Governor Kathy Hochul on Saturday announced a partnership between the state’s health department and the National Guard to train soldiers to become certified paramedics.

The training courses will be held at the Fort Hamilton Armed Forces Reserve Center at the US Army Post in Brooklyn and at the Farmingdale Armed Forces Reserve Center on Long Island. Guards will be trained to help health facilities that are short of workers.

Acting State Health Commissioner Mary T. Bassett said, “Supporting our healthcare system is essential to protect the health of New Yorkers and our heroic healthcare workers. The National Guard has been a partner of the state throughout the pandemic, and we look forward to launching this innovative program in collaboration with them. This training will allow us to have more clinical staff available for deployment statewide – injecting support when and where it may be needed most. “

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