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SALEM, Ore. - Oregon National Guard Service Members started their second hospital relief mission on Jan. 18, 2022. This new activation will place approximately 1,200 Oregon Citizen-Soldiers and Airmen supporting up to 40 hospitals throughout the state. 

Since Jan. 10, 2022, the Oregon National Guard has stood up a Joint Task Force of Air and Army National Guardsmen to support this latest hospital effort. Over the past eight days, the Guard activated nearly 500 Oregon Service Members from six locations throughout the state, supporting approximately 40 medical facilities in Oregon. 

The Oregon National Guard will further increase support by approximately 700 additional Service Members over the next two weeks, further bolstering non-clinical hospital staff roles throughout the forecasted COVID-19 Omicron variant peak over the next thirty days. 

“We will continue to work together, and in alignment with our core values, remain confident that the Oregon National Guard will ‘Always be Ready, Always There’,” said Lt. Col. Brian J. Kroeller, Oregon National Guard Hospital Relie Joint Task Force Deputy Commander. 

This activation follows a successful prior deployment of over 1,500 Oregon National Guardsmen that provided the same non-clinical support rolls staffed from August of 2021 and ended in late December of 2021. 

The Oregon National Guard comprises over 8,000 Citizen-Soldiers and Airmen, dedicated to serving the communities they live in and maintaining the ability to serve the nation in times of war. The organization is the largest part-time employer in the state. Its members, on average, conduct duty one weekend a month with an additional two-week period a year while maintaining civilian employment.  

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Released Video:

B-roll link:  https://dvidshub.net/r/qwm9sc

Released Photos:

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Oregon Army National Guard member and site officer in charge, 2nd Lt. Jacob King, and his team of Soldiers assigned to the hospital relief mission receive a first-day orientation briefing from Nurse Arielle LeVeaux at West Valley Hospital in Dallas, Oregon, Jan. 18, 2022. The seven soldier team is part of the National Guards' second hospital relief mission tasked to place 1,200 guard members in approximately 40 hospitals across Oregon to address non-clinical staffing shortages. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Maj. W. Chris Clyne, Oregon National Guard Public Affairs)

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Hospital Facilities Operations Manager Don Wilder gives Oregon Army National Gaurd hospital relief mission members a tour of West Valley Hospital in Dallas, Oregon, on Jan. 18, 2022, as part of the team's first-day orientation. The seven soldier team is part of the National Guards' second hospital relief mission tasked to place 1,200 guard members in approximately 40 hospitals across Oregon to address urgent non-clinical staffing shortages. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Maj. W. Chris Clyne, Oregon National Guard Public Affairs)

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Hospital Emergency Room Nurse Director Shane Emmert leads a first-day orientation briefing to Oregon Army National Gaurd hospital relief mission members at West Valley Hospital in Dallas, Oregon, on Jan. 18, 2022. The seven soldier team is part of the National Guards' second hospital relief mission tasked to place 1,200 guard members in approximately 40 hospitals across Oregon to address urgent non-clinical staffing shortages. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Maj. W. Chris Clyne, Oregon National Guard Public Affairs)

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Hospital administrators give Oregon Army National Guard hospital relief mission members a first-day orientation briefing at West Valley Hospital in Dallas, Oregon, on Jan. 18, 2022. The seven soldier team is part of the National Guards' second hospital relief mission tasked to place 1,200 guard members in approximately 40 hospitals across Oregon to address urgent non-clinical staffing shortages. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Maj. W. Chris Clyne, Oregon National Guard Public Affairs)

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SALEM, Ore. - With the surge of COVID-19 cases, Oregon Governor Kate Brown has ordered an increase of National Guard Service Members for the second hospital relief mission, with up to 1,200 Oregon Citizen-Soldiers and Airmen mobilized today. This new activation of the Oregon National Guard is an increased from 500 to over 1,200 Service Members in 40 hospitals across the state. National Guard members will provide much-needed support for understaffed hospitals during this deployment, which will begin no later than Jan. 18, 2022. 

These Soldiers and Airmen will serve in non-clinical support roles as material handlers, equipment runners, in addition to COVID testing support, laundry, custodial services, ensure hospital operations and other services in support of healthcare systems. The mission's planning is ongoing, with guard members placed on orders and assigned to hospitals.

This activation follows a prior deployment of over 1,500 Oregon National Guardsmen that provided the same non-clinical support rolls in Oregon hospitals that began in August of 2021, and ended in December 2021. 

The Oregon National Guard comprises over 8,000 Citizen-Soldiers and Airmen, dedicated to serving the communities they live in and maintaining the ability to serve the nation in times of war. The organization has the motto "Always Ready, Always There" and is the largest part-time employer in the state. Its members, on average, serve one weekend a month with an additional two-week period a year while maintaining civilian employment.  

Released Photos:

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Oregon Army National Guard Sgt. Mathew Odenthal and 2nd Lt. Benjermen Brumhagh of H Company, 145th Brigade Support Battalion, wait in line to receive written orders assigning them to the hospital relief mission at Anderson Readiness Center in Salem, Oregon, Jan. 12. The deployment is the second iteration of non-clinical support for Oregon hospitals by the National Guard, which will grow to over 1,200 Soldiers and Airmen by the end of January, filling critical hospital staffing shortages. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Maj. W. Chris Clyne, Oregon National Guard Public Affairs)

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Oregon Army National Guard Human resource specialist Sgt. Niki McCurdy from the 821 Troop Command Battalion, assigns Soldiers to specific hospitals at the Anderson Readiness Center in Salem, Oregon, Jan. 12. The guard member's deployment is the second iteration of non-clinical support for Oregon hospitals by the National Guard, which will grow to over 1,200 Soldiers and Airmen by the end of January, filling critical hospital staffing shortages. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Maj. W. Chris Clyne, Oregon National Guard Public Affairs)

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Hospital relief mission Joint Task Force Commander Lt. Col. Seth Rogers briefs senior staff members on administrative procedures at the Anderson Readiness Center in Salem, Oregon, Jan. 12. The Joint Task Force deployment is the second iteration of non-clinical support for Oregon hospitals by the National Guard, which will grow to over 1,200 Soldiers and Airmen by the end of January, filling critical hospital staffing shortages. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Maj. W. Chris Clyne, Oregon National Guard Public Affairs)

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Oregon Army National Guard Staff Sgt. David Seymour, temporary hospital relief mission Regional Non-Commission Officer in Charge, from C Company, 3rd Battalion, 116 Cavalry Brigade, informs Soldiers of mission requirements at the Anderson Readiness Center in Salem, Oregon, Jan. 12. The Soldier's deployment is the second iteration of non-clinical support for Oregon hospitals by the National Guard, which will grow to over 1,200 Soldiers and Airmen by the end of January, filling critical hospital staffing shortages. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Maj. W. Chris Clyne, Oregon National Guard Public Affairs)

B-Roll: https:/https://dvidshub.net/r/x9esxh

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CLACKAMAS, Ore. – Oregon Army National Guard Soldiers assigned to Charlie Troop, 1st Squadron, 82nd Cavalry Regiment were formally mobilized for deployment during a ceremony held at Camp Withycombe, Clackamas, Oregon, on Jan. 2, 2022. Approximately 120 Oregon National Guard Soldiers are deploying to Poland to support the European Deterrence Initiative as part of Operation Atlantic Resolve.

In April of 2021, nearly 130 members assigned to Alpha Troop deployed to Poland. 

The unit has been deployed in 2009 to Iraq and as part of the 41st Infantry Brigade Combat Team (IBCT) to Afghanistan in 2014. In 2015, 1-82 Cavalry was selected to participate in the West Coast Stryker Brigade Transformation and became part of the 81st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, Headquarter in Washington State.

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PHOTOS:

220102-Z-CH590-0197: Oregon Army National Guard Lt. Col. Brian Dukes, 1-82 Cavalry Regiment Squadron Commander (left) and Col. Geoffery Vallee, 82nd Brigade Troop Commander (right) render a hand salute during the playing of the National Anthem for the Mobilization ceremony for the 1st Squadron, 82nd Cavalry Regiment, Jan. 2, 2022 at Camp Withycombe, Ore. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by John Hughel, Oregon Military Department Public Affairs)

220102-Z-CH590-0173: Oregon Army National Guard members assigned to 1st Squadron, 82nd Cavalry Regiment, take part in their mobilization ceremony, Jan. 2, 2022 at Camp Withycombe, Ore.  (U.S. Air National Guard photo by John Hughel, Oregon Military Department Public Affairs)

220102-Z-CH590-0184:Oregon Army National Guard members assigned to 1st Squadron, 82nd Cavalry Regiment, take part in their mobilization ceremony, Jan. 2, 2022 at Camp Withycombe, Ore.  (U.S. Air National Guard photo by John Hughel, Oregon Military Department Public Affairs)

220102-Z-CH590-0200: Oregon Army National Guard members assigned to 1st Squadron, 82nd Cavalry Regiment, take part in their mobilization ceremony, Jan. 2, 2022 at Camp Withycombe, Ore.  (U.S. Air National Guard photo by John Hughel, Oregon Military Department Public Affairs)

220102-Z-CH590-0026: Oregon Army National Guard Col. Geoffery Vallee, 82nd Brigade Troop Commander address members assigned to the 1st Squadron, 82nd Cavalry Regiment, Jan. 2, 2022 at Camp Withycombe, Ore.  (U.S. Air National Guard photo by John Hughel, Oregon Military Department Public Affairs)

additional photos: 

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CLACKAMAS, Ore. - The Oregon National Guard promoted Brig. Gen. William J. Prendergast, IV to the rank of major general in a ceremony, Dec. 23, 2021, at the 41st Infantry Division Armed Forces Reserve Center, located at 15300 SE Minuteman Way, at Camp Withycombe in Clackamas, Oregon.  Adjutant General of the Oregon National Guard Maj. Gen. Michael E. Stencel, presided over the promotion ceremony with Prendergast's family, friends, and fellow service members in attendance.

Prendergast graduated college in 1990 with a Political Science degree from Bates College in Lewiston, Maine. He then joined the Oregon Army National Guard in 1992 as a combat engineer and then received his commission in 1994 from the Officer Candidate School at the Oregon Military Academy.

After earning his commission, he held various Oregon Army National Guard positions, including commanding the following units: The 41st Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 249th Regional Training Institute, 82nd Support Detachment (ROC) (TSC), 1st Squadron, 82nd Cavalry Regiment, E Troop, 82nd Cavalry Regiment, and D Company, 1st Battalion, 186th Infantry Regiment.

In April 2017, Prendergast was selected as Assistant Adjutant General, serving at the Oregon Joint Force Headquarters, and served simultaneously as the Deputy Commanding General and Army Reserve Component Integration Advisor for U.S. Army Africa (USARAF) and Southern European Task Force (SETAF). Aug. 2018 Prendergast commanded the Land Component Command of the Oregon Army National Guard. Currently, he serves as the Commander of Contingency Command Post 1, Task Force 51, U.S. Army North (ARNORTH) & 5th U.S. Army, Joint Base San Antonio, Texas.

Prendergast has been a NIKE Inc. employee in his civilian employment for over 25 years and is currently the Global Category Director, Special Field Systems (SFS) in Beaverton, Oregon.

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Released Photos

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Oregon Army National Guard Maj. Gen. William J. Prendergast IV (center) pinned with his new "two-star" rank by his wife, Jenifer, and Maj. Gen. Michael Stencel (left), Adjutant General, Oregon, during a promotion ceremony, Dec. 23, 2021, at the 41st Infantry Division Armed Forces Reserve Center, at Camp Withycombe in Clackamas, Oregon. Currently, Prendergast serves as the Commander of Contingency Command Post 1, Task Force 51, U.S. Army North (ARNORTH) & 5th U.S. Army, Joint Base San Antonio, Texas.

(U.S. Army National Guard photo by Maj. W. Chris Clyne, Oregon National Guard Public Affairs)

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Oregon Army National Guard Maj. Gen. William J. Prendergast IV speaks to an audience of family, friends, coworkers and military members during his promotion ceremony, Dec. 23, 2021, at the 41st Infantry Division Armed Forces Reserve Center, at Camp Withycombe in Clackamas, Oregon. Currently, Prendergast serves as the Commander of Contingency Command Post 1, Task Force 51, U.S. Army North (ARNORTH) & 5th U.S. Army, Joint Base San Antonio, Texas.

(U.S. Army National Guard photo by Maj. W. Chris Clyne, Oregon National Guard Public Affairs)

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Oregon Army National Guard Maj. Gen. William J. Prendergast IV takes the oath of office, administered by Maj. Gen. Michael Stencel, Adjutant General, Oregon, during a promotion ceremony, Dec. 23, 2021, at the 41st Infantry Division Armed Forces Reserve Center, at Camp Withycombe in Clackamas, Oregon. Currently, Prendergast serves as the Commander of Contingency Command Post 1, Task Force 51, U.S. Army North (ARNORTH) & 5th U.S. Army, Joint Base San Antonio, Texas.

(U.S. Army National Guard photo by Maj. W. Chris Clyne, Oregon National Guard Public Affairs)

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Oregon Army National Guard Maj. Gen. William J. Prendergast IV stands next to Maj. Gen. Michael Stencel, after Stencel promoted Prendergast to the rank of major general in a promotion ceremony, Dec. 23, 2021, at the 41st Infantry Division Armed Forces Reserve Center, located at Camp Withycombe in Clackamas, Oregon. Currently, Prendergast serves as the Commander of Contingency Command Post 1, Task Force 51, U.S. Army North (ARNORTH) & 5th U.S. Army, Joint Base San Antonio, Texas.

(U.S. Army National Guard photo by Maj. W. Chris Clyne, Oregon National Guard Public Affairs)