NASHVILLE, Tenn. - 2020 has been a turbulent yet historic year for the Soldiers and Airmen of the Tennessee National Guard and Tennessee State Guard, one that personified their time-honored volunteer tradition. Thousands of Guardsmen have volunteered to serve the State of Tennessee – something not seen since the early stages of the Global War on Terror.

In the past year, Tennessee Guardsmen have deployed overseas, within the United States, and battled an ongoing global pandemic. They also supported first responders and law enforcement during tornado relief operations, a period of civil unrest, the presidential debates, and the presidential election.

“I'm very proud of the challenges our Soldiers and Airmen have overcome, and the work they have been doing since March is remarkable,” said Maj. Gen. Jeff Holmes, Tennessee's Adjutant General. “They have been part of a response that has been the largest, multi-faceted domestic operation in Tennessee National Guard’s modern history.”

In the early morning of March 3, multiple tornadoes ripped through middle Tennessee, with a path over 100 miles long, leaving behind a wake of devastation and destruction. Deadly tornados erupted with wind speeds reaching 164 mph and 175 mph – classifying them as EF-3 and EF-4 level tornados. In total, this middle Tennessee storm spanned four counties, killed 25 Tennesseans, destroyed many homes and local businesses, and left several homeless.

In true volunteer spirit, the Tennessee National Guard had over 160 members “boots on the ground” within hours after the storm. They conducted search and rescue missions in Cookeville, restored power in Gainesboro, aided in debris removal in Nashville and Mount Juliet, and supported communities across the mid-state – whatever it took to help restore, rebuild and recover the heavily impacted areas.

“We're here to do whatever is needed to help those affected by the tornados,” said 2nd Lt. Timothy Grissom, a platoon leader with Paris’ 212th Engineer Company, who helped in Putnam County relief efforts. “They suffered a lot of damage, and all of my soldiers are eager to help.”

Almost immediately, after the tornados hit, Tennessee Guardsmen received another request – help combat the COVID-19 pandemic. With limited information on the virus, hundreds of Tennessee Guardsmen volunteered without hesitation to work alongside Tennessee's Department of Health, Tennessee Emergency Management Agency, and various other State and local agencies. Their primary focus: expedite Personal Protective Equipment distribution and provide testing to as many citizens as possible.

On the logistical front: March 19, Airmen from the 164th Airlift Wing, Tennessee Air National Guard, flew over 500,000 swabs for COVID-19 testing kits from Aviano Air Base in Italy to Memphis International Airport to distribute throughout the country. Soldiers and Airmen also worked alongside TEMA, distributed over 12 million PPE units from a Journey's warehouse, and shipped PPE to 80,000 classrooms across the State as schools began to reconvene.

On the frontlines: Tennessee Guardsmen, alongside state and local agencies, conducted COVID-19 testing at 37 Remote Assessment Sites spread throughout the State's three grand divisions. At the peak of the pandemic, Guardsmen helped establish temporary testing sites in hot spot areas, tested vulnerable populations at long-term care facilities, tested staff members at county and state corrections facilities, provided COVID-19 testing to public housing areas and many other locations across Tennessee.

“Our Guardsmen at these sites are well-trained professionals and doing everything possible to ensure that testing is done accurately and safely,” said Holmes.

As the fight against COVID-19 continued throughout the summer, a national civil unrest movement prompted the Guard's response in multiple cities across Tennessee, as well as a large-scale activation to the District of Colombia. At the Governor's request, on June 4, over 1,000 Tennessee Guardsmen, primarily from the 278th Armored Cavalry Regiment, deployed to the District of Colombia to support law enforcement within just 72-hours notice.

Simultaneously, as the States' challenges grew, Tennessee Guardsmen continued to provide support around the world with Army and Air National Guard units stationed in Bulgaria, Kosovo, the Middle East, the Pacific, and various other places throughout the world. The 134th Air Refueling Wing flew over 1,800 combat hours and performed critical in-flight air refueling missions, with their KC-135R Stratotanker aerial refueling aircraft, for strategic aircraft in the U.S. Central Command, European Command, Pacific Command, Africa Command, North Command areas of responsibility and our NATO allies.

Additionally, several units returned home this year. Jackson's 194th Engineer Brigade returned from a 10-month deployment to Kuwait on Sept. 17, and Dyersburg's 168th Military Police Battalion completed a 10-month deployment to Iraq, returning on Sept. 26.

“As the year comes to an end, we have helped test nearly 800,000 citizens for COVID-19, began vaccinations, and are supporting medical professionals inside hospitals. And while we don't know what may lie around the corner, we are prepared to take those challenges head-on,” said Holmes. “I'm extremely proud of the work these men and women have been doing for the better part of a year. While work continues on the frontlines of this pandemic, I can rest assured knowing we have the most resilient, ready and capable people on the job, continuing our Tennessee Volunteer legacy.”