COL Chris Piland is a member of the 807th Medical Command deployed to provide mission command of medical units to fight the COVID-19 outbreak. This photo was taken at the Mission Training Complex at Joint Base San Antonio, Texas.
COL Christopher ‘Chris’ R. Piland
Distance Class of 2019
Tonia Crowley, DDE ‘14
Tonia Crowley is assigned to the Headquarters, 3d Medical Command (Deployment Support) (3d MC (DS)) working in collaboration for the COVID-19 Response. The command is actively engaged in supporting the COVID-19 “all of government response.” It is one of three medical divisions in the Army Reserve and key to the command’s response has been the contribution of its seven USAWC graduates, from the Commanding General, MG Joe Robinson (DDE ’11), to his three Deputy Commanding Generals, to his three lead Division Staff officers (the Chief of Staff, Deputy Chief of Staff G3/5/7, and the Deputy Chief of Staff G1).
What the Soldiers of the 3d MC(DS) are embarking on has never been done before in the history of Army Reserve medicine. With critical analysis and focused USAWC-trained senior leadership, the leaders of this organization navigated managing complex strategic operational planning, in an ever-changing environment, using a model outside of Army Doctrine or the utilization of medical forces. The 3d Medical Command is mobilizing hundreds of Soldiers, in a matter of days across the United States. This mission was to mobilize critical medical support through several 85-Soldier Urban Augmentation Medical Task Forces (UAMTFs), supporting FEMA-led Field Medical Stations (FMS) across the U.S. Our folks aligned with fellow sister military services and federal partners to assist, as necessary. In less than two weeks, the 3d MC(DS) created and mobilized five, 85-person UAMTFs designed to provide medical staffing to a FEMA-led FMS and provide comprehensive care for everything short of surgery and ICU care. These teams are meant to decant clinical work from overloaded areas in COVID-19 hotspots and are deployed throughout the east coast areas of operation to provide critical medical support in hard-hit areas.
As an Army Reserve Medical Command, we are doing everything we can in this fight. Building these teams from the Reserve Force is challenging because this is largely a zero-sum game. These Reserve medical Soldiers are largely practicing their craft in their own communities. It took critical analysis from senior leadership and G-staff to mobilize a provider while ensuring they’re not already essential in the COVID fight. As we monitor the flattening of the curve, we’re able to pull individuals from areas not saturated with patients, and move them to where they’ll be most needed.
COL Tonia M. Crowley
Distance Class of 2014
Chief of Staff
3d Medical Command (Deployment Support)
Fort Gillem, Georgia
I am the Commander of ARNORTH Task Force 51 (TF51). TT51 is the deployable Contingency Command Post (CCP) for the ARNORTH Commander. My duties have involved deploying as a forward coordinating element to New Orleans and then New Jersey to open the Joint Operating Area and bring Title 10 forces. In New Orleans, it was a Navy Medical Team; in New Jersey, it was three Urban Medical Task Forces. Our work includes establishing contracts for lodging and negotiating Class 1 with state authorities for the proper use of the Title 10 elements, then cutting command and control over to a Dual Status Commander, and moving to the next “hot spot” until conditions are stabilized.
MG John F. King
Distance Class of 2012
Commander, TF 51/Contingency Command Post
United States Army North (Fifth Army)
I have been mobilized since March 24th with the rest of my unit, the 4th Sustainment Command (Expeditionary). We have been providing logistical support primarily to Task Force West, which is responsible for COVID-19 operations in the western third of the U.S. We have also been providing more modest levels of support to other regions of the country.
LTC Patrick L. Arneson
Distance Class of 2018
Command Judge Advocate
4th Expeditionary Sustainment Command
JBSA Fort Sam Houston, Texas
Bob Gosciewski, RES ’04
I am working in the Directorate of Logistics (DOL) for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE). As DOL’s Strategic Planner, I’m leading the initiative to integrate Artificial Intelligence (AI) in USACE’s COVID-19 fight. USACE is evaluating opportunities for investments in AI applications to make data-driven decisions about mission critical priorities. In the DOL and LOG Enterprise, we are leveraging the crisis to explore ways to integrate AI into logistics function areas, such as: supply, maintenance, distribution, and aviation. AI is currently moving from a concept group to development of a Pilot Effort. The National COVID-19 Crisis operations are not dependent on the AI tools. Rather the AI initiative team is monitoring our current response effort in order to identify the potential for development of an AI tool to help our human intelligence effort.
USACE Logistics has a support role to USACE efforts to respond to COVID-19. We are not in direct support to the particular projects to build Alternate Care Facilities, as these are executed via contracting vehicles. There are several projects like the ones in the New York District in key locations around the country. USACE is not working the supply chain to stock the care facilities. We think in terms of the Three “S”: Site, Supply, and Staff. USACE is concerned with “Sites.” That is the project to build the facilities needed by the states, as identified by the state authorities. The Second “S,” Supply, is the concern of others at the national, state, and local levels. Surely, there are many USAWC graduates who are working the “Supply” and the “Staff” areas. We, and thousands of our Engineer teammates, are planning for the future response as this crisis unfolds. The adventure continues, and we are doing our best to sustain the effort.
Mr. Robert L. ‘Bob’ Gosciewski, CPL
Resident Class of 2004
Program Manager
USACE Logistics Enterprise
Sue Henderson, DDE ’14
The 4th Sustainment Command (Expeditionary) is headquartered in Fort Sam Houston, Texas. The command is made up of Soldiers, Civilians, and their Families in units headquartered throughout Texas, New Mexico, Arkansas, Oklahoma, and Louisiana. As part of America’s Army Reserve, these units are trained, combat-ready, and equipped to provide military and logistical support in any corner of the globe. The 4th ESC’s robust logistics capability and its trained and ready team allow us to respond quickly in crisis situations like COVID-19.
We are always thinking about readiness, and this mission demonstrates why it is so important. It’s having equipment ready to roll, Soldiers trained and ready to do their jobs, and Army Families ready to have their loved ones away from home for a little while. That high level of readiness is why we were able to stand up and respond to this mission.
The 4th ESC’s personnel are providing logistical and sustainment support, the direct life support needed to keep the mission going. It is this work behind the scenes that allows the front line forces to focus on their missions. When troops on the front lines need supplies, we respond and provide that support. We bring a lot to the fight as Army Reserve Soldiers providing skill sets that make us unique for this mission.
Normally the 4th ESC would set up a shoulder-to-shoulder tactical operations center in one large room to bring the entire team together in one space, but that’s not a great idea right now. Instead, the unit has spread work-spaces throughout the reserve center and in tents and trailers around the building. Leaders are also leveraging telephonic and video conferences in place of face-to-face meetings. It can take a little adjustment at first, but that is one of attributes of an expeditionary organization, the ability to conduct operations in any environment.
It’s really incredible to see the team come together. This is a stressful time, but I see everyone working on their piece of the mission, I see how resilient they are and how much they care about getting this done right, and it really inspires me. It’s times like this that remind me why I put on the uniform.
BG Susan E. ‘Sue’ Henderson
Distance Class of 2014
Commanding General
4th Sustainment Command Expeditionary (4th ESC)
Fort Sam Houston, Texas
