Photo By Staff Sgt. Katie Grandori | Staff Sgt. Mark Smetanka and Staff Sgt. John Suesue, Soldiers in the 79th Infantry...... read more read more
SAN DIEGO, Calif.—The 79th Infantry Brigade Combat Team’s Headquarters and Headquarters Company held an extraordinary four-day drill April 30—May 3 during the COVID-19 pandemic. Over the drill weekend, the company set up a tactical operations center (TOC) in its San Diego armory in preparation for an upcoming two-week Warfighter Exercise while following health and safety protocols.
One of the drill days was part of April’s postponed drill. Col. Richard Mifsud, 79th IBCT commander, explained that the decision to postpone drill in April and combine it with May for headquarters was for two important reasons. One of the reasons was not actually COVID-19 related.
“We decided from March drill that to build the Tactical Operation Center the way that we want it to look for the Warfighter, we would need more time,” said Mifsud. The original plan for May was to have a three-day drill and travel to Camp Elliot in San Diego. Mifsud explained that it would have taken half a day to get there with all of the equipment needed for the TOC, and with only three days for setup, tear down, proper maintenance and other administrative tasks would make for a rushed drill weekend.
“The most important part was that our communications section determined that to properly set this equipment up and get all of the communications working, they would need four days,” said Mifsud.
The other reason to postpone drill in April was because of the COVID-19 pandemic. “By pushing drill to the end of the month, we allowed ourselves to see how the COVID crisis would play itself out,” said Mifsud. “By bringing our Soldiers in now, everyone has had time to understand that we are wearing masks, we are practicing social distancing, and we have the proper protocols in place.”
The mission to build the TOC was completed wearing masks and maintaining six feet of separation between Soldiers whenever possible. Soldiers were screened for COVID-19 symptoms at the door, and their temperatures were checked before entering. The highly unusual drill also lacked formations. These practices were put in place to increase safety.
“We are maintaining the proper protocols,” said Mifsud. “By doing this, we continue to build the confidence of our Soldiers that we are here to protect them and their families, while continuing to train and build readiness.”
Safety protocols for COVID-19 have been strongly enforced at the California National Guard state level.
Staff Sgt. Donovan Greer, 79th IBCT medical non-commissioned officer, said, “If leadership did not believe in the safety guidance and follow it themselves, it would be very hard to impose that guidance. Leadership has taken a strong role from state, division and down, to make sure that precautions are taken to protect Soldiers and Soldiers’ families.”
Additionally, Greer explained the importance of continuing to train during the pandemic.
“We have to show a strong stance, to COVID, to anything,” said Greer, “because we are the ones that are here to fight for everyone else.”
| Date Taken: | 05.08.2020 |
| Date Posted: | 05.11.2020 12:35 |
| Story ID: | 369618 |
| Location: | SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA, US |
| Web Views: | 231 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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