troops have been mobilized to state active duty to provide state support, if needed, in response to the pandemic.
“We are working hand-in-hand with our partners across state government to ensure our forces are postured and ready to respond to anticipated requests for assistance,” Col. Eric Leckel, the director of domestic operations for the Wisconsin National Guard said. “Serving our state during times of emergency is one of our core missions in the National Guard, and we stand ready to assist the state with whatever it may ask of us.”
Currently the Wisconsin National Guard has brought on additional planners, logisticians, and command and control elements to manage and execute any future missions, which could include assisting state agencies with logistics and planning, specimen collection, providing a source of medical professionals, and more, Leckel said.
The Wisconsin National Guard consists of 10,000 Soldiers and Airmen from around the state. Gov. Tony Evers declared a public health emergency March 12, clearing the way for National Guard support.
About 30 Wisconsin National Guard troops mobilized to state active duty last week to assist the Wisconsin Department of Health Services in transporting a group of Wisconsin citizens to their homes for self-quarantine after returning to Wisconsin following a cruise with confirmed cases of COVID-19.
More than 700 Wisconsin National Guard troops are currently deployed in combat in Afghanistan and the Middle East.
