Louisiana National Guardsmen with the 256th Infantry Brigade Combat Team don protective suits to administer nasal swabs to first responders and medical personnel that exhibit COVID-19 symptoms at a mobile testing site at the Alario Center in Westwego, Louisiana, on March 21, 2020. (Staff Sgt. Garrett L. Dipuma/Army National Guard)
The Pentagon is reviewing how many National Guard, Reserve and Individual Ready Reserve troops to call up in the fight against coronavirus in response to President Donald Trump’s executive order Friday.
Trump authorized Esper to order units and members of the National Guard and Reserves and some Individual Ready Reserve members to active duty “to augment forces for the effective response to the coronavirus outbreak,” Pentagon spokesman Jonathan Hoffman said in a statement emailed to reporters just after midnight.
“Decisions about which individuals may be activated are still being reviewed.”
Before calling up National Guard Reserve Component units under this executive order, Esper and the Department of Health and Human Services will first consult with state officials
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Article URL : https://www.militarytimes.com/news/pentagon-congress/2020/03/27/trump-recalls-ready-reserve-to-battle-coronavirus/