Secretary of Defense Addresses Vaccine Hesitancy in Military

 Feb. 25, 2021 | BY Jim Garamone , DOD News

After a tour of a mass COVID-19 vaccination site in Los Angeles, Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin addressed the hesitancy that some service members have about getting the vaccine.

The Food and Drug Administration has given all the vaccines currently being administered emergency use authorization. It is much as it sounds, according to the FDA. In an emergency, the FDA can make a product available to the public based on the best available evidence, without waiting for all the evidence that would be needed for FDA approval or clearance.

COVID-19 has killed more than 500,000 Americans, and the FDA approved the vaccines to help save lives. The vaccines were intensely studied and tested on hundreds of thousands of people. The efficacy of the vaccines against COVID-19 is not in question. 

But there is some hesitancy — especially in communities of color in America — to get the vaccines. "Because of some things that have happened in the past, there's a degree of mistrust, and I think we have to collectively work hard to dispel rumors and to provide facts to people," Austin said. "It's been my experience that when armed with the facts, people will tend to make the right decisions."

In the past, commanders — on the advice from medical professionals — could simply order service members to get a vaccine. Troops deploying to operations in Iraq and Afghanistan had to receive the anthrax series of shots, for example. That was possible because those were FDA approved inoculations.

The COVID-19 vaccines are not, and the services cannot simply order personnel to get the shots. Soldiers, sailors, airmen, Marines and guardians must make the decision for themselves. "These are individual decisions," Austin said. "We want to make sure that they have the best information available to make those decisions."

Austin wants service members to talk to families, talk to physicians and read about the decision. "We want them to have the facts," he said. He wants service members and their families to read the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidance and speak to defense health professionals.

"It's really important that … people have the facts, and we found that armed with the facts, they'll make the right decisions typically," he said. "I've taken the vaccine. I consider it to be safe. We've not seen very many side effects that are harmful.

"The greatest incentive to getting vaccinated is that it saves your life, and it saves the life of the folks that mean a lot to you," he continued. "That, in and of itself, is very, very important."

Austin Praises Nimitz Carrier Strike Group for Record-Breaking Deployment

 Feb. 25, 2021 | BY Jim Garamone , DOD News

Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III flew out to the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz off the coast of California to thank the crew for a record-setting deployment. 

The Nimitz Carrier Strike Group is returning after operations in U.S. Indo-Pacific Command and U.S. Central Command areas of responsibility. It was the first carrier strike group to deploy under COVID-19 protocols. By the time the carrier strike group reaches home, the sailors and Marines aboard will have been gone for 321 days.

The Nimitz, the cruiser USS Princeton, and the destroyers USS Sterett and USS Ralph Johnson made up the group.

"You've just demonstrated incredible professionalism, resilience and focus," Austin told the crew over the ship-wide public address system. "It's been very impressive."

The group provided carrier support in the Persian Gulf in support of Centcom during a particularly tense time with Iran. The group also participated in maritime exercise Malabar 2020 alongside Indian, Australian and Japanese ships. The carrier strike group also participated in dual-carrier operations with the USS Theodore Roosevelt and USS Ronald Reagan carrier strike groups. The group also operated in the South China Sea, as well.

Austin praised the group for these efforts. "You've sent a clear message about America's resolve," he told the crew. "Any potential adversary out there — in this ocean or any other ocean — has to know when they look at what you accomplished, that the United States takes very seriously our security commitments around the world."

He thanked the sailors for working with key allies and partners across the U.S. combatant commands.

The Nimitz Carrier Strike Group had the longest deployment since the Vietnam War. It was lengthened by COVID-19 protocols that called for a quarantine before departing and the elimination of port calls during the deployment. The Navy aims for deployments to be roughly six months. The Nimitz group will be away from family and friends almost twice that.

"I don't want deployments this long to be the norm," the secretary said. "And so, we need to take a hard look at that, but you handled it very, very well. You led. You took care of each other in the midst of a pandemic, and you were a team." 

In a news conference with Pentagon reporters on the hangar deck, Austin thanked families in particular. "Their families have been very, very supportive as well," he said. "And I want to make sure I give them a shout out again, and provide our thanks for their sacrifices."

The Nimitz was on its way home from the Centcom area of responsibility when events in the region necessitated its return. Events such as these happen. He noted the year-long deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan that stretched to 18 months, as an example.

"I understand the stress that, that can place on families," he said. "So as secretary, what I want to do is make sure that … going forward, we do everything we can to minimize that kind of stress."

That means taking care of equipment, sure, but really ensuring that service members and their families are taken care of. "We're going to continue to learn," he said. "We're going to continue to make sure we have the resources. [We're going to ensure] that we're doing the right things to pace ourselves going forward. Because I really think this is important."

Overall, the carrier strike group steamed more than 87,300 nautical miles during its deployment. The carrier launched 10,185 sorties totaling 23,410 flight hours logged.

This or That?

 

Air Force Airman 1st Class James Tychingco, a dental assistant, asks children to identify foods that may be harmful to their teeth in the child development center at Hurlburt Field in Florida, Feb. 12, 2021.

Flag Officer Assignments

 Feb. 25, 2021

---

The acting secretary of the Navy and chief of naval operations announced today the following assignments:

Rear Adm. Jeffrey T. Jablon will be assigned as commander, Submarine Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet, Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.  Jablon is currently serving as director, Military Personnel Plans and Policy Division, N13, Office of the Chief of Naval Operations, Arlington, Virginia.

Rear Adm. (lower half) James A. Kirk, selected for promotion to rear admiral, will be assigned as commander, Carrier Strike Group Fifteen, San Diego, California.  Kirk is currently serving as commander, Carrier Strike Group Eleven, Everett, Washington.

Rear Adm. (lower half) Andrew J. Loiselle, selected for promotion to rear admiral, will be assigned as director, Air Warfare Division, N98, Office of the Chief of Naval Operations, Washington, D.C.  Loiselle is currently serving as commander, Carrier Strike Group Four, Norfolk, Virginia.

Rear Adm. (lower half) Brendan R. McLane, selected for promotion to rear admiral, will be assigned as commander, Naval Surface Force, Atlantic, Norfolk, Virginia.  McLane is currently serving as special assistant to the commander, U.S. Fleet Forces, Norfolk, Virginia. 

Rear Adm. (lower half) John A. Okon, selected for promotion to rear admiral, will be assigned as director, Warfare Integration Directorate, N2/N6F, Office of the Chief of Naval Operations, Washington, D.C.  Okon is currently serving as commander, Naval Meteorology and Oceanography Command, Stennis Space Center, Mississippi.

Rear Adm. (lower half) James P. Waters III, selected for promotion to rear admiral, will be assigned as director, Military Personnel Plans and Policy Division, N13, Office of the Chief of Naval Operations, Arlington, Virginia.  Waters is currently serving as commander, Submarine Group Two, Norfolk, Virginia.

Rear Adm. (lower half) Jeffrey T. Anderson will be assigned as commander, Carrier Strike Group Three, Bremerton, Washington.  Anderson is currently serving as deputy director for political-military affairs (Asia), J5, Joint Staff, Washington, D.C.

Rear Adm. (lower half) Michael W. Baze will be assigned as commander, Expeditionary Strike Group Three, San Diego, California.  Baze is currently serving as director of Maritime Headquarters, U.S. Naval Forces Europe/Africa/Sixth Fleet, Naples, Italy.

Rear Adm. (lower half) Richard T. Brophy Jr., will be assigned as commander, Carrier Strike Group Four, Norfolk, Virginia.  Brophy is currently serving as commander, Naval Aviation Warfighting Development Center, Fallon, Nevada.

Rear Adm. (lower half) Robert B. Chadwick II will be assigned as commander, Carrier Strike Group Nine, San Diego, California.  Chadwick is currently serving as commander, Navy Region Hawaii; and commander, Naval Surface Group, MIDPAC, Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.

Rear Adm. (lower half) Jeffrey J. Czerewko will be assigned as director, fleet integrated readiness and analysis, N02R, U.S. Atlantic Fleet, Norfolk, Virginia.  Czerewko is currently serving as deputy director, global operations, J39, J3, Joint Staff, Washington, D.C.

Rear Adm. (lower half) Brian L. Davies will be assigned as commander, Submarine Group Two, Norfolk, Virginia.  Davies is currently serving as special assistant to the commander, Navy Personnel Command, Millington, Tennessee.

Rear Adm. (lower half) Michael P. Donnelly will be assigned as commander, Task Force Seven Zero; and commander, Carrier Strike Group Five, Yokosuka, Japan.  Donnelly is currently serving as commander, Navy Region Korea; commander, U.S. Naval Forces Korea; and commander, Naval Component, U.S. Forces Korea, United Nations Command, Korea.  

Rear Adm. (lower half) Christopher M. Engdahl will be assigned as commander, Expeditionary Strike Group Seven; and commander, Amphibious Force, Seventh Fleet, Okinawa, Japan.  Engdahl is currently serving as president, Board of Inspection and Survey, Virginia Beach, Virginia.  

Rear Adm. (lower half) Kenneth W. Epps will be assigned as commander, Naval Supply Systems Command Weapons Systems Support, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.  Epps is currently serving as deputy chief of staff for Fleet Ordnance and Supply/Fleet Supply Officer, N41, U.S. Fleet Forces Command Fleet, Norfolk, Virginia.

Rear Adm. (lower half) Robert M. Gaucher will be assigned commander, Submarine Group Nine, Silverdale, Washington.  Gaucher is currently serving as director, Maritime Headquarters (N03), U.S. Pacific Fleet, Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.

Rear Adm. (lower half) Gregory C. Huffman will be assigned as commander, Carrier Strike Group Twelve, Norfolk, Virginia.  Huffman is currently serving as director, operations and plans, N31, Office of the Chief of Naval Operations, Washington, D.C.

Rear Adm. (lower half) Kevin P. Lenox is currently assigned as deputy director for operations, J3, U.S. Central Command, MacDill Air Force Base, Florida.  Lenox previously served as branch head, Joint Intelligence Operations Center, J3, U.S. Central Command, MacDill Air Force Base, Florida.

Rear Adm. (lower half) Daniel P. Martin will be assigned as commander, Carrier Strike Group One, San Diego, California.  Martin is currently serving as senior military advisor to the assistant secretary of state for political-military affairs, Washington, D.C.

Rear Adm. (lower half) Wesley R. McCall will be assigned as commander, Navy Region Southeast, Jacksonville, Florida.  McCall is currently serving as executive assistant to the assistant secretary of the Navy (energy, installations and environment), Washington, D.C.

Rear Adm. (lower half) John V. Menoni will be assigned as commander, Expeditionary Strike Group Two, Virginia Beach, Virginia.  Menoni is currently serving as U.S. Indo-Pacific Command representative, Guam, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Republic of Palau; commander, U.S. Naval Forces, Marianas; and commander, Joint Region Marianas, Guam.

Rear Adm. (lower half) Curt A. Renshaw will be assigned as commander, Carrier Strike Group Eight, Norfolk, Virginia.  Renshaw is currently serving as deputy commander, U.S. Naval Forces, U.S. Central Command; and deputy commander, Fifth Fleet, Manama, Bahrain.

Rear Adm. (lower half) Philip E. Sobeck will be assigned as commander, Logistics Group, Western Pacific; and commander, Task Force Seven Three, Singapore.  Sobeck is currently serving as commander, Expeditionary Strike Group Three, San Diego, California.

Rear Adm. (lower half) Paul C. Spedero Jr. will be assigned as commander, Joint Enabling Capabilities Command, U.S. Transportation Command, Norfolk, Virginia.  Spedero is currently serving as director, fleet integrated readiness and analysis, N02R, U.S. Fleet Forces, Norfolk, Virginia.

Rear Adm. (lower half) Christopher J. Sweeney will be assigned as commander, Carrier Strike Group Eleven, Everett, Washington.  Sweeney is currently serving as deputy director for plans and policy, ECJ-5, U.S. European Command, Stuttgart, Germany.

Shaping Steel

 

Air Force Cadet 1st Class Isaac Perkins shapes a piece of hot steel into a knife during a physical metallurgy class at U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Spring, Colo., Feb. 17, 2021.

Shot in the Snow

 

A Marines participates in a live-fire range during arctic cold-weather and mountain warfare training in Setermoen, Norway, Feb. 23, 2021.

Sunlit Silhouette

 

Marines conduct helicopter support team aerial-lift training during Hagatna Fury 21 at Kin Blue, Okinawa, Japan, Feb. 24, 2021. The exercise allows Marines to hone abilities to seize, defend and provide expeditionary sustainment for key maritime terrain.

Survival Training

 

Airmen learn to prepare one-man life rafts during water survival training at Hill Air Force Base, Utah, Feb. 12, 2021.

Sharp Sight

 

A Marine sights in on a target during a warfighting exercise at Marine Corps Air-Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms, Calif., Feb. 16, 2021.

Baseball Buddies

 

Marine Corps Capt. Cameron Jones plays baseball at Marine Corps Air-Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms, Calif., Feb. 17, 2021.

Navy Navigation

 

A Navy Mark VI patrol boat navigates into the well deck of the USS Ashland at Naval Base Guam, Feb. 21, 2021.

Military Moves

 

Soldiers ride in an M992 field artillery ammunition supply vehicle during Combined Resolve at Hohenfels Training Area, Germany, Feb. 22, 2021. The multinational exercise focuses on readiness and enhances interoperability with allied forces.

Preflight Check

 

Air Force Airman Legea Howard performs preflight checks for the Black History Month diversity and inclusion flight at Fairchild Air Force Base, Wash., Feb. 18, 2021. The flight also provided a chance for airmen to get qualification training and improve mission readiness.

 

Airmen with the Air Force's air demonstration squadron, the Thunderbirds, prepare for joint seasonal training with the Blue Angels, the Navy’s flight demonstration squadron, at Naval Air Facility at El Centro, Ariz., Feb. 24, 2021.

Department of Defense Releases Annual Report on Sexual Harassment and Violence at the Military Service Academies for Academic Program Year 2019-2020

 Feb. 25, 2021

---

Today, the Department of Defense (DOD) released the Annual Report on Sexual Harassment and Violence at the Military Service Academies for Academic Program Year 2019-2020.

The report provides an update on the academies’ efforts to reduce and stop sexual harassment and assault at their campuses. The report also outlines the academies’ commitment to encourage reporting of sexual harassment and sexual assault, and connect victims with restorative care – even amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Failure cannot be an option. We must stop sexual assault and harassment across our entire force. Our country depends on military service academies to produce not just college graduates, but future leaders of the United States Armed Forces who can lead in a manner that reflects our values and expectations. These future leaders must combat any enemy or foe, and that fight must include eradicating these behaviors and any toxic culture that degrades our readiness from within. Although the Department has taken action to eliminate sexual assault and harassment, previous efforts simply have not been enough to maintain sustained decreases in prevalence of these unacceptable behaviors.  Those who volunteer to serve our nation’s defense must recognize they are also responsible for ensuring climates of dignity within the ranks. They must commit to this, daily, in their words and their actions to ensure an effective and cohesive military force,” said Dr. Elizabeth Van Winkle, Executive Director of the Department’s Office of Force Resiliency.

Dr. Van Winkle continued, “Although the COVID-19 pandemic required us to postpone our scheduled sexual assault prevalence survey and delayed implementation of some initiatives, the Academies are committed to not only accelerating implementation of actions currently underway but gaining momentum in taking new actions.  We will continue to leverage the latest data-informed, scientifically-advanced approaches to eliminate this scourge.”

According to the report, the academies showed greatest progress in expanding efforts that address the risk and protective factors for sexual assault and harassment.

“The Academies have an opportunity to lead by making their sexual assault and sexual harassment prevention initiatives a permanent part of their everyday business,” said Major General Clement Coward, the director of DOD’s Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Office (SAPRO).  “The concerning trends in data we’ve seen over the years demand that these programs stay top of mind with leadership in their planning and resourcing decisions.”

The Report on Sexual Harassment and Violence at the Military Service Academies also provides the number of sexual assault reports filed at the academies. In APY 19-20, the academies received 129 total sexual assault reports involving a cadet or midshipmen (including cadet/midshipmen candidates from the military prep schools) as a victim and/or subject, down from 149 reports received the year prior. The decrease in sexual assault reporting this year occurred mainly in the 4th quarter. Students made fewer reports once academies sent students home and required social distancing.

Since sexual assault is an underreported crime, the Department traditionally measures the estimated prevalence of sexual assault every other year with an in-person survey. However, the APY 19-20 report does not contain prevalence estimates due to postponement of the academy survey. The prevalence estimates are different than the actual number of reports received; the Department encourages greater reporting so that victims may connect with restorative care and support services, and aid in the DoD’s efforts to hold alleged offenders appropriately accountable. 

“Sexual assault and sexual harassment are persistent and disruptive problems that have no part in military service.  The Academies are making progress, but considerable work remains to continue reducing and stopping sexual assault at the academies. We look forward to visiting the academies this Summer to review their efforts in depth and align them with the Secretary of Defense’s vision and direction to eliminate the scourge of sexual assault and sexual harassment from our military,” Coward said. “Our work at the academies shapes the military force for years to come. As our future leaders, cadets and midshipmen will one day be responsible for promoting climates of trust, respect, and inclusion in the active force.”

Need support? DOD Safe Helpline is a hotline dedicated to members of the DOD community affected by sexual assault. Safe Helpline offers completely anonymous, confidential, 24/7 support available online at www.safehelpline.org or by calling 877-995-5247.

Food Bank

 

Arizona National Guard soldiers and airmen work alongside civilians distributing groceries to local citizens at a food bank in Stanfield, Ariz., Feb. 24, 2021. Arizona Citizen-soldiers and airmen continue to support community needs all over the state during this state of emergency response

Transport Team

 

Marine Corps Cpl. Freddie Federico backs a high mobility artillery rocket system into a KC-130J Super Hercules during a training exercise at Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, Ariz., Feb. 23, 2021.

Wolfpack Soldiers Set Sights on COVID-19 Vaccines

 Feb. 25, 2021 | BY AIR FORCE LT. COL. JOHN SEVERNS

For the past four months, 10 Soldiers with the 153 Medical Detachment (Blood Support) – the Wolfpack – at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington, have been deployed to the FUJIFILM Diosynth Biotechnologies [FDBT] facility to provide quality control support to COVID-19 vaccine manufacturing efforts.

''We've always had officers who train with industry for four to six months,'' said Army Maj. Gen. Chris Sharpsten, deputy director of supply, production and distribution for the Vaccines and Therapeutics Operation under the federal COVID-19 response, formerly known as Operation Warp Speed. ''But it's a single officer who goes to work with an industry related to their branch, and they take the expertise they gain from the industry and bring it back to the services.''

This effort, he said, was different.

''I will tell you, in the 32 years I've been in the Army, I've never seen anything quite like this,'' Sharpsten said.

The deployment was one piece of the whole-of-America response to the unprecedented pandemic that has cost more than 450,000 lives and caused immeasurable economic and social damage since the virus arrived in America early last year. The 10 soldiers, led by Army Captain Joshua Martinez, were chosen for their expertise in critical, precise laboratory procedures necessary to manufacture vaccines at scale.

For years, the U.S. outsourced much of its vaccine production, and in normal times, this wouldn't be a problem. But with the sudden advent of a globe-spanning pandemic and a critical shortage of vaccine manufacturing capacity around the world, it became a matter of national importance to expand domestic production. Through tools like the Defense Production Act and existing agreements with private industry, the government instituted a robust program in vaccine development and production.

You've played a really critical role at a really critical moment during the roll-out of this effort … You have exhibited service above and beyond in the true spirit of the armed forces.''

Thomas Page, vice president of engineering and asset development for FUJIFILM Diosynth

The FDBT facility in Texas already had agreements in place for emergency use, and as then-Operation Warp Speed kicked into high gear, the government reserved capacity at the facility through the end of 2021. To accommodate large-scale production of two COVID-19 vaccine candidates, the plant completed several major upgrades. But adding physical capacity at the facility by itself wasn't enough to increase production – the plant needed hundreds of experts in technical and scientific fields that are hard to fill even during normal times, much less in the middle of a pandemic.

That's when the medics of the 153rd came into the picture.

This year has been difficult for everyone," Martinez said. "As med warriors, we stand ready to save lives and win the war against COVID-19."

The soldiers of the 153rd Medical Detachment had skills that were in short supply. As the FDBT facility met its physical goals for expanded capacity, there was still a need to fill hundreds of positions at the plant, according to the company. The workforce nearly doubled in size between April 2020 and January 2021. Experts in quality control, sample testing and environmental monitoring were necessary to start producing millions of doses of COVID-19 candidate vaccines in the facility's 14 two-thousand liter cell culture trains. FUJIFILM turned to their contacts in then-Operation Warp Speed to fill the gap.

The outstanding FUJIFILM team identified that gap and reached out to the operation for support," said Army Col. Michael Post, the operation's director of manufacturing support. "From that time, to the time we pushed the request up to the Joint Staff, to when it was pushed down to Fort Lewis, to the time these members were notified and packed their bags and got on an airplane, was 10 days."

During their four months in College Station, Texas, the detachment supported the manufacture of the tens of thousands of vaccines used in Novavax's phase 3 clinical trials, which produce the efficacy data the Food and Drug Administration relies on for determining whether or not to issue an emergency use authorization, as was granted for the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines. They also trained the employees FUJIFILM hired to take their place.

With that training complete, the soldiers of the Wolfpack assembled for a final formation outside the FDBT facility on a chilly February morning for the presentation of joint commendation and achievement awards by Sharpsten. Thomas Page, vice president of engineering and asset development for FUJIFILM Diosynth, spoke about the contributions the soldiers made.

"On behalf of the citizens of the United States, the state of Texas, FUJIFILM Diosynth Biotechnologies, and my very own personal sense of gratitude, I want to thank you for your service," he said. "You've played a really critical role at a really critical moment during the roll-out of this effort … You have exhibited service above and beyond in the true spirit of the armed forces."

The Federal COVID-19 Vaccines Operation has delivered more than 71 million doses of the Pfizer and Moderna vaccine, as of mid-February. If Novavax's vaccine receives an FDA emergency use authorization, the FDBT plant in College Station said they could help the company produce up to 110 million doses by this summer.

Missile Launch

 

An Air Force Global Strike Command unarmed Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile launches during an operation test at Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif., Feb. 23, 2021.

Austin Praises 'Whole-of-Government, All-of-Nation' Effort Against COVID-19

 Feb. 25, 2021 | BY Jim Garamone , DOD News

Service members are making a true contribution to their fellow citizens at the "mega-vaccination center" at California State University Los Angeles, said Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III.

Austin visited the site yesterday and said he was impressed by the organization, zeal and commitment of all those working to inoculate Californians. California has suffered the most COVID-19 deaths of any state in the U.S. Even as the vaccines rolled out late last year, the state experienced a surge in coronavirus cases. Out of more than 500,000 Americans who have died from the virus, more than 48,000 were from California.

Austin approved the deployment of an active-duty team to Los Angeles to help get vaccines in arms, and a 222-member group of service members was formed around the Army's 299th Engineer Company from Fort Carson, Colorado. Last week, the unit joined Federal Emergency Management Agency personnel, California National Guardsmen and state and city health officials. Within a week, they were inoculating 6,000 Angelenos a day.

Before arriving in Los Angeles, Austin stopped in Colorado to talk to the leaders of the U.S. Northern Command, which is spearheading the DOD's effort to combat the disease. After arriving in Los Angeles, he spoke to the news media in the parking lot of the university, which has been transformed into a drive-thru vaccination hub.

Austin praised Northcom for its plan, saying it has been incredibly effective in a short period of time. "When you take a look at this, it makes you proud to be an American," he said.

Many of the soldiers serving in Los Angeles — both active duty and guardsmen — wear combat patches. These women and men have served around the world trying to make things better for oppressed populations, Austin said. They work building health systems in Afghanistan or Iraq or the Horn of Africa. They also provided security in those nations. 

But this is different. "I asked a number of our troops today how they feel about being able to come here and help you in America, understanding that every shot that they deliver to a person is probably helping to save that person's life, eventually, and that's a big deal," he said. "We're in the business of protecting Americans and saving lives, and they feel really good about what they've been doing." 

Californians have welcomed the service members and local officials said they're pleased the effort has been so successful.

"I've talked to some of our local officials and civilian agency heads, and they've told me that [what] the military brings to this equation is discipline, organizational skills and effectiveness," Austin said. "They were impressed by the fact that, every day, our troops take a look at things and endeavor to get better. They know good is not good enough. And, so, they've started in one place and, over … a very short period of time, increased the capacity in ways that we probably couldn't have envisioned."

Austin toured the site, which includes a walk-up vaccination area. People were socially distanced as they cued up. A young Air Force sergeant said it's about a 24-minute process from the time a person enters the facility to the mandatory 15 minutes  they must wait after receiving the shot.

Around 2,000 people a day are vaccinated at the walk-up site. The drive-thru site, which allows people to receive the shots in their cars, also runs like clockwork.

"Here you see the evidence of what organization and teamwork and discipline brings to the equation," the secretary said.

Austin was told that a soldier from the neighborhood was able to give his mother a vaccination. "The ability to do things like that, I think, … it really makes a difference," he said. "And our troops find this to be a very meaningful deployment."

Austin said a "whole-of-government, all-of-nation effort" was necessary to combat COVID-19, requiring facilities and personnel from all levels of government.