As the Florida National Guard continues to support the state's response to the COVID-19 pandemic, strong partnerships with local agencies have become crucial to the success of the guard's ongoing mission in South Florida.
In recognition of the logistical assistance received from local partners in support of walk-up community-based testing sites in Miami-Dade County, two members of the Miami-Dade County Fire Rescue Department were recently awarded the Florida Commendation Medal.
"Having served in the Florida Guard, I appreciate all that the guard does, and understand the importance of this relationship," said Brandon Webb, battalion chief of Miami-Dade County Fire Rescue's special operations division. "The guard's presence in Miami-Dade has been instrumental in helping us serve our residents."
Webb served in the Florida Guard as an infantryman in D Company, 1-124th Infantry Battalion from 1991 to 1999, retiring as a noncommissioned officer. Both Webb and Arturo Abreu, the department's logistics manager, received the Florida Commendation Medal from Army Lt. Col. Jeff Moore, commander of the Florida Army National Guard’s 254th Transportation Battalion, during a ceremony held at the South Dade Government Center.
"The leadership and guidance of Chief Webb and Mr. Abreu helped us tremendously throughout our operations in support of the state's COVID-19 response in Miami-Dade," Moore said. "They helped us get what we needed, when we needed it."
Since mid-March, the 50th Regional Support Group has served as the guard's main effort supporting the state's COVID-19 response. Working with federal, state and local authorities throughout Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties, the 50th RSG and its subordinate units have provided direct and indirect support to more than a dozen testing locations, helping to administer more than 200,000 sample collections to date. The group’s soldiers also are supporting screening operations at three airports.
(Army Maj. Jesse Manzano is assigned to the 50th Regional Support Group.)
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