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You are here: Home / Michigan National Guard supports Flint water assistance mission

Michigan National Guard supports Flint water assistance mission

February 2, 2016

Story written by Lt. Col. William Humes, Joint Force Headquarters Public Affairs, Michigan National Guard

A group of Michigan National Guard Soldiers and Airmen who served on Task Force Flint, gathered for a photo prior to out-processing, Jan. 25, 2016. The group was part of a 270-person Michigan National Guard contingent called to State Active Duty by Executive Order 2016-02, for the purpose of distributing drinking water and other supplies to the residents of Flint following the detection of elevated levels of lead in Flint’s municipal water system. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Thomas Vega/Released)

You can see more photos at a higher resolution on our Flickr site.
LANSING, Mich. --

With the signing of Executive Order 2016-02 on Jan. 12, 2016, Governor Snyder called the Michigan National Guard to state active duty in Genesee County. Pursuant to the EO, Michigan Guard members would operate in support of Michigan State Police efforts to inform Flint residents that filters, bottled water, information on lead, water testing kits, and other resources were available, and to assist with the direct provision of these resources to Flint residents including door-to-door delivery. Coordination and staffing of these assignments would be left to the commanding general of the Michigan National Guard, Maj. Gen. Gregory Vadnais.

“One of the core functions of the Michigan Guard is providing assistance to the governor in times of crisis, and as expected, the Soldiers and Airmen of the Michigan National Guard stepped up; always ready and willing to assist,” said Maj. Gen. Gregory Vadnais, director of the Michigan Department of Military and Veteran Affairs and adjutant general of the Michigan National Guard.

The first Guard members to report for duty were responsible for the distribution of water and other materials at five Flint fire stations while a Guard command group conducted a needs assessment and staffing plan. Fifteen groups of approximately 12 Guard members each were strategically assigned a section of Flint to conduct door-to-door delivery operations. In total, more than 270 Michigan National Guard members contributed to the roughly 10-day, mission. A small contingent of Guard members will remain in state active duty status until Vadnais deems the mission complete.

A large group of Michigan National Guard Soldiers and Airmen gathered for a group photo prior to out-processing, Jan. 25, 2016. Each service member was awarded a Michigan Active State Service Ribbon with bronze oak leaf device and a Michigan Legion of Merit Medal. Two Soldiers, Maj. Joseph Cannon and Command Sgt. Maj. Vernon Pratt also received Michigan Distinguished Service Awards for their coordinating leadership roles.

Comments

  1. bradgrewe says

    February 2, 2016 at 11:24 pm

    Awesome ,Sgt retired grewe

    Reply
  2. Kathy says

    February 3, 2016 at 12:17 am

    My son was apart of this. I’m so proud of all of our Guard men and women.

    Reply
  3. JM says

    February 3, 2016 at 1:10 am

    What units where involved?

    Reply
    • Sgt. Charles Stefan says

      February 5, 2016 at 9:32 am

      Good morning JM,

      There are many Soldiers that have been assisting with the mission to support Flint with their water crisis. They are from different units throughout the state of Michigan. If you are looking for someone specific, feel free to go through our Flickr albums ( https://www.flickr.com/photos/mi_ng/albums ) that we have dedicated to our mission in supporting Flint. I hope this information helps with what you were looking for in an answer.

      Thank you,

      -Sgt. Stefan

      Reply
      • Karen Larson says

        February 7, 2016 at 1:34 pm

        Sgt. Stefan:

        Flint appears to be primarily depending on private donations of water, especially bottled water. Are there no tankers from the Michigan National Guard that could deliver potable water to Flint? I drive commercially and are familiar with the tankers that haul such things as milk. It would seem like the Guard would have these units for such things as fire fighting, droughts, etc.

        Reply
        • Sgt. Charles Stefan says

          February 9, 2016 at 10:45 am

          Thank you for your interest in the Michigan Guard and concern for the welfare of the residents of Flint. We are aware of the water situation in Flint and have plans prepared to assist should we be called to do so. The Michigan Guard serves at the direction of Governor Snyder and state government.

          The way the request for assistance (RFA) process works with the Michigan National Guard’s support to state operations is the requests are received from the emergency operations center (EOC). The Michigan National Guard provides regular briefings and informational updates to the Michigan EOC so the EOC is aware of exactly what we can provide. The specific requests are then initiated by the state emergency operations center (SEOC). With respect to the situation in Flint, the people that staff the EOC requested Soldiers and Airmen to assist with distribution.

          At this time, and after careful analysis, there has been no determination made to provide any support other than the water distribution we are currently doing.

          Reply
  4. Vicki Raby says

    February 3, 2016 at 9:10 am

    I’m so proud of my son Raimundo Adame and the rest of the national guards for a job well done

    Reply
  5. Teresa wesley says

    February 4, 2016 at 12:40 am

    I am proud of my son David Brown he was up there he is in the unit

    Reply
  6. John says

    February 5, 2016 at 3:24 pm

    Total Recognition for “A Job Well Done”.

    These Soldiers and Airmen and Women can walk proudly with heads held high.

    Reply
  7. Helen Liu says

    February 9, 2016 at 5:47 pm

    My son joined National Guard in college. i would like to know that How long the summer training will take?
    what time it will take place (such as in June or July or August..). because am planning a family summer vacation.
    Thanks!
    Helen

    Reply
    • Sgt. Charles Stefan says

      February 16, 2016 at 9:20 am

      Helen,

      The information you are requesting depends on your sons MOS (job) for which he signed up for. Your son should know the dates and if not, the recruiter that he has worked with would be able to provide that information. Thank you for taking the time to address your question with us. We hope that the information provided will be of some help.

      Thank you,

      -Sgt. Stefan

      Reply

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