FANG aids vets with COVID-19 tests

Florida Army National Guardsmen from the 53rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team (IBCT) have been assisting with COVID-19 testing for veterans and staff at the Alexander Nininger Jr. State Veterans Nursing Home in Pembroke Pines, Fla. The 53rd IBCT's federal mission is to mobilize, deploy to conduct combat missions, but the soldiers are also trained/equipped to support local authorities in disaster response. Their newest mission is supporting the state's COVID-19 response with trained and equipped service members. “Being here for veterans is truly meaningful,” said Army Capt. Alex Repp, 2-124 Infantry Company commander. “They paved the way for us … (and) we have learned a lot from them," he said. Overall, FANG soldiers and airmen are operating nine community-based testing sites and have administered to date more than 50,000 sample collections. (Source: Florida Army National Guard's 107th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment 04/20/20) The 53rd IBCT is HQ'd at the C. W. "Bill" Young Armed Forces Reserve Center in Pinellas Park, Fla., and consists of elements located in Florida and Alabama. Florida has more than 2,300 National Guardsmen on duty in support of the state's COVID-19 response. https://www.defense.gov/Explore/News/Article/Article/2156223/florida-guard-aids-covid-19-testing-at-veterans-nursing-home/