TYNDALL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. -- In the last several months, Airmen assigned to First Air Force (1AF)’s 64th and 335th Air Expeditionary Groups (AEGs) worked tirelessly to support federal pilot community vaccination centers (CVCs) across the country. Last week, many returned home.
“I cannot be more proud of the work these Airmen have completed to date, administering more than 802,000 vaccines,” said Col. Jeffry A. Hollman, commander, 335th AEG. “While some sites are downsizing, Airmen remain in place in Florida, New Jersey, North Carolina, and Maryland as we continue to support the CVCs that remain open.”
Similarly, Airmen tracked by the 64th AEG have delivered more than 772,000 vaccines. In fact, Airmen assigned to 1st Detachment, 64th AEG to assist with vaccination efforts at the state-led, federally-supported Ford Field CVC in Detroit, Mich. headed home last week after delivering more than 244,000 vaccinations at the Detroit site alone.
According to Col. David D. Vanderburg, commander, 64th AEG, “The 800 Airmen who served in support of vaccinations centers in Houston, Tex.; Detroit and Grand Rapids, Mich.; and who continue to serve in Gary, Ind. and Minneapolis, Minn., put forth an outstanding effort to help save lives.”
Continental U.S. North American Aerospace Defense Command Region-1AF (Air Forces Northern) Command Chief Master Sgt. Mikael “Mack” Sundin visited CVC sites in St. Paul, Minn. and Gary, Ind. in April.
“Witnessing firsthand the commitment of these Airmen to the whole-of-government response to the COVID-19 pandemic was inspiring,” said Chief Sundin. “Whether they administered one vaccine or 3,000 in a day, the fact that they worked tirelessly never leaving anyone waiting at the end of the day, in my opinion, epitomizes mission success.”
U.S. Northern Command, through U.S. Army North, remains committed to providing continued, flexible U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) support to FEMA Federal Emergency Management Agency as part of the whole-of-government response to COVID-19.