National Guard Troops Establish Staging Facility in Midway

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MIDWAY, Ky. — Dozens of Kentucky Army and Air National Guardsmen are deployed here today to set up a Joint Reception, Staging, Onward-movement and Integration facility as part of the Commonwealth's response to the H5N1 pandemic.

The facility is being used as a temporary operating base to stage equipment and supplies, including medical gear, food and water, as they arrive by truck and helicopter. Troops also will be housed in tents here for the duration of the mission.

Gov. Steve Beshear called up more than 1,300 members of the National Guard earlier this week as the pandemic began to spread across the state.

Top photo: Sgt. 1st Class Shaun A. Talbot, an intelligence NCO and Louisville, Ky. native, works inside the Emergency Management Mobile Command Vehicle in Midway, Ky., during the National Guard's pandemic respsonse Aug 4. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Michael Pfaff, 133rd Mobile Public Affairs Detachment)

Second photo: Sgt. 1st Class Leslie A. Duncan, the battalion supply sergeant with the 751st Troop Command and Central City, Ky. native, gives Soldiers instructions on setting up the Joint Reception, Staging, Onward-movement and Integration facility. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Michael Pfaff, 133rd Mobile Public Affairs Detachment)

Third photo: Sgt. Andrew J. Safie, a musician with the 202nd Army Band and Lexington, Ky., native, helps set up tents that will act as headquarters for the JSROI. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Michael Pfaff, 133rd Mobile Public Affairs Detachment)

Bottom photo: Sgt. Ronald J. Wamsley, a signal support system specialist with Joint Force Headquarters and a Louisville, Ky., native, installs a ground wire for a communications satellite to prevent lightning from damaging it. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Michael Pfaff, 133rd Mobile Public Affairs Detachment)

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