MADISON, Wis. — Wisconsin National Guard members have been spent the past week and a half at Madison Area Technical College learning new skills to use in the field.
For the Guard, this training and deployment is unlike any other they have done before. Right now, 80 Guard members are training to assist in nursing homes across the state.
It’s a learning curve and a new set of skills for 2nd Lt. Christopher Kuechenmeister with the Wisconsin National Guard. They are skills he never thought he would need to use while serving in the National Guard.
“It’s something I’m proud to say we are ready to rise to the occasion for,” 2nd Lt. Kuechenmeister said.
This is his first deployment for COVID-19 across the state in his eight years as a Guard member.
“I’m very grateful to be able to serve. I come from a family of National Guardsmen, so the opportunity to be able to serve my state and my community has been a great experience,” 2nd Lt. Keuchenmeister added.
He, along with 80 others, are learning skills from the teachers at Madison Area Technical College. They will be getting the 75-hour requirements to be able to be a CNA and help in a nursing facility.
“They can help meet the needs of our Wisconsin communities and provide some support to the healthcare providers who desperately need our help right now,” Madison Area Technical College Associate Dean of Nursing, Dr. Lisa Marie Greenwood said.
It’s something both the Guard members and teachers at MATC are very proud of.
“They are really embracing this role. This is really powerful to see and it makes us very proud of our guard members,” Greenwood said.
This marks a historic collaboration being done at a time in our country that many will never forget.