A U.S. European Command’s State Partnership Program (SPP) coordinated nine-member Polish military medical team landed in Chicago yesterday to assist healthcare professionals battling COVID-19.

Armed with recent expertise gained from treating COVID-19 patients in Poland and Italy, the Warsaw, Poland-based team will conduct a 10-day observe, advise and assist mission as America’s “Second City” continues to confront the deadly pandemic.

The  military medical mission was coordinated as part of the Poland- Illinois National Guard Partnership, one of 22 European partnerships that comprise the SPP, and one of 65 worldwide partnerships that make up the National Guard State Partnership Program.

"The Polish military's support to us here in Illinois during a global pandemic is a testament to the depth and commitment on both sides of our State Partnership with Poland," said U.S. Air Force Brig. Gen. Richard R. Neely, the Adjutant General of the Illinois National Guard.

The team of four doctors, three nurses, Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) and logistical coordinator will share critical, time-sensitive treatment techniques, lessons learned and best practices to support the COVID-19 pandemic response and help save lives. As part of its mission, the Polish team will share insights through direct patient interaction and real-time discussions with Chicago area physicians, nurses and EMT professionals. The team also will conduct online seminars for other American health practitioners fighting the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Given this team’s invaluable front lines experience fighting COVID-19 during the pandemic’s height in Europe, we are truly grateful to Polish President Andrzej Duda and his country’s military for sending this team to assist in America’s fight against COVID-19,” said U.S. Air Force Brig. Gen. Jessica Meyeraan, U.S. European Command’s deputy director of partnering, security cooperation and missile defense. “This pandemic has devastated communities and countries, but it has also demonstrated and solidified the unyielding bonds that we share as global citizens, as NATO Allies, as enduring friends.”

The relationship between the Illinois National Guard and the Republic of Poland is an enduring partnership established in 1993. The primary focus is support of operational training and deployments, professional military education, transformation of the forces, crisis management and response and defense support of civil authorities.

"We value the long-standing, enduring friendships we've established with the Polish over more than 26 years,” said Neely. “Illinois National Guard Soldiers have fought side-by-side with Polish Soldiers in both Iraq and Afghanistan and now we fight a whole different type of enemy together."

The Polish team is scheduled to conclude its Chicago mission May 2.

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