Task Force Contain: A Descriptive Analysis of Brigade Combat Team COVID-19 Operations

Area of Science:

• Military Medicine
• Public Health Response
• Epidemiology

Background:

• A military unit established Task Force (TF) Contain in March 2020 to address the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.
• This initiative involved a descriptive analysis of the task force's operational execution.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze the design and execution of a COVID-19 response by an infantry brigade combat team.
• To detail patient flow, mitigation strategies, task organization, and commander decision points.

Main Methods:

• Descriptive analysis of the COVID-19 response execution.
• Examination of patient flow, mitigation measures, and task organization.
• Definition of commander decision points and lines of effort.

Main Results:

• TF Contain organized specialized teams for specific COVID-19 response functions: contact tracing, isolation support, transportation, disinfection, public health compliance, infrastructure analysis, and testing augmentation.
• Teams were assigned to subordinate battalions, enhancing operational efficiency.
• Various teams managed different aspects of the pandemic response, from tracing to disinfection and testing.

Conclusions:

• The military unit demonstrated adaptability in responding to a public health crisis, despite a lack of prior infectious disease expertise.
• The study highlights the military's capacity to develop effective operational procedures for public health threats through established decision-making and operations processes.