WISCONSIN — The Wisconsin National Guard is made up of around 10,000 soldiers and this year nearly all of those soldiers have been deployed.

For First Lieutenant Brian Betlej, an average day this year is spent at a COVID-19 testing site in Milwaukee. He is a member of the Wisconsin National Guard and he’s been deployed since March this year to assist across the state of Wisconsin.

“I’ve served as the chief logistics officer for the northern task force for the state of Wisconsin and then since July, I have taken over as a site officer in charge over at the UMOS site in Milwaukee,” Wisconsin National Guard First Lieutenant, Brian Betlej says.

He spends most of his days checking in with his team of soldiers and helping to make sure things run smoothly at a covid-19 testing site in Milwaukee. He’s in charge of a lot of men and women, who like him, have put their personal lives on hold to serve the state of Wisconsin.

During an average year, the Wisconsin national guard would be deployed overseas or assisting with things like natural disasters. However, this year is turning out to be a year unlike any other because their services are needed across the state.

“2020 represents the largest sustained domestic mobilization in Wisconsin National Guard history,” Wisconsin National Guard Spokesperson, Major Joe Trovoto says.

Here is a list of just some of the things the Wisconsin National Guard has done so far this year:

  • COVID-19 testing
  • Creating a field hospital
  • Assisting in civil unrest
  • Working the polls
  • Deploying overseas
  • Assisting with natural disasters and wildfires

There are many more specific missions the National Guard has worked on as well in conjunction with the Air National Guard here in Wisconsin as well.

“The number of people it's impacted across our organization is really almost the Wisconsin National Guard in its entirety,” Major Trovoto says.

When we asked soldiers what kind of toll this many tasks can take on someone, the common reply was that they are honored to be needed and trusted as much as they are. Although, most situations they are deployed to are unfortunate.

“We have become engrained in the community and it’s a really nice thing when people come up to you and say thank you,” First Lieutenant, Betlej says.

Soldiers like Betlej continue to serve across the state and the communities they live in, knowing the year 2020 might have more in store.