Deployments
3rd Marine Logistics Group Supports USS Theodore Roosevelt
NAVAL BASE GUAM (NNS) — A team of medical professionals assigned to 3rd Medical Battalion, 3rd Marine Logistics Group, III Marine Expeditionary Force deployed to Guam in order to augment the COVID-19 response efforts by USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71).
Approximately 230 Sailors and Marines arrived in Guam throughout the first weeks of April and are supporting Theodore Roosevelt’s onboard medical staff in assessing, managing and treating the symptoms of COVID-19 cases while the ship is in port.
“As a Maritime Force, we need to work together as a Navy and Marine Corps team to stop the spread of COVID-19 in order to remain a ready force in the region,” said U.S. Marine Corps Brig. Gen. Keith D. Reventlow, 3rd Marine Logistics Group Commanding General. “Soon after receiving the request for support, we rapidly deployed a team of highly skilled medical professionals to augment Theodore Roosevelt’s existing capabilities with manpower and resources to effectively assist with COVID-19 cases. Our combined efforts to combat the virus and protect the health of our force will allow us to continue our mission in Indo-Pacific theater.”
The team adds to the professional medical care already available aboard Theodore Roosevelt, including more than 70 embarked officers and corpsmen and a team from the Biological Defense Research Directorate, Fort Detrick, Maryland, which has been on board Theodore Roosevelt conducting early-warning surveillance testing for Sailors who present with influenza-like symptoms.
The 3rd Medical Battalion, based in Okinawa, Japan, maintains a deployable force ready to intervene to support natural disasters, humanitarian assistance and various other missions. After receiving official notice of the mission to support Theodore Roosevelt, the joint Navy and Marine Corps team was ready to deploy within 48 hours.
“The rapid response by the 3rd MLG was incredible,” said Rear Adm. Stu Baker, commander, Carrier Strike Group Nine. “Their footprint ashore will ensure our Sailors off ship are well cared for.”
Although Theodore Roosevelt recently conducted joint exercises with the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, this deployment marks the first time the ship and the 3rd Marine Logistics Group have worked together in recent years.
The medical team, which is based at Naval Base Guam, will comply with all quarantine requirements set forth by Governor Leon Guerrero and will only be travelling to conduct critical official business on military installations.
Theodore Roosevelt is currently on a scheduled deployment to the Indo-Pacific and pulled in to Guam on March 27.
DOD Ramps Up COVID-19 Response Efforts From Coast to Coast
Here’s a link to this good summary of the current state of DoD efforts:
Comfort, Javits Center Open Care to COVID-19 Patients
Here’s a link to the article:
Navy Deploys Expeditionary Medical Facility Personnel to Support Federal COVID-19 Response
From the Office of the Navy Chief of Information
WASHINGTON (NNS) — Navy medical personnel assigned to Expeditionary Medical Facility-M (EMF-M) have deployed as part of a U.S. Northern Command-led COVID-19 response to support civil health authorities in existing facilities in New Orleans and Dallas.
The first 50 personnel with EMF-M deployed to New Orleans Wednesday, with about 60 more arriving Saturday. They will work at the temporary federal medical station at New Orleans’ Ernest N. Morial Convention Center.
In addition, over 170 personnel deployed to Dallas today to work in a temporary federal medical station established there to assist local medical personnel.
Personnel assigned to U.S. Navy EMFs are trained to provide medical support, such as acute care and emergency care, and will work with local health authorities to support community need.
A Bunch of Interesting COVID Related Articles
Here you go:
Defense Department Halts Health Records Rollout During COVID-19
MHS Genesis deployment suspended amid COVID-19 pandemic
Military may build two more hospital ships, Trump says
Military’s Plan to Cut 18,000 Medical Staff Should Be Shelved During Pandemic, MOAA Says
Navy says it will still do urinalysis tests ‘to the greatest extent possible’ amid COVID-19 concerns
The Military Health System is uniquely suited to handle the COVID-19 crisis
The Pentagon is looking at reducing, but not eliminating, operations during COVID-19 pandemic
DOD Mounts Multifaceted Response to COVID-19 Pandemic
Here’s a link to the state-by-state breakdown of DoD response:
Joint Staff Ops Official Breaks Down DOD Aid to Fight Coronavirus
Here’s a link to this DoD post:
Joint Staff Ops Official Breaks Down DOD Aid to Fight Coronavirus
USNS Mercy Accepts First Patients in Los Angeles
U.S. 3rd Fleet Public Affairs (NNS) — The hospital ship USNS Mercy (T-AH 19) accepted its first patients in Los Angeles March 29 during its support of the nation’s COVID-19 response efforts.
“I couldn’t be more proud of our crew for all the hard work they did to get us here and ready in such a short time,” said Capt. John Rotruck, Mercy’s Military Treatment Facility commanding officer. “Being able to accept our first patients is a true testament of the teamwork between Mercy, the Navy, the State of California, the county of Los Angeles, and the City and Port of L.A.”
While in Los Angeles, the ship will serve as a referral hospital for non-COVID-19 patients currently admitted to shore-based hospitals, and will provide a full spectrum of medical care to include general surgeries, critical care and ward care for adults. This will allow local health professionals to focus on treating COVID-19 patients and for shore-based hospitals to use their Intensive Care Units and ventilators for those patients.
“The men and women embarked on board Mercy are energized, eager, and ready to provide relief to those in need,” said Rotruck.
Mercy is a seagoing medical treatment facility that currently has personnel embarked for the Los Angeles mission, including Navy medical and support staff assembled from 22 commands, as well as over 70 civil service mariners.
Mercy’s primary mission is to provide an afloat, mobile, acute surgical medical facility to the U.S. military that is flexible, capable, and uniquely adaptable to support expeditionary warfare. Mercy’s secondary mission is to provide full hospital services to support U.S. disaster relief and humanitarian operations worldwide.
U.S. 3rd Fleet is operating as the Maritime Command Element, West, for U.S. Naval Forces Northern Command (NAVNORTH), under U.S. Northern Command for Defense Support of Civil Authorities in support of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the lead agency.
Joel Schofer's Career Planning Blog 