T-R file photo A National Guard Detachment out of Marshalltown has been activated to assist during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Iowa National Guard is helping reduce the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Nine Iowa National Guard service members were activated to support the State Emergency Operations Center to help minimize the community spread and provide guidance to protect the health of service members, civilian employees and families.

“They are working in our joint operation center here at Camp Dodge,” said Colonel Michael Wunn, Iowa National Guard Public Affairs Officer. “They are, primarily, planners that are working to help share information with the state and look at potential plans or additional National Guard support missions.”

As the state responds to COVID-19, the Iowa National Guard is prepared to activate additional service members if necessary.

The National Guard has a large number of vehicles and the ability to mobilize quickly to get to communities in need, Wunn said.

“One of the missions they’re looking at is assisting with the distribution of PPE – Personal Protective Equipment,” Wunn said. “The things medical professionals need for testing.”

The National Guard is preparing for a variety of different missions to assist the state and communities in their response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Wunn also dispelled rumors of the National Guard working on a state or federal level to enforce Martial Law order.

“They’re just rumors,” Wunn said. “Here in Iowa the focus is on the Department of Public Health, Homeland Security and emergency management.”

Some larger states have been impacted to the extent that they need to use their National Guard, Iowa has not reached that point.

“The National Guard is being used to supply state officials with the necessary resources they need to stop the spread of the virus,” Wunn said. “It’s a whole of government response. It’s a whole of society’s response.”

Some Iowa counties are struggling with housing their more vulnerable citizens and the Iowa National Guard is preparing to supply tents and necessary materials to help.

“We want to make sure they have the ability to separate folks if they are concerned about exposure to COVID-19,” Wunn said.  

The Iowa National Guard is also making steps to ensure the health of service members, civilian employees and communities at large.  They have closed the Iowa Gold Star Military Museum, the Camp Dodge Wellness Center, the USO and all Iowa National Guard armory and facility rentals stopped until May 19.

“Senior leaders of the organization have made decisions to postpone, cancel or alter upcoming drill and training periods in support of the governor’s directives to avoid large crowds,” according to a National Guard statement. “The Iowa National Guard is also enforcing a Department of Defense-wide travel restriction, which prohibits non-essential travel for service members and federal employees. Additionally, it is implementing telework options to reduce the number of personnel in facilities and relying on mission essential personnel to maintain critical functions and operations.”

The COVID-19 pandemic is not stopping the need for troops abroad. There are two planned deployments planned for Iowa National Guard members later this spring.

“There is still training in preparation for those soldiers as they get ready to go,” Wunn said. “We’re focused on things that are mission essential, to carry out the things we need to do on behalf of the state and federal government.”

Wunn wants to remind people to look for credible information and avoid false claims during the pandemic.

“It’s really important for people to get information from credible sources and to be suspicious of things they may see online,” Wunn said. “The Department of Public Health and the Centers for Disease Control are some of the best sources for people to find out what’s going on with the disease.”

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Contact Thomas Nelson at tnelson@timesrepublican.com