1 00:00:00,099 --> 00:00:02,682 (urgent music) 2 00:00:09,890 --> 00:00:10,880 - How's it going, everybody? 3 00:00:10,880 --> 00:00:13,720 I'm Jamal Sutter, 413th Flight Test Group 4 00:00:13,720 --> 00:00:15,730 public affairs specialist, and right now 5 00:00:15,730 --> 00:00:17,550 I'm with Captain William Palmer, 6 00:00:17,550 --> 00:00:21,090 413th Aeromedical Staging Squadron nurse practitioner, 7 00:00:21,090 --> 00:00:22,790 and he was part of the initial wave 8 00:00:22,790 --> 00:00:25,420 of Air Force Reserve medical personnel 9 00:00:25,420 --> 00:00:28,190 who mobilized to various cities across America 10 00:00:28,190 --> 00:00:30,880 in support of COVID-19 response efforts. 11 00:00:30,880 --> 00:00:33,163 First off, good morning, sir, how are you doing? 12 00:00:34,120 --> 00:00:36,200 - Good morning, sir, doing great, doing great. 13 00:00:36,200 --> 00:00:37,970 - And also, how's the family back at home? 14 00:00:37,970 --> 00:00:39,210 Obviously, you had to leave them. 15 00:00:39,210 --> 00:00:40,270 How are they feeling? 16 00:00:40,270 --> 00:00:42,670 How are they handling all this that's happening? 17 00:00:43,760 --> 00:00:45,900 - Well, I have my wife back home. 18 00:00:45,900 --> 00:00:48,230 She's back home with our cats and our dogs. 19 00:00:48,230 --> 00:00:50,430 She was a little worried about me coming up here. 20 00:00:50,430 --> 00:00:53,490 I think there's a lot of apprehension surrounding COVID-19, 21 00:00:53,490 --> 00:00:54,990 so initially, she was a little worried. 22 00:00:54,990 --> 00:00:57,170 I think she's a little more comforted now, 23 00:00:57,170 --> 00:00:58,390 knowing that we have all the proper 24 00:00:58,390 --> 00:01:00,223 supplies of PPE gear in place. 25 00:01:01,650 --> 00:01:04,140 - As far as your assignment, as far as where you're at, 26 00:01:04,140 --> 00:01:06,270 what can you tell me, and what exactly are you doing 27 00:01:06,270 --> 00:01:08,130 and what's your role where you're at? 28 00:01:08,130 --> 00:01:11,460 - Okay, so we're here in New York City. 29 00:01:11,460 --> 00:01:14,290 We're working with one of the local hospitals. 30 00:01:14,290 --> 00:01:16,600 There's seven providers. 31 00:01:16,600 --> 00:01:20,420 We have a total of 32 healthcare personnel in the hospital. 32 00:01:20,420 --> 00:01:23,240 We're working in various areas, from the emergency 33 00:01:23,240 --> 00:01:25,360 department all the way up to critical care. 34 00:01:25,360 --> 00:01:27,940 We also have some individuals providing 35 00:01:27,940 --> 00:01:30,340 medical support in dialysis. 36 00:01:30,340 --> 00:01:34,280 So the medical personnel at the hospital 37 00:01:34,280 --> 00:01:38,250 were very welcoming, they're very appreciative, 38 00:01:38,250 --> 00:01:40,100 and they definitely need us here. 39 00:01:40,100 --> 00:01:43,270 These guys and girls were working very hard 40 00:01:43,270 --> 00:01:45,870 for about three and a half weeks before we arrived. 41 00:01:45,870 --> 00:01:48,820 So they kinda took the initial onslaught 42 00:01:48,820 --> 00:01:51,800 out of that tsunami, wave of patients 43 00:01:51,800 --> 00:01:55,231 prior to us getting all the boots on ground here. 44 00:01:55,231 --> 00:01:59,170 But yeah, so, that's where we're at. 45 00:01:59,170 --> 00:02:00,610 - You kinda mentioned it a little bit, 46 00:02:00,610 --> 00:02:02,900 but can you go into more detail? 47 00:02:02,900 --> 00:02:05,070 What's the feedback been like once 48 00:02:05,070 --> 00:02:07,750 the reservists hit the ground running 49 00:02:07,750 --> 00:02:09,960 with helping the medical facilities out there? 50 00:02:09,960 --> 00:02:12,730 What's been the feedback, what have you been hearing, 51 00:02:12,730 --> 00:02:14,950 and how are they receiving you all? 52 00:02:14,950 --> 00:02:17,440 - Oh, they're very happy to have us here. 53 00:02:17,440 --> 00:02:20,060 So a lot of the providers, as well as the nurses 54 00:02:20,060 --> 00:02:22,580 in the hospital, had worked anywhere from two 55 00:02:22,580 --> 00:02:25,240 to three weeks straight without a day off. 56 00:02:25,240 --> 00:02:29,110 A lot of their staff has also become sick, 57 00:02:29,110 --> 00:02:30,670 so they've had some lost time 58 00:02:30,670 --> 00:02:33,860 and lost service due to illness. 59 00:02:33,860 --> 00:02:37,750 So I think we came at a great time to provide that support. 60 00:02:37,750 --> 00:02:40,610 I do know that every evening when we get off the bus, 61 00:02:40,610 --> 00:02:41,890 we're heading back to our hotels, 62 00:02:41,890 --> 00:02:46,820 the local citizens in New York City are cheering us on. 63 00:02:46,820 --> 00:02:48,670 They're hanging off the balcony, they're yelling 64 00:02:48,670 --> 00:02:51,090 and screaming to us in support, 65 00:02:51,090 --> 00:02:53,023 so that's a beautiful experience. 66 00:02:53,910 --> 00:02:56,320 - And you've been on location for about a week, 67 00:02:56,320 --> 00:02:57,780 give or take, now. 68 00:02:57,780 --> 00:02:58,613 - Yes, sir. 69 00:02:58,613 --> 00:03:01,890 - Leading up being departed and heading out there, 70 00:03:01,890 --> 00:03:04,190 what was that like, was this something 71 00:03:04,190 --> 00:03:06,350 you volunteered for, and what was your mindset 72 00:03:06,350 --> 00:03:08,960 in choosing to volunteer, if you did do that? 73 00:03:08,960 --> 00:03:12,990 - Yes, sir, so in volunteering support, 74 00:03:12,990 --> 00:03:16,230 I had about roughly about a 14-hour notice, 75 00:03:16,230 --> 00:03:18,240 heads-up, that I would be leaving out. 76 00:03:18,240 --> 00:03:20,977 So I was called on Saturday, April the 4th, 77 00:03:20,977 --> 00:03:23,870 and I had to be on the road at 4 o'clock 78 00:03:23,870 --> 00:03:27,148 in the morning on Sunday, April the 5th. 79 00:03:27,148 --> 00:03:29,280 So it was no question. 80 00:03:29,280 --> 00:03:32,520 When I got the call, there was no second thought. 81 00:03:32,520 --> 00:03:33,673 I said, "Yeah, go ahead. 82 00:03:33,673 --> 00:03:35,507 "Let's just get what we need to have done, 83 00:03:35,507 --> 00:03:37,257 "and let's get everything in place 84 00:03:37,257 --> 00:03:40,427 "so that I can be there to provide support 85 00:03:40,427 --> 00:03:43,120 "under the people here who needed it." 86 00:03:43,120 --> 00:03:45,903 So as far as getting prepared for it, 87 00:03:48,080 --> 00:03:50,260 last minute, I just had to grab a few items, 88 00:03:50,260 --> 00:03:53,193 toiletry items, and packed my bags and be ready to roll. 89 00:03:54,070 --> 00:03:55,700 - And what's been the support that you've gotten 90 00:03:55,700 --> 00:03:58,850 from your ASTS and Flight Test Group family back at home? 91 00:03:58,850 --> 00:04:00,300 What's been the reception, what have they 92 00:04:00,300 --> 00:04:03,330 been doing to help you out and things of that nature? 93 00:04:03,330 --> 00:04:06,590 - I think a huge step up was Colonel Zidek himself, 94 00:04:06,590 --> 00:04:10,910 since it was such a short notice, drove me from my home 95 00:04:10,910 --> 00:04:13,140 up to Forsyth, and then the chief drove me 96 00:04:13,140 --> 00:04:14,930 the rest of the way up to Dobbins Air Force Base 97 00:04:14,930 --> 00:04:18,020 to catch my flight out to New York. 98 00:04:18,020 --> 00:04:20,870 And then, my unit has reached out to me almost every day. 99 00:04:21,820 --> 00:04:23,010 They're touching bases, making sure 100 00:04:23,010 --> 00:04:24,570 that I don't need anything. 101 00:04:24,570 --> 00:04:27,500 Thankfully, there are some local stores that are open here, 102 00:04:27,500 --> 00:04:29,660 so there's not much that we need, 103 00:04:29,660 --> 00:04:33,150 but they've been very supportive, very supportive. 104 00:04:33,150 --> 00:04:37,130 - And obviously, what you're doing can be a nerve-racking 105 00:04:37,130 --> 00:04:38,993 and maybe even dangerous assignment. 106 00:04:39,880 --> 00:04:41,430 Were there any concerns? 107 00:04:41,430 --> 00:04:42,720 What's going on through your mind 108 00:04:42,720 --> 00:04:46,460 as you're touching down, and what's the city been doing 109 00:04:46,460 --> 00:04:48,790 to sorta mitigate those concerns 110 00:04:48,790 --> 00:04:51,260 and potential for you to get the virus? 111 00:04:51,260 --> 00:04:53,790 - Right, so you don't know what you don't know. 112 00:04:53,790 --> 00:04:56,570 So there was a huge question of what to expect 113 00:04:56,570 --> 00:04:58,130 when you're here, 'cause in our local area, 114 00:04:58,130 --> 00:05:00,150 where I come from, in Warner Robins, Georgia, 115 00:05:00,150 --> 00:05:02,950 there really wasn't a huge COVID outbreak, 116 00:05:02,950 --> 00:05:04,500 so we weren't experiencing the same things 117 00:05:04,500 --> 00:05:06,567 that they're experiencing here in New York City 118 00:05:06,567 --> 00:05:10,240 and in other pockets across the nation. 119 00:05:10,240 --> 00:05:14,270 So I really didn't have any expectation, 120 00:05:14,270 --> 00:05:16,420 because I wanted to kinda see it firsthand. 121 00:05:17,960 --> 00:05:19,370 There was a bit of apprehension, though, 122 00:05:19,370 --> 00:05:20,600 'cause I know that coming here, 123 00:05:20,600 --> 00:05:22,790 there is a risk that I could potentially get COVID, 124 00:05:22,790 --> 00:05:25,980 and I fully anticipate being infected with COVID 125 00:05:25,980 --> 00:05:28,120 'cause we're directly in patient care 126 00:05:28,120 --> 00:05:31,320 with COVID patients during my service here. 127 00:05:31,320 --> 00:05:33,520 But things that the city are doing, 128 00:05:33,520 --> 00:05:35,480 as well as the hospital, in the hospital, 129 00:05:35,480 --> 00:05:37,270 we have full PPE, so we're wearing 130 00:05:37,270 --> 00:05:40,610 N95 respirators with surgical masks on top, 131 00:05:40,610 --> 00:05:43,570 we have face shields, we have full gowns, 132 00:05:43,570 --> 00:05:45,890 we have hair covers, shoe covers. 133 00:05:45,890 --> 00:05:48,170 So we're pretty much, from head to toe, 134 00:05:48,170 --> 00:05:51,010 we're covered in proper protective equipment. 135 00:05:51,010 --> 00:05:53,200 There has not been any supply shortages. 136 00:05:53,200 --> 00:05:56,320 We've had everything that we needed every single day. 137 00:05:56,320 --> 00:05:59,850 As far as the city, I believe that the mayor, 138 00:05:59,850 --> 00:06:01,170 as well as the governor, had mandated 139 00:06:01,170 --> 00:06:03,250 that you have to have a mask on at all times, 140 00:06:03,250 --> 00:06:05,120 as well as maintaining social distancing, 141 00:06:05,120 --> 00:06:06,870 when you're out in public. 142 00:06:06,870 --> 00:06:08,530 From what I see, a large majority 143 00:06:08,530 --> 00:06:10,620 of the people are abiding by that, 144 00:06:10,620 --> 00:06:14,340 the local citizens, all the military personnel. 145 00:06:14,340 --> 00:06:15,870 Prior to even touching down, we were 146 00:06:15,870 --> 00:06:17,860 administered gloves and masks. 147 00:06:17,860 --> 00:06:22,500 And so you see us throughout the city, we stand out, 148 00:06:22,500 --> 00:06:25,010 but we all have our masks on, we all have our, you know. 149 00:06:25,010 --> 00:06:26,780 And we're not wearing gloves every day. 150 00:06:26,780 --> 00:06:29,640 We do have, hand sanitizer has been dispensed 151 00:06:29,640 --> 00:06:34,330 by our leadership, and so I think it would be wasteful. 152 00:06:34,330 --> 00:06:35,650 And I agree, I don't think we need 153 00:06:35,650 --> 00:06:37,580 to wear gloves out in public when you have 154 00:06:37,580 --> 00:06:39,740 hand sanitizers and access to sinks. 155 00:06:39,740 --> 00:06:42,080 However, we do have our masks on every day, 156 00:06:42,080 --> 00:06:43,830 especially around the public. 157 00:06:43,830 --> 00:06:47,490 - Okay, now, how similar or different 158 00:06:47,490 --> 00:06:51,690 is this than any other mission training environment, 159 00:06:51,690 --> 00:06:54,830 real-world mission that you've been on or conducted, 160 00:06:54,830 --> 00:06:56,130 or been part of? 161 00:06:56,130 --> 00:06:58,180 - So this is our war. 162 00:06:58,180 --> 00:07:00,750 This is the war for medical professionals. 163 00:07:00,750 --> 00:07:02,250 So we're here on the front lines 164 00:07:02,250 --> 00:07:06,042 and we're fighting COVID-19, this virus 165 00:07:06,042 --> 00:07:09,720 that's very virulent, it's taken people's lives, 166 00:07:09,720 --> 00:07:14,720 so this is our time to stand up in support of our nation. 167 00:07:15,030 --> 00:07:17,120 This is a very, very trying time, 'cause there 168 00:07:17,120 --> 00:07:20,850 are patients who are still passing away every day. 169 00:07:20,850 --> 00:07:23,220 But we're there in the hospitals with them, 170 00:07:23,220 --> 00:07:24,810 we're there holding their hands. 171 00:07:24,810 --> 00:07:26,340 Unfortunately, their family can't be with them 172 00:07:26,340 --> 00:07:29,320 when they pass away, so it's up to the medical providers 173 00:07:29,320 --> 00:07:31,260 to be there, to be that patient advocate, 174 00:07:31,260 --> 00:07:34,340 to stand up for their patient and to make sure 175 00:07:34,340 --> 00:07:36,640 that even if they ultimately pass away 176 00:07:36,640 --> 00:07:39,663 from this disease, that they die in comfort. 177 00:07:40,780 --> 00:07:44,200 - And has the virus affected you personally, 178 00:07:44,200 --> 00:07:47,250 you and your family, in any way? 179 00:07:47,250 --> 00:07:49,430 - Thankfully, no one in my family 180 00:07:49,430 --> 00:07:51,933 has been infected with this virus. 181 00:07:53,050 --> 00:07:56,060 Knock on wood, hopefully that trend continues. 182 00:07:56,060 --> 00:07:59,370 However, if we face the reality, 183 00:07:59,370 --> 00:08:01,963 at some point, I'm sure it will affect my family. 184 00:08:03,710 --> 00:08:05,490 - Well, sir, we definitely appreciate 185 00:08:05,490 --> 00:08:08,640 what you're doing, from me, from the entire 186 00:08:08,640 --> 00:08:12,820 413th Flight Test Group family, reservists, 187 00:08:12,820 --> 00:08:15,250 and America, we appreciate what you do. 188 00:08:15,250 --> 00:08:16,780 Like you said, you're out there on the front line, 189 00:08:16,780 --> 00:08:20,050 and it's a risky, risky business, 190 00:08:20,050 --> 00:08:21,920 but you're out there doing the job, 191 00:08:21,920 --> 00:08:23,703 and we can't thank you enough. 192 00:08:25,100 --> 00:08:28,470 Be safe, get back home safely. 193 00:08:28,470 --> 00:08:30,720 Is there anything else you'd like to add about this? 194 00:08:30,720 --> 00:08:32,840 - No, just glad to be here, glad to be able 195 00:08:32,840 --> 00:08:35,960 to have the necessary skills to provide support here, 196 00:08:35,960 --> 00:08:37,810 so just thankful for the opportunity. 197 00:08:39,440 --> 00:08:40,430 - All right, sir, once again, 198 00:08:40,430 --> 00:08:42,040 I appreciate your time and thank you 199 00:08:42,040 --> 00:08:45,750 for taking time out of your busy day, 200 00:08:45,750 --> 00:08:47,040 I know you have a crazy schedule. 201 00:08:47,040 --> 00:08:50,170 So again, be safe, and we'll see you soon. 202 00:08:50,170 --> 00:08:51,928 - Yes, sir, thank you for having me. 203 00:08:51,928 --> 00:08:56,917 (intense music with air whooshes) 204 00:08:56,917 --> 00:08:57,750 (static crackles)