Statement on the Status of the United States Navy Inquiry Into COVID-19 Outbreak on the USS Theodore Roosevelt

April 24, 2020

Attributable to Jonathan Rath Hoffman, Assistant to the Secretary of Defense (Public Affairs):

"This afternoon, Secretary Esper received a verbal update from the acting Secretary of the Navy and the Chief of Naval Operations on the Navy's preliminary inquiry into the COVID-19 outbreak on the USS Theodore Roosevelt. After the Secretary receives a written copy of the completed inquiry, he intends to thoroughly review the report and will meet again with Navy leadership to discuss next steps. He remains focused on and committed to restoring the full health of the crew and getting the ship at sea again soon."

Florida National Guard, University Partner to Combat COVID-19

April 24, 2020 | BY Army Sgt. Leia Tascarini

Doctors, nurses and medics from the Florida National Guard joined Florida International University at the Miami Beach Convention Center to conduct training in preparation of possibly receiving patients at the alternate care facility.

The Guard partnered with the university to provide comprehensive training to providers from different specialties on proper protective equipment wear, medical procedures and tasks specifically related to the COVID-19 response.

"We came to an agreement based on needs so that everyone would be on the same page due to providers being from different backgrounds, like primary care providers and flight medics," said Henry Henao, director of the Simulation Teaching and Research Center at FIU. "Working with the Guard has been an honor, and everyone has been really appreciative and understanding of what we are trying to accomplish here."

Students and staff from FIU's Nicole Wertheim College of Nursing and Health Sciences volunteered to help with the training evolution. Each training station lasted 30 minutes and concentrated on a specific topic ranging from CPR to complete emergencies involving lifelike medical dummies. This isn't the first time FIU has partnered with the Guard. They have worked together during other missions such as Exercise Patriot Sands, a joint-service emergency and natural disaster response exercise.

"We all have various skill sets, and our goal is to form teams to be completely prepared to accept patients," said Air Force Lt. Col. (Dr.) Kevin Fitzgerald, a flight surgeon with the Florida Air National Guard's 125th Fighter Wing. "FIU did an excellent job putting this refresher together. They are all volunteers, and it's amazing that they came to teach us what they know to help us keep their community safe.”

The Florida National Guard has more than 2,300 guardsmen on duty in support of Florida's COVID-19 response. Soldiers and airmen are operating nine community-based testing site locations and have administered more than 50,000 sample collections to date. In addition, the Florida Guard is deploying mobile testing teams to assisted living communities and to assist the Florida Health Department's screening operations at seven local airports.

(Army Sgt. Leia Tascarini is assigned to the Florida Army National Guard’s 107th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment.)

America Strong: Blue Angels, Thunderbirds to Conduct Multi-City Flyovers Championing National Unity Behind Frontline Responders

April 24, 2020

Joint Announcement From the U.S. Navy and U.S. Air Force

In a show of national solidarity, the Navy Flight Demonstration Squadron, the Blue Angels, and the Air Force Air Demonstration Squadron, the Thunderbirds, will conduct a series of multi-city flyovers over the next two weeks.

America Strong is a collaborative salute from the Navy and Air Force to recognize healthcare workers, first responders, and other essential personnel while standing in solidarity with all Americans during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We’re excited to fly over cities across America as our way of saying thanks to the healthcare workers, first responders, and all the people who selflessly run into the breach working to keep America strong,” said Gen. Dave Goldfein, Chief of Staff of the Air Force, and Adm. Michael Gilday, Chief of Naval Operations.  “This is also our way of showing that we are all in this together and that America’s spirit will prevail.”

The two demonstration teams will fly over areas of the country hardest hit by COVID-19, starting next week as both joint and individual team flights occurring every one-to-two days until mid-May.

The Air Force and Navy have partnered with local governments and media outlets to help ensure spectators follow Centers for Disease Control and Prevention social distancing guidelines.  Both teams are also implementing various measures to maintain personnel and community safety.  This includes air-to-air refueling during transit and no scheduled stops en route to reduce potential exposure to the virus.

The Blue Angels, based at Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida, and Thunderbirds, based at Nellis Air Force Base, Las Vegas, typically fly at more than 30 air shows each year to demonstrate American military aviation. This year, both teams have been forced to cancel many performances in response to Department of Defense direction resulting from the COVID-19 outbreak.

While America Strong will showcase Department of Defense support to healthcare workers, first responders, military, essential employees, and aims to unite all Americans in the fight against COVID-19, it also fulfills critical training requirements for both teams. Pilots must execute a minimum number of flight hours to maintain proficiency. These flyovers will incur no additional cost to taxpayers.

In order to reach the maximum number of Americans, some portions of America Strong will feature only the Blue Angels or the Thunderbirds, while others will include both teams flying in their signature Delta formations simultaneously.

More information to be provided soon on dates and locations.

America Strong schedule:  Both teams will work with local media to provide exact times and locations.