DVIDS – News – South Carolina National Guard soldiers on the front line fighting COVID-19

BENNETTSVILLE, SC – For almost a year, US Army National Guard soldiers with the South Carolina National Guard served in their communities, performing a variety of roles during the COVID-19 pandemic, both military and civilian, to serve to citizens’ needs.

US Army Pfc. Kaila Diggs, Headquarters and Detachment of Headquarters, 51st Military Police Battalion, National Guard of South Carolina, is one of those South Carolinians who serve their state and community as a citizen soldier. Like many other South Carolina National Guard soldiers, Diggs has been at the forefront of supporting medical personnel and other emergency personnel in the fight against COVID-19.

At the South Carolina National Guard, Diggs acts as an oil supply specialist and assists in shipping vehicles. As a nursing student at Francis Marion University in Florence, South Carolina, she serves citizens at vaccination clinics, ensuring that those who meet the requirements of the phase can receive the vaccine. As a first-rate doctor helping with vaccination, she feels she is doing her part to fight this disease that has affected nearly 28 million Americans, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

“It is important for me to help with the vaccination process for several reasons,” said Diggs. “The main thing is to help prevent the spread of this deadly and debilitating disease. Vaccination of patients also gives me a chance to educate the community about the vaccine and encourage people to continue to take appropriate measures to combat COVID-19. It also allows me, as a future nurse, to learn more about the different areas of nursing outside the hospital environment. “

Diggs also has a personal reason to fight COVID-19, as this virus has negatively affected his family. She recently lost a cousin to COVID-19, and she and her family are still mourning the loss.

“It makes the fight against COVID-19 personal to me,” said Diggs. “It is a serious disease and can have long lasting effects. It is not fun to know that a family member has COVID and you cannot visit him because of the pandemic ”.

Soldiers join the National Guard for a variety of reasons. Like many of his battlemates, Diggs entered because he wanted a change in his life and daily routine.

“I also wanted a challenge and I wanted to prove to myself that I have what it takes to be a complete individual and a soldier,” added Diggs.

In the four years that Diggs has been on the National Guard in South Carolina, this is his first opportunity to work directly with the public.

“It is an honor to serve my community as a member of the Guard and as a future nurse, said Diggs. “It is good to help people. Helping people is something that my family instilled in me. My grandmother was a pillar in Lake City and literally helped people until she passed away in 2012. Helping others is a passion of mine; being able to help people in my career, as well as in my free time, really makes me feel blessed. “

With his role as a citizen soldier, Diggs also made an impact on leadership.

“When visiting the COVID-19 vaccination site at Marlboro County High School in Bennettsville, South Carolina, I saw a young nurse who stood out among her peers,” said the sergeant in the U.S. Army command. Major C. Kevin Pickrel, Sergeant Major of the Command of the 59th Troop Command of the South Carolina National Guard. “[She] he was competent, capable, attentive and professional …[she was] standing up and ready to go into action. The mop [personal protective equipment], the civilian coat, simply immaculate … I am an incredible story of a soldier fighting COVID-19 in a civilian capacity. ”