Maj. Gen. John C. Harris Jr. (third from left), Ohio adjutant general, is joined by other Ohio National Guard leaders to plant a tree April 30, 2021, at the Great Seal State Park in Chillicothe, Ohio during a dedication ceremony of a new tree grove to the victims, survivors and front-line responders of the COVID-19 pandemic. Gov. Mike DeWine presided over the dedication of the COVID-19 Pandemic Memorial Grove, which includes 15 trees surrounding a paved trail. ~ Photo courtesy of Scioto Valley Guardian
Ohio National Guard members providing support to Ohio’s Community Vaccination Center at Cleveland State University hold a banner to mark the 100,000th COVID-19 vaccination administered since opening in mid-March. Community member Ruby Davis (pictured) received the milestone vaccination April 2, 2021, at the Wolstein Center on the CSU campus in Cleveland. The CVC is manned by a team of about 540 Ohio National Guard and active-duty service members, as well as personnel from local, state and federal agencies, and is capable of vaccinating more than 6,000 people per day. ~ Photos by Ohio National Guard/U.S. Army
March 23 marked the one-year anniversary of the Ohio National Guard’s first mission as part of the state’s response to COVID-19, when members answered the call from Gov. Mike DeWine and reported for duty at food banks across the Buckeye State. Since then, a total of 5,600 Soldiers, Airmen, and members of the Ohio Military Reserve and Ohio Naval Militia — nearly a third of the entire Ohio National Guard force — have answered the call to help their communities during nearly 70 missions, which have included providing vaccinations, collecting personal protective equipment (PPE) for frontline workers and providing staffing support to state prisons and long-term care facilities.
Ohio National Guard members stand for a photo March 15, 2021, during the last shift providing staffing support at the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction’s Franklin Medical Center in Columbus, Ohio. From September 2020 to March 2021, Guard members augmented staffs at 23 of the state’s 28 correctional institutions, providing support where critical personnel shortages arose due to COVID-19-related health issues and concerns. ~ Courtesy photo
Staff Sgt. Luis Morales, a dental technician assigned to the 178th Medical Group, poses for a photo June 17, 2020 at Community Building Institute in Middletown, Ohio. Airmen from the 178th Wing and Soldiers assigned to the Ohio National Guard augmented staff members of Centerpoint Health to help with drive-thru Coronavirus testing of local community members. ~ Photo by Staff Sgt. Amber Mullen, 178th Wing
The Community Vaccination Center at Cleveland State University is officially open and vaccinating Ohioans in an effort to save and protect lives by stopping the spread of COVID-19. The CVC is manned by a team of about 540 Ohio National Guard and active-duty service members, as well as personnel from local, state and federal agencies and is being led by Ohio Air National Guard Brig. Gen. Rebecca O’Connor (pictured), who has been appointed as the dual-status commander in charge of the CVC, which is capable of vaccinating more than 6,000 people per day. ~ Photos by Sgt. 1st Class Thomas Vega, Ohio National Guard Public Affairs
03.19.2020
Ohio National Guard called to support COVID-19 response
04.02.2020
Ohio National Guard members supporting medical capacity assessment
during COVID-19 response
04.07.2020
Ohio National Guard’s Joint Engineer Assessment Teams evaluating
potential alternate medical care facilities
04.08.2020
Guard and military reserve members assisting with personal protective equipment collection
04.10.2020
More Ohio National Guard members assigned to food bank mission
04.14.2020 Ohio National Guard medical team begins support to Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction
05.05.2020 Chief of National Guard Bureau to visit with Ohio National Guard troops
05.19.2020 Ohio National Guard deploys medical team to eastern Ohio to support Department of Rehabilitation and Correction
05.21.2020 Ohio National Guard providing assistance at long-term care facilities
07.02.2020 Ohio National Guard medical team providing support at northeast Ohio prison
09.17.2020 Ohio National Guard food bank support mission extends into December
12.11.2020 Ohio National Guard helps state prepare for COVID-19 vaccine distribution
12.28.2020 Ohio National Guard members receive COVID-19 vaccinations
01.13.2021 Ohio National Guard senior leaders lead by example in getting COVID-19 vaccinations
02.11.2021
Ohio National Guard begins assisting with COVID-19 vaccinations
JOINT TASK FORCE FOX
(JTF-FOX) HEADQUARTERSMISSION BEGAN: 03/23/2020 | Ongoing | DEPLOYED: 40 Members
This group of personnel ovides planning and oversight of all National Guard missions rdered by governor’s proclamation. All members of the Ohio National Guard and Ohio State Defense Force activated for COVID-19 support missions fall under the JTF command structure.
STORIES
03/20/2020 Ready when needed: Ohio National Guard’s history of supporting Ohio during times of emergency
03/25/2020 Operation Steady Resolve: Joint Task Force 37 helping Ohioans during COVID-19 pandemic
03/28/2020 Guard member ‘serving a greater purpose’
03/31/2020 Doctor helps keep Guard members safe to serve
03/31/2020 178th Wing analysts collecting critical information during COVID-19 response
03/04/2021 Stepping up when needed: Rhoads reflects on time as JTF Fox commander
03/23/2021 Marking a year of COVID-19 mission support: Ohio National Guard continues to answer the call
03/17/20 ~ Message to ONG Members
03/25/20 ~ Fight against COVID-19
03/26/20 ~ COVID-19 - Town Hall
04/02/20 ~ COVID-19 - Town Hall
04/03/20 ~ ONG Members: Why I Serve
04/21/20 ~ We Are All #InThisTogether
04/23/20 ~ COVID-19 - Town Hall
05/21/20 ~ Town Hall
FOOD BANK SUPPORT
MISSION BEGAN: 03/23/2020 | COMPLETED: 07/02/2021 | DEPLOYED: 1,800 Members
Ohio National Guard and Ohio
State Defense Force assisted 14 food
banks and regional warehouses across
Ohio, and received, packed, and distributed more than 150 million pounds
of food and groceries to over 2.9 million Ohioans in all 88 counties.
11/24/2020 ~ SE Ohio, Crooksville
Guard provides varied support during
pop-up event in Perry County
06/09/2020 ~ NW Ohio, Toledo
Toledo Northwestern Ohio Food Bank
148th IR
(3 images)
05/29/2020 ~ NW Ohio, Toledo
Toledo Northwestern Ohio Food Bank
180th FW
(23 images)
05/22/2020 ~ SW Ohio, Springfield
Food Bank Support
179th WING
(12 images)
05/21/2020 ~ NW Ohio, Toledo
Toledo Northwestern Ohio Food Bank
121st ARW
(8 images)
05/09/2020 ~ NW Ohio / Toledo
180th Fighter Wing
(32 images)
05/08/2020 ~ NW Ohio / Toledo
180th Fighter Wing
(10 images)
05/06/2020 ~ CE Ohio / Columbus
Joseph Lengyel, Chief of the National
Guard Bureau - ONG Joint Force Headquarters
(8 images)
05/04/2020 ~ NW Ohio / Toledo
Toledo Northwestern Ohio Food Bank
Ohio Military Reserve
(9 images)
05/01/2020 ~ NW Ohio / Bowling Green
Toledo Northwestern Ohio Food Bank
148th Infantry Regiment
(40 images)
05/01/2020 ~ NW Ohio / Bowling Green
Toledo Northwestern Ohio Food Bank
(40 images)
05/01/2020 ~ NW Ohio / Toledo
Toledo Northwestern Ohio Food Bank
1-148th Infantry Regiment/OHMR
(20 images)
04/30/2020 ~ NE Ohio / Akron
Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank
1-148th Infantry Regiment
(6 images)
04/27/2020 ~ NW Ohio / Toledo
Toledo Northwestern Ohio Food Bank
1-148th Infantry Regiment
(8 images)
04/24/2020 ~ NW Ohio / Toledo
Toledo NorthwesternOhio Food Bank
1-148th Infantry Regiment
(30 images)
04/24/2020 ~ NW Ohio / Toledo
Toledo Northwestern Ohio Food Bank
180th Fighter Wing
(10 images)
04/21/42020 ~ SW Ohio / Fairborn
The Foodbank, Inc.
837th Engineer Battalion
(29 images)
04/20/2020 ~ NW Ohio / Toledo
Toledo Northwestern
Ohio Food Bank
(20 images)
04/17/42020 ~ NW Ohio / Toledo
Toledo Northwestern Ohio Food Bank
1st Bat. Infantry Reg./OHMR/180th FW
(8 images)
04/16/42020 ~ NW Ohio / Toledo
Toledo Northwestern Ohio Food Bank
ONG leadership
(12 images)
04/16/42020 ~ SE Ohio / Logan
Southeast Ohio Foodbank &
Regional Kitchen - 1st Battalion,
134th Field Artillery/OHMR
(3 images)
04/15/42020 ~ NW Ohio / Toledo
Toledo Northwestern Ohio Food Bank
1st Battalion, 148th Infantry Regimentp
(11 images)
04/15/42020 ~ NW Ohio / Toledo
Toledo Northwestern Ohio Food Bank
1st Bat. Infantry Reg./OHMR/180th FW
(33 images)
04/14/42020 ~ NW Ohio / Toledo
Toledo Northwestern Ohio Food Bank
1st Bat. Infantry Reg./OHMR/180th FW
(41 images)
04/13/42020 ~ NW Ohio / Toledo
Toledo Northwestern Ohio Food Bank
1st Battalion, 148th Infantry Regiment
(18 images)
04/06/2020 ~ NW Ohio / Bowling Green
Toledo Northwestern Ohio Food Bank
180th Fighter Wing
(51 images)
04/10/2020 ~ SE Ohio / Logan
Southeast Ohio Foodbank & Regional Kitchen
237th Support Battalion
(7 images)
04/09/2020 ~ NW Ohio / Toledo
Toledo Northwestern Ohio Food Bank
1st Battalion, 148th Infantry Regiment
(33 images)
04/06/2020 ~ SE Ohio / Logan
Southeast Ohio Foodbank
& Regional Kitchen
237th Support Battalion
(6 images)
04/06/2020 ~ NW Ohio / Toledo
Toledo Northwestern Ohio Food Bank
1st Battalion, 148th Infantry Regiment
(27 images)
04/02/2020 ~ SW Ohio / Cincinnati
Freestore Foodbank
2nd Squadron, 107th Cavalry
(11 images)
04/02/2020 ~ NW Ohio / Kenton
West Ohio Food Bank,
237th Support Battalion,1st Battalion,
148th Infantry Regiment (8 images)
04/01/2020 ~ NW Ohio / Toledo
Toledo Northwestern Ohio Food Bank
1st Battalion, 148th Infantry Regiment
(23 images)
03/31/2020 ~ NW Ohio / Toledo
Toledo Northwestern Ohio Food Bank
1st Battalion, 148th Infantry Regiment
(13 images)
03/27/2020 ~ SW Ohio / Dayton
The Foodbank, Inc.
837th Engineer Battalion
(18 images)
03/27/2020 ~ NW Ohio / Perrysburg
Toledo Northwestern Ohio Food Bank
1st Battalion, 148th Infantry Regiment
(23 images)
03/26/2020 ~ NW Ohio / Toledo
Toledo Northwestern Ohio Food Bank
1st Battalion, 148th Infantry Regiment
(30 images)
03/26/2020 ~ NW Ohio / Toledo
Toledo Northwestern Ohio Food Bank
1st Battalion, 148th Infantry Regiment
(11 images)
03/25/2020 ~ NW Ohio / Rossford
Toledo Northwestern Ohio Food Bank
1st Battalion, 148th Infantry Regiment
(22 images)
03/25/2020
~ NW Ohio / Rossford
Toledo Northwestern Ohio Food Bank
1st Battalion, 148th Infantry Regiment
(9 images)
03/24/2020 ~ NW Ohio / Rossford
Toledo Northwestern Ohio Food Bank
1st Battalion, 148th Infantry Regiment
(7 images)
03/24/2020 ~ Central Ohio / Columbus
Mid-Ohio Foodbank
1st Battalion, 134th Field Artillery
Regiment
(12 images)
03/24/2020 ~ NW Ohio / Toledo
Toledo Northwestern Ohio Food Bank
1st Battalion, 148th Infantry Regiment
(10 images)
03/23/2020 ~ NW Ohio / Rossford
Toledo Northwestern Ohio Food Bank
1st Battalion, 148th Infantry Regiment
(15 images)
03/23/2020 ~ NE Ohio / Cleveland
Greater Cleveland Food Bank
237th Support Battalion
(21 images)
03/23/2020 ~ Central Ohio / Columbus
Mid-Ohio Foodbank
1st Battalion, 134th Field Artillery
Regiment
(7 images)
03/23/2020 ~ Central Ohio / Columbus
Mid-Ohio Foodbank
1st Battalion, 134th Field Artillery
Regiment
(12 images)
Ohio National Guard members stand in formation at the Mid-Ohio Foodbank end of mission ceremony July 2, 2021, in Grove City, Ohio. For the past 16 months, Ohio National Guard Soldiers and Airmen, along with members of the State Defense Force, have supported several regional food banks and warehouses serving all 88 counties across Ohio during the COVID-19 pandemic. (Photo by Spc. Jessica Silhavy, Ohio National Guard Public Affairs)
PANTRIES SERVED
03/19/20 ~ Food Bank Support
03/24/20 ~ Mid-Ohio Foodbank
03/27/20 ~ The Foodbank, Inc,
03/28/20 ~ Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank
04/01/20 ~ Toledo NW Ohio Food Bank
04/03/20 ~ Southeast Ohio Foodbank & Regional Kitchen
04/09/20 ~ Southeast Ohio Foodbank & Regional Kitchen
04/20/20 ~ We Are All #InThisTogether
04/30/20 ~ NE Ohio, Akron
05/06/20 ~ CE Ohio, Mid-Ohio Foodbank
05/08/20 ~ Ohio Community Thank Yous and Shout Outs
05/12/20 ~ NE Ohio, Steubenville
05/13/20 ~ NE Ohio, Akron
09/28/20 ~ Guard Continues Commitment To Ohioans
10/18/20 ~ How the Ohio National Guard is helping the state’s food banks
12/15/20 ~ Heroes of Hope: Ohio Guard members continue critical support at food banks
03/25/2020
Soldiers supporting food bank mission help rescue car crash victim
03/30/2020
Dayton-area food bank gets needed boost from its National Guard neighbors
04/02/2020
Ohioans give back: Time at home means time to help
04/03/2020
From relying on food to delivering it: Ohio National Guard Soldier shares story of becoming U.S. citizen
04/03/2020
Serving Compassion: Ohio National Guard Support Critical to Local Food Banks, Communities
04/12/2020
Community giving comes full circle with Easter baskets for those in need
04/20/2020
Guard members find Southeast Ohioans have always been #InThisTogether
05/06/2020
Chief, National Guard Bureau visits Ohio: Trip includes meeting with personnel supporting food banks during COVID-19 pandemic
05/07/2020
Easing the Burden: Ohio National Guard assists with mass food distribution event for citizens in need
05/29/2020
178th Wing Airmen serve their community at the local food bank
06/28/2020
Ohio Guard members build bridges over language barriers at food bank
07/13/2020
Ohio National Guard helps build urban farm to grow Columbus communities
07/20/2020
Ohio’s first female infantry officer serves on the front lines during COVID-19 pandemic
09/23/2020
Ohio National Guard food bank support mission extends into December
PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT COLLECTION
MISSION BEGAN: 03/23/2020 | COMPLETED: 03/18/2021 | DEPLOYED: 170 Members
Members of the Ohio National Guard and Ohio Military Reserve have supported the Ohio Emergency Management Agency and the Ohio Department of Health with the state’s collection and redistribution of personal protective equipment.
01/21/2021 ~ Logistics team helps support
COVID-19 relief efforts through PPE
distribution mission
01/21/2021 ~ Camaraderie, mentorship and
lasting friendships: Guard members welcome
new teammate during COVID-19 warehouse
mission
10/15/2020 ~ Joint Task Force 371
PPE collection mission still going strong during
COVID-19 pandemic
~ WATCH VIDEO
07/01/2020 ~ 178th
178th MDG Key Spouse Group volunteers
to aid in mask refurbishment
~ WATCH VIDEO
04/30/2020 ~ CE Ohio | Columbus
Self-taught seamstress uses talents to sew
masks for Ohio National Guard members,
other front-line heroes ~ READ STORY
05/01/2020 ~ CE Ohio | Columbus
Ohio Military Reserve helping collect PPE,
medical donations during COVID-19 pandemic
~ READ STORY
04/08/2020 ~ NW Ohio | Haskins
Haskins resident makes masks to help frontline
workers during COVID-19 pandemic
~ READ STORY
STORIES
04/08/2020
Time at home means time to help: Haskins resident makes masks to help frontline workers during COVID-19 pandemic
04/30/2020
Self-taught seamstress uses talents to sew masks for Ohio National Guard members, other front-line heroes
05/01/2020
Ohio Military Reserve helping collect PPE, medical donations during COVID-19 pandemic
07/01/2020
178th MDG Key Spouse Group volunteers to aid in mask refurbishment
01/21/2021
Logistics team helps support COVID-19 relief efforts through PPE distribution mission
01/21/2021
Camaraderie, mentorship and lasting friendships: Guard members welcome new teammate during COVID-19 warehouse mission
MEDICAL SURGE CAPACITYMISSION BEGAN: 03/30/2020 | COMPLETED: 05/11/2020 | Deployed: 60 Members
Ohio National Guard supported the Ohio Department of Health and Ohio Emergency Management Agency to identify potential sites, such as convention centers, for use as alternate care facilities (ACF) to provide medical capacity expansion, if needed. Teams conducted 48 assessments in 28 counties, resulting in the selection of six ACF locations throughout the state.
04/04/2020 ~ NW Ohio / Upper Sandusky
Medical Surge Capacity
200th RED HORSE
(10 images)
04/05/2020 ~ NW Ohio / Toledo
Medical Surge Capacity
1st Battalion, 148th Infantry Regiment
(23 images)
04/06/2020 ~ NW Ohio / Bowling Green
Ohio National Guard’s Northwest Ohio
Joint Engineer Assessment Team
(19 images)
04/09/2020 ~ NW Ohio / Toledo
Ohio National Guard’s Northwest Ohio
Joint Engineer Assessment Team
(5 images)
04/09/2020 ~ Central Ohio / Columbus
Greater Columbus Convention Center
16th Engineer Brigade,
(5 images)
VIDEO - CLICK TO ENLARGE
04/09/2020
Joint Engineer Assessment Teams
PRISON SUPPORTFEDERAL MISSION BEGAN: 04/06/2020 | COMPLETED: 04/24/2021 | DEPLOYED: 40 Members
Ohio National Guard supported the Federal Correctional Institution, Elkton, in Columbiana County, with medical services and equipment.
STATE MISSION BEGAN: 04/13/2020 | COMPLETED: 03/15/2021 | DEPLOYED: 600 Members
Ohio National Guard and
Ohio State Defense Force
supported the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction at more than 20 facilities with various resources to include staffing augmentation, medical care and erection of temporary housing.
04/18/2020 ~ CE Orient, Ohio
Ohio National Guard continue support of ODRC,
provide temporary housing expansion
(17 images)
04/20/2020 ~ NE Elkton, Ohio
Soldiers, Airmen provide medical assistance
at federal prison
~ READ STORY
05/04/2020 ~ CE Orient, Ohio
Ohio National Guard medical team augmenting
staff at state prison
(13 images)
STORIES
04/20/2020
Ohio National Guard on front lines during COVID-19 pandemic: Soldiers, Airmen provide medical assistance at federal prison
04/21/2020
Ohio National Guard continue support of ODRC, provide temporary housing expansion
05/07/2020
Ohio National Guard medical team augmenting staff at state prison
03/31/2021
‘Mission first mentality’: Ohio National Guard, State Defense Force members complete corrections mission
LONG-TERM CARE FACILITIES
MISSION BEGAN: 05/16/2020 | COMPLETED: JAN. 2021 | DEPLOYED: 290 Members
Ohio National Guard and
Ohio State Defense Force
assisted with COVID-19 test sample collection and temporary staffing at more than 30 long-term care facilities throughout the state.
SAMPLE COLLECTION
MISSION BEGAN: 06/11/2020 | COMPLETED: 04/09/2021 | DEPLOYED: 320 Members
Personnel have worked with community health partners to offer free swab sample collection for COVID-19 testing at several sites throughout the state to help provide critical information to public health officials.
11/24/2020 ~ SE Ohio, Crooksville
Guard provides varied support during
pop-up event in Perry County
11/17/2020~ Heroes of Hope
Ohio Guard members helping with
COVID-19 testing
VACCINE
PACKAGING & DISTRIBUTION MISSION BEGAN: 12/14/2020 | COMPLETED: Ongoing | DEPLOYED: 170 Members
Ohio National Guard supported
the Ohio Department of Health
at the state’s receive, store and stage warehouse to receive and repackage the COVID-19 vaccine
for distribution.
ADMINISTERING MISSION BEGAN: 01/26/2021 | COMPLETED: Ongoing | DEPLOYED: 330 Members
Ohio National Guard and Ohio
State Defense Force supported the
Ohio Department of Health, Ohio
Department of Aging, and community partners to administer more than
100,000 COVID-19 vaccines as part of efforts to ensure eligible Ohioans have
the opportunity to be vaccinated.
COMMUNITY VACCINATION CENTER
MISSION BEGAN: 03/16/2021 | COMPLETED: 06/07/2021 | DEPLOYED: 650 Members
Ohio National Guard, Ohio State
Defense Force, and Active Duty Service Members supported local, state, and federal partners at Ohio’s Community Vaccination Center in Cleveland to deliver more than 260,000 doses.
04/04/2021 ~ Cleveland CVC marks 100,000th
COVID-19 vaccination since opening
03/25/2021 ~
Dual-status commander unifies forces
02/19/2021 ~
Ohio National Guard begins
assisting with COVID-19 vaccinations
02/11/2021 ~
Ohio National Guard begins
assisting with COVID-19 vaccinations
01/13/2021 ~
Senior leaders lead by example
in getting COVID-19 vaccinations
12/29/2020 ~
First Ohio National Guard
members get COVID-19 vaccine
12/04/2020 ~
‘Time is of the essence’:
Preparing for COVID-19 vaccine distribution
STORIES
12/04/2020
‘Time is of the essence’: Preparing for COVID-19 vaccine distribution
12/29/2020
First Ohio National Guard members get COVID-19 vaccine
01/13/2021
Ohio National Guard senior leaders lead by example in getting COVID-19 vaccinations
02/11/2021
Ohio National Guard begins assisting with COVID-19 vaccinations
03/25/2021
Dual-status commander unifies forces: Ohio National Guard general leading mass vaccination efforts in Cleveland
UNEMPLOYMENT CLAIMS
MISSION BEGAN: 03/28/2021 | COMPLETED: 06/30/2021 | DEPLOYED: 50 Members
Ohio State Defense Force
assisted the Ohio Department of Job and
Family Services with processing Pandemic
Unemployment Assistance (PUA) claims.
