Maryland National Guard supports COVID-19 testing sites across the state

Story by Spc Tom Lamb

Soldiers and Airmen of the Maryland National Guard set up and supported more than 20 testing sites throughout the state, since early January.

At the direction of Gov. Larry Hogan, up to 1,000 MDNG members were activated to assist state and local health officials with their COVID-19 response to include the distribution of COVID-19 test kits, 20 million KN95 and N95 masks, and other personal protective equipment. Additionally, troops provided support to skilled nursing facilities, hospitals, and testing sites. The first site MDNG began offering support was on 10 Jan 2022.

“It’s a scary time for all of us and we try to respond with compassion and professionalism,” said U.S. Air Force Maj. Richard Moore, a flight commander assigned to the 175 Cyberspace Operations Squadron, Maryland Air National Guard. “Every test we help administer allows our University of Maryland, Baltimore Washington Medical Center healthcare heroes to leverage their skills and expertise to greater effect. My team is humbled by the opportunity to do our part and the fantastic response we’ve received from the community. We are truly all in this together.”

Since the first activation in 2020, the MDNG was always ready and always there to fight COVID-19. Over sixty-five thousand tests were conducted during the span of the activation. Thousands of Guard members have given their time in support of the pandemic.

“I’m very proud of my team,” said Sgt. 1st Class Arthur Szoke, an infantryman with the 1st Battalion, Maryland Army National Guard. “They have risen to the call. This is the third time that a lot of these guys have been activated just to work on Covid.”

Members of the communities the MDNG are supporting expressed appreciation for the assistance the guard has been able to provide during surges of COVID-19.

“People definitely appreciate [our contribution],” said Szoke. “We’ve had doctors, nurses, and other people just come up to my soldiers to say ‘Thank you, what you’re doing for the hospital is really helping take a load off,’ and a lot of other things of that nature.”

With new cases at their lowest numbers since July 2021 and on track to decrease more, the MDNG will continue to support hospitals and testing sites as long as they are needed.