2020-2022 COVID-19 Response

Hawai‘i National Guard COVID-19 neighbor island response, Kalaeloa, HI. Members of the Hawai‘i National Guard board a C-17 to deploy to Maui, Hawai‘i Island, and Kaua‘i, to assist with the state's fight against COVID-19. Over 800 Guardsmen were activated in April. (Photo by: Sgt. John Schoebel)
Hawai‘i National Guard COVID-19 neighbor island response, Kalaeloa, HI. Members of the Hawai‘i National Guard board a C-17 to deploy to Maui, Hawai‘i Island, and Kaua‘i, to assist with the state’s fight against COVID-19. Over 800 Guardsmen were activated in April. (Photo by: Sgt. John Schoebel)
Hawai‘i National Guard COVID-19 neighbor island response, HI. Members of the Hawai‘i National Guard line up to board a C-17 from the 204th Airlift Squadron, which made several runs of troops to Maui, Kauai, and Hawaii Island to assist with the state's COVID-19 response. Nearly 800 HING members were activated over the first week of April. (Photo by: Sgt. John Schoebel)
Hawai‘i National Guard COVID-19 neighbor island response, HI. Members of the Hawai‘i National Guard line up to board a C-17 from the 204th Airlift Squadron, which made several runs of troops to Maui, Kauai, and Hawaii Island to assist with the state’s COVID-19 response. Nearly 800 HING members were activated over the first week of April. (Photo by: Sgt. John Schoebel)
Hawai‘i National Guard conduct medical screenings at Hawai‘i airports during COVID-19 pandemic, Honolulu, HI. Spc. James Kamaka with the 1st Squadron, 299th Cavalry, screens departing passengers at the Daniel K. Inouye International Airport. HING Soldiers assisted airport fire personnel screening 100% of travelers arriving and departing to the State of Hawai‘i. (Photo by: Sgt. John Schoebel)
Hawai‘i National Guard conduct medical screenings at Hawai‘i airports during COVID-19 pandemic, Honolulu, HI. Spc. James Kamaka with the 1st Squadron, 299th Cavalry, screens departing passengers at the Daniel K. Inouye International Airport. HING Soldiers assisted airport fire personnel screening 100% of travelers arriving and departing to the State of Hawai‘i. (Photo by: Sgt. John Schoebel)
Hawai‘i National Guardsmen assemble temporary shelters during COVID-19 pandemic, Wailuku, HI. Members of the Hawai‘i National Guard, Maui Fire Department, and the Dept. of Parks and Recreation worked together to construct temporary shelters for Maui County residents affected by the COVID-19 pandemic in Wailuku. (Photo by: Sgt. 1st Class Theresa Gualdarama)
Hawai‘i National Guardsmen assemble temporary shelters during COVID-19 pandemic, Wailuku, HI. Members of the Hawai‘i National Guard, Maui Fire Department, and the Dept. of Parks and Recreation worked together to construct temporary shelters for Maui County residents affected by the COVID-19 pandemic in Wailuku. (Photo by: Sgt. 1st Class Theresa Gualdarama)
Training during COVID-19, Honolulu, HI. U.S. Air Force F-22 Raptors, a KC-135 Stratotanker, and a C-17 Globemaster III taxi on the runway during routine training at Honolulu's airport. The training showcases the HIANG's readiness and their unique Total Force Integration construct. (Photo by: Senior Airmen John Linzmeier)
Training during COVID-19, Honolulu, HI. U.S. Air Force F-22 Raptors, a KC-135 Stratotanker, and a C-17 Globemaster III taxi on the runway during routine training at Honolulu’s airport. The training showcases the HIANG’s readiness and their unique Total Force Integration construct. (Photo by: Senior Airmen John Linzmeier)
Hawai‘i National Guard Task Forces Airlifted Home from Neighboring Islands, HI. Hawai‘i National Guard Airmen and Soldiers prepare for transit on a C-17 Globemaster III at Kahului Airport. The guardsmen were airlifted from neighboring islands and back to O‘ahu by the 204th Airlift Squadron after serving in various task forces to help the state mitigate the spread of COVID-19. (Photo by: Tech. Sgt. Alison Bruce-Maldonado).
Hawai‘i National Guard Task Forces Airlifted Home from Neighboring Islands, HI. Hawai‘i National Guard Airmen and Soldiers prepare for transit on a C-17 Globemaster III at Kahului Airport. The guardsmen were airlifted from neighboring islands and back to O‘ahu by the 204th Airlift Squadron after serving in various task forces to help the state mitigate the spread of COVID-19. (Photo
by: Tech. Sgt. Alison Bruce-Maldonado).
Hawai‘i National Guard conducts temperature screening at Kahului airport, Kahului, HI. Spc. Keanu Oliva is among many guardsmen conducting passenger temperature screenings on the island of Maui in support of COVID-19 operations. (Photo by: Sgt. 1st Class Theresa Gualdarama)
Hawai‘i National Guard conducts temperature screening at Kahului airport, Kahului, HI. Spc. Keanu Oliva is among many guardsmen conducting passenger temperature screenings on the island of Maui in support of COVID-19 operations. (Photo by: Sgt. 1st Class Theresa Gualdarama)
(Pictures from the 2020 Annual Report)

The Hawai‘i National Guard activated over 1,800 Soldiers and Airmen to create a Joint Task Force in support of the State’s efforts against COVID-19. All elements of the Hawaii National Guard have been active during this pandemic- the HING Joint Staff, the Hawai‘i Army National Guard, and the Hawai‘i Air National Guard. Some of the missions they have done include airport screening and working with the Department of Transportation, COVID-19 mapping with the Department of Health, COVID-19 swabbing in the prisons with the Department of Public Safety, construction of shelters on Maui, food distribution, Personal Protective Equipment procurement and logistical support, and much more.

– 2020 Annual Report pp. 1

In response to COVID-19, over 900 HIARNG Soldiers were activated to support the state’s response efforts.

– 2020 Annual Report pp. 11

29th Infantry Brigade Combat Team (29 IBCT) . . . Civil unrest training conducted at the 298 MFTR Waimanalo during the state’s COVID-19 mission. Soldiers served on Neighbor Island Task Forces to support the state during COVID-19.

– 2020 Annual Report pp. 11

227th Brigade Engineer Battalion . . . The BEB was also a major force provider for the State’s COVID-19 NGCS mission.

– 2020 Annual Report pp. 11

1st Squadron, 299th Calvary Regiment . . .1-299 CAV Soldiers also significantly contributed to the State of Hawai‘i’s COVID 19 response mission on the islands of Hawai‘i, Kauai, and O‘ahu.

– 2020 Annual Report pp. 11

29th Brigade Support Battalion . . . it was also a major force multiplier in supporting various state active duty missions to include Operation Anole Inoa, as well as supporting various task forces to help combat the COVID-19 pandemic.

– 2020 Annual Report pp. 12

103rd Troop Command . . . Soldiers from all subordinate units of 103TC stood up Task Force Maui and Task Force Aviation on Apr. 15 2020 in support of the State of Hawai‘i’s COVID-19 response.

– 2020 Annual Report pp. 12

117th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment . . . Documented Operation Longclaw in support of the State of Hawai‘i COVID-19 response.

– 2020 Annual Report pp. 13

The 1950th Contingency Contracting Team . . . In FY20 it provided contracting support to Operation Longclaw in support of the State of Hawai‘i’s COVID-19 response.

– 2020 Annual Report pp. 13

230th Engineer Company (Vertical) . . . Provided personnel and equipment support to Task Force Maui. Constructed an alternate entry point to the PFC Kaho’ohanohano Armory in order to mitigate exposure to COVID-19.

– 2020 Annual Report pp. 13

297th Engineer, Firefighting Team . . . Provided personnel support to Task Force Maui.

– 2020 Annual Report pp. 14

Company B, 777th Aviation Support Battalion . . . Provided personnel support to Task Force Aviation and Task Force Maui.

– 2020 Annual Report pp. 14

Company B, 2nd Battalion, 211th Aviation Regiment . . . Provided personnel and aviation assets to the Joint Task Force and Task Force Aviation in support of the State of Hawai‘i COVID-19 response.

– 2020 Annual Report pp. 14

Company C, 1st Battalion, 183rd Aviation Regiment . . . Provided personnel and aviation assets to the Joint Task Force, Task Force Aviation, and Task Force Hawai‘i in support of the State of Hawai‘i’s COVID-19 response.

– 2020 Annual Report pp. 15

Detachment 1, Company A, 3rd Battalion, 140th Aviation Regiment . . . Provided personnel to support Task Force Hawai‘i in support of the State of Hawai‘i’s COVID-19 response.

– 2020 Annual Report pp. 15

Company B 1109th Theater Aviation Sustainment Maintenance Group . . . Provided personnel support to Task Force QRF and Task Force Maui in support of the State of Hawai‘i’s COVID-19 response.

– 2020 Annual Report pp. 15

Beginning in April and spanning through September, 300 HIANG Airmen were activated to assist with Hawai‘i’s Joint Task Force COVID-19 response on Hawai‘i, Maui, Kaua‘i and O‘ahu. C-17 aircraft were used to deliver over 700 Hawai‘i National Guard Soldiers/Airmen and over 400,000 pounds of cargo to the neighbor islands.

More than 160 HIANG Airmen continued to support the COVID-19 response into the new fiscal year. Included in this support are a group of medical providers, first responders, and planners from the 154th Medical Group’s Guard Medical Unit and Detachment 1, and the 154th Force Support Squadron assigned to Task Force Medical. They are working in partnership with the Hawai‘i Department of Health, public health nurses, Department of Public Safety, and Hawai‘i Public Housing Authority to conduct N95 fit testing, COVID education and training in highrisk/public housing, senior living communities, and the O‘ahu Community Correctional Center.

A KC-135 Stratotanker and a C-17 Globemaster operated by aircrews from the Hawai‘i Air National Guard and 15th Wing conducted a flyover as part of Operation American Resolve throughout the Hawaiian Islands on May 14, 2020 as a salute to all frontline workers battling COVID-19, as well as those staying home to “flatten the curve of transmission” of the virus.

2020 Annual Report pp. 22