FORT HOOD (Now designated Fort Cavazos), Texas – The 13th Expeditionary Sustainment Command headquarters have deployed personnel to assist federal and local officials with vital augmented logistical support by assisting with the ordering and distribution of needed supplies, in the fight against COVID-19.

The 13th ESC deployed its first Forward Assessment and Sustainment Team (FAST) to Detroit on Apr. 9, 2020, and two FASTs to Dallas and Chicago this past week, with additional locations pending.  The FAST will first identify the logistical requirements for ordering and transporting needed supplies to the COVID-19 responders.

Each FAST consists of a small group of professional Army logisticians, with vast experience in receiving, distributing and transporting commodities, equipment and vehicles to and from anywhere in the world.

Based on the logistical gaps identified by the FAST, the 13th ESC will then deploy additional Soldiers as sustainment and transportation enablers to ensure the local and federal responders receive a responsive distribution of the supplies they need most.

The 13th ESC plans and trains year round and remains ready to provide defense support of civil authorities to help protect the American people during man-made and natural disasters.

This response is part of the whole-of-nation approach to fighting COVID-19. The Army is working with interagency partners – including the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Department of Defense Military Health System and others – to support and protect our military force and the American people.