2020 a historic year for Pennsylvania National Guard | Article

FORT INDIANTOWN GAP, Pa. – 2020 was a year like no other in recent history for the Pennsylvania National Guard.Throughout the year, Soldiers and Airmen of the Pennsylvania National Guard responded to the COVID-19 pandemic, civil unrest and natural disasters in our homeland and deployed around the world, in addition to conducting their usual readiness training."This year has been nothing short of historic,” said Maj. Gen. Mark Schindler, Pennsylvania’s acting adjutant general. “Our Pa. National Guard responded to the COVID-19 pandemic, modified our training and operations in order to safely support civil unrest missions, mobilized the 28th Aviation Brigade, deployed two Air Wings overseas and back, sustained un-interrupted combat operations from Horsham and successfully conducted a Division War Fighter Exercise.”In 2020, nearly 1,800 Pa. Guard members deployed in support of ongoing contingency and force protection operations in Kuwait, Iraq, Afghanistan, Qatar, Poland, Germany and Kosovo.The PNG also supported domestic operations, deploying approximately 5,900 personnel in Pennsylvania and nationally to assist local authorities with COVID-19 pandemic response, civil unrest and natural disasters. During the 2020 primary and general elections, the PNG supported local and state agencies with the protection and monitoring of cyber networks.Fort Indiantown Gap continued to play a major role in supporting National Guard activities as the PNG’s headquarters. FTIG played host to more than 118,000 active duty, Reserve and National Guard service members in 2020, remaining among the busiest National Guard training centers in the nation.“With the support of our employers, the Soldiers and Airmen of the Pennsylvania National Guard stepped up and got the job done,” said Schindler. “I am extremely proud of our men, women, and their families for their sacrifice and service to our commonwealth and country.”COVID-19 ResponsePennsylvania National Guard members have been involved in the response to the COVID-19 pandemic continually since mid-March. To date, approximately 1,500 PNG members were on duty for a total of over 58,000 man-days as they took part in a variety of…