Vermont Guardsmen Assemble, Distribute COVID Test Kits

 Sept. 30, 2020 | BY AIR FORCE AIRMAN 1ST CLASS JANA SOMERO

The Vermont Air National Guard undertook a new mission earlier this year assembling COVID-19 test kits at the Vermont Department of Health COVID-19 Warehouse and distributing them to health department district offices, pop-up test sites and primary care physicians across the state.

Launched on July 20, seven airmen stepped up to the challenge to tackle the monumental task of assembling enough test kits to keep up with Vermont's daily testing demand and to build a reserve stockpile of at least 20,000 kits.

"This operation has afforded me the opportunity to take an active role in ensuring the safety of my fellow Vermonters, as well as develop new skill sets I wouldn't otherwise gain in my normal work environment." said Air Force Staff Sgt. Mike Grupp, from the 158th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron.

The test kit bags include absorbents, saline vials, nasal swabs, health forms and patient instructions. Even in the face of hectic scheduling, the airmen quickly produced nearly 8,000 kits by the end of the first week. As the operation grew, more airmen throughout the VTANG stepped up and volunteered their time to help complete the mission.

"As warehouse functions evolved, it was a challenge to choose the right individuals to lead the various roles of inventory, distribution, kit-assembly and so on," said Air Force Master Sgt. Karl Johansen, the 158th Medical Group first sergeant and the warehouse manager. "The fact that this team is composed of diverse AFSCs [Air Force Career Specialties], skill sets, ranks and experiences made those decisions easier."

Several weeks later, soldiers from the Vermont Army National Guard state food distribution mission joined the VTANG test-kit team. Working together as one unit, the warehouse was renamed the COVID War House.

"We know that the world is going through a very difficult time with this pandemic," said Air Force Staff Sgt. Dhruv Gulati, of the 158th Maintenance Squadron. "As a member of the VTANG, I was given the opportunity to be a part of this team. I am honored to be part of the collective effort with the state, the VTANG and the VTARNG to fight this pandemic."

On Sept. 18, just 60 days after the warehouse's initial launch, the team assembled its 50,000th test kit, making the mission an overwhelming achievement for the state.

"A lot of this team's success can be attributed to it's diversity,'' Johansen said. "Members volunteered from across many career fields and Air Force specialties; each brought a different skill set and experiences to the effort."

(Air Force Airman 1st Class Jana Somero is assigned to the 158th Fighter Wing).