After the dust settles on Covid-19, it seems pretty clear to me that we have to plug a newly found big hole in our nation's defenses.
We already have and fund a branch of the Armed Forces to defend our shores and waterways against piracy, illegal smuggling and also citizen rescue, called the Coast Guard.
It seems to me we need to create and fund another similar sized organization, just to defend our population, maintain our minimal supply of medical equipment and expansion capabilities, and monitor ports of entry against foreign biohazards. And do a few other things also, during "normal" time periods.
Make this new "Bio Defense Guard" (or something named similar) also adhere to this structure, and provide the following capabilities:
1) be a permanent organization, like the USCG, with bases thought country, located at all deep water ports, international rail hubs, or major international airports.
2) make the CDC be it's Strategic Command and Central governing authority, backed with our best science and best medical practices. Basically, give the CDC, and an expanded command structure, a standing body of "soldiers" of about 10,000-15,000 people.
3) staff it as part of the current National Guard system, with 200-500 ground personnel taken from every state's current NG staffs. These forces can react locally instantly, but also consolidate together at key points rapidly, whenever the next major threat arises. Personnel would be any capable people who wish to find a path to the medical fields (docs, nurses, EMT, etc) that were previously not open to them (realistically). This is a way to becoming one of those professionals, without ever paying a cent in tuition.
4) make these Bio-Defense warriors also part of FEMA's response planning, for natural disasters responses. This new USBDG would-be able to arrive and throw up half capable MASH units in less than a single day. And fully capable units in 2-3 days. Or buy and take over suddenly empty hotels, and be able to convert them into hospitals in 7 days.
5) have a division in the USBDG whose sole function would be to be to continually research for vaccines and remedies, of any all new strains around the globe, as they are discovered and monitored by the CDC. But ramped up to 3x the staffing and facilities of what the CDC (or other groups also) currently do when "major"outbreaks happen now. Provide them very flexible and rapidly extensible manufacturing capabilities, so that test kits for individual strains will never be in any long term shortage again. Have them have small units located by the CDC in overseas bases, that are closest to traditional locations of most new outbreaks (central Africa, China, India, South America) to be on permanent "recon" duty, to detect when a localized virus or bacteria looks like it is expanding it's contagion quickly.
6) have a division that would be responsible for researching and identifying medical supply chain weak points, and then maintaining and distributing that equipment in mobile fashion instantly. This division would be the technology branch of the USBDG, and would provide the same entry points to the IT industry, for free, after X years of service.
7) permanently monitor and inspect all ports of entry for introduction of new viruses, bacteria, toxic materials, etc, operating within the already existing processes and infrastructure of the TSA, DEA and ICE. Add new detection and testing equipment within ICE, Border Patrol and TSA's already created checkpoints.
8) learn extensively from the expertise gained, and gaps recognized for converting and serving citizens in defense mode only, from the Medical Corps of the Army, Navy, USAF and USMC. The new generals (admirals?) of the USBDG could be staffed from the colonels of these existing divisions.
9) the branch would not have any Offensive operational responsibilities, at all. Only defensive operational responsibilities, to protect US citizens and other armed forces personnel overseas.
10) have a division that is dedicated to outreach for our Allies, improving and addressing the sudden needs and long term medical capabilities. Before they reach our own shores and become our own needs again. Have them work as a small, mobile force that can be temporarily lended and put to work for the American Red Cross, Doctors Without Borders or the American representation within the WHO.
11) this new branch should have 4 permanent 1000 bed hospital ships, patterned after the Navy "Mercy" ship being used now. One in an Atlantic port, one in a Pacific port, and one in a Gulf Coast port, and one stationed at a base as close as possible to the Panama Canal, to move in either direction upon hours notice. But instead of being deployed as "overflow" capacity (like we are seeing the Mercy used now), they would be the primary hospital facilities, when a new virus is first detected on a coastal city. In order to help isolate the small infected population initially, while our normal hospital facilities located nearby have a little advance time to ramp up supplies, staff, etc. The 4th ship, from Panama, would still serve as the "overflow" capacity. The naval ships already existing today, would then be used as overflow capacity, if these 4 ships do reach their capacities. In normal times, when there is not an active threat, these ships serve as floating educational institutions, for training new BDG recruits.
12) the new Bio Defense Guard force also needs to be staffed with a small intelligence / espionage staff of its' own, who are also trained infectious disease doctors, in a former role, etc. Possibly embedded and operated within the CIA itself, but trained and certified by the BDG leadership. Why? We need to infiltrate and / or establish much better informants, from the Biological Warfare forces of our enemies. And have people in the field, in these kind of roles, who will instantly recognize and identify new threats, with basic abilities to predict which are only mild risks VS those that are serious pandemic risks. I imagine now, that in our current intelligence operations, there is A LOT of communications back and forth, between field agents (who first learn of a new threat) with scientists who fully understand what the threat means, how serious, etc. And communication channels like that ALWAYS result in estimates being misunderstood, filtered, and/or restricted, etc. Lets get more spooks who are former doctors, out there listening and watching.
13) Potential BDG uniform?
14) ?
What did I miss? What should points 13 and 14 be?
Why would it work? What other benefits, beyond just being better prepared for the next outbreak in the next decade, could it serve during biological "quiet times".
Why wouldn't it work? What would make it fail?
Have a better name than US Bio-Defense Guard? How incognito and/or different could we make their uniforms look, for a separate identity from the other branches?
Sorry for the long read.
Hope you got through it all, and enjoyed the concept?
We already have and fund a branch of the Armed Forces to defend our shores and waterways against piracy, illegal smuggling and also citizen rescue, called the Coast Guard.
It seems to me we need to create and fund another similar sized organization, just to defend our population, maintain our minimal supply of medical equipment and expansion capabilities, and monitor ports of entry against foreign biohazards. And do a few other things also, during "normal" time periods.
Make this new "Bio Defense Guard" (or something named similar) also adhere to this structure, and provide the following capabilities:
1) be a permanent organization, like the USCG, with bases thought country, located at all deep water ports, international rail hubs, or major international airports.
2) make the CDC be it's Strategic Command and Central governing authority, backed with our best science and best medical practices. Basically, give the CDC, and an expanded command structure, a standing body of "soldiers" of about 10,000-15,000 people.
3) staff it as part of the current National Guard system, with 200-500 ground personnel taken from every state's current NG staffs. These forces can react locally instantly, but also consolidate together at key points rapidly, whenever the next major threat arises. Personnel would be any capable people who wish to find a path to the medical fields (docs, nurses, EMT, etc) that were previously not open to them (realistically). This is a way to becoming one of those professionals, without ever paying a cent in tuition.
4) make these Bio-Defense warriors also part of FEMA's response planning, for natural disasters responses. This new USBDG would-be able to arrive and throw up half capable MASH units in less than a single day. And fully capable units in 2-3 days. Or buy and take over suddenly empty hotels, and be able to convert them into hospitals in 7 days.
5) have a division in the USBDG whose sole function would be to be to continually research for vaccines and remedies, of any all new strains around the globe, as they are discovered and monitored by the CDC. But ramped up to 3x the staffing and facilities of what the CDC (or other groups also) currently do when "major"outbreaks happen now. Provide them very flexible and rapidly extensible manufacturing capabilities, so that test kits for individual strains will never be in any long term shortage again. Have them have small units located by the CDC in overseas bases, that are closest to traditional locations of most new outbreaks (central Africa, China, India, South America) to be on permanent "recon" duty, to detect when a localized virus or bacteria looks like it is expanding it's contagion quickly.
6) have a division that would be responsible for researching and identifying medical supply chain weak points, and then maintaining and distributing that equipment in mobile fashion instantly. This division would be the technology branch of the USBDG, and would provide the same entry points to the IT industry, for free, after X years of service.
7) permanently monitor and inspect all ports of entry for introduction of new viruses, bacteria, toxic materials, etc, operating within the already existing processes and infrastructure of the TSA, DEA and ICE. Add new detection and testing equipment within ICE, Border Patrol and TSA's already created checkpoints.
8) learn extensively from the expertise gained, and gaps recognized for converting and serving citizens in defense mode only, from the Medical Corps of the Army, Navy, USAF and USMC. The new generals (admirals?) of the USBDG could be staffed from the colonels of these existing divisions.
9) the branch would not have any Offensive operational responsibilities, at all. Only defensive operational responsibilities, to protect US citizens and other armed forces personnel overseas.
10) have a division that is dedicated to outreach for our Allies, improving and addressing the sudden needs and long term medical capabilities. Before they reach our own shores and become our own needs again. Have them work as a small, mobile force that can be temporarily lended and put to work for the American Red Cross, Doctors Without Borders or the American representation within the WHO.
11) this new branch should have 4 permanent 1000 bed hospital ships, patterned after the Navy "Mercy" ship being used now. One in an Atlantic port, one in a Pacific port, and one in a Gulf Coast port, and one stationed at a base as close as possible to the Panama Canal, to move in either direction upon hours notice. But instead of being deployed as "overflow" capacity (like we are seeing the Mercy used now), they would be the primary hospital facilities, when a new virus is first detected on a coastal city. In order to help isolate the small infected population initially, while our normal hospital facilities located nearby have a little advance time to ramp up supplies, staff, etc. The 4th ship, from Panama, would still serve as the "overflow" capacity. The naval ships already existing today, would then be used as overflow capacity, if these 4 ships do reach their capacities. In normal times, when there is not an active threat, these ships serve as floating educational institutions, for training new BDG recruits.
12) the new Bio Defense Guard force also needs to be staffed with a small intelligence / espionage staff of its' own, who are also trained infectious disease doctors, in a former role, etc. Possibly embedded and operated within the CIA itself, but trained and certified by the BDG leadership. Why? We need to infiltrate and / or establish much better informants, from the Biological Warfare forces of our enemies. And have people in the field, in these kind of roles, who will instantly recognize and identify new threats, with basic abilities to predict which are only mild risks VS those that are serious pandemic risks. I imagine now, that in our current intelligence operations, there is A LOT of communications back and forth, between field agents (who first learn of a new threat) with scientists who fully understand what the threat means, how serious, etc. And communication channels like that ALWAYS result in estimates being misunderstood, filtered, and/or restricted, etc. Lets get more spooks who are former doctors, out there listening and watching.
13) Potential BDG uniform?
14) ?
What did I miss? What should points 13 and 14 be?
Why would it work? What other benefits, beyond just being better prepared for the next outbreak in the next decade, could it serve during biological "quiet times".
Why wouldn't it work? What would make it fail?
Have a better name than US Bio-Defense Guard? How incognito and/or different could we make their uniforms look, for a separate identity from the other branches?
Sorry for the long read.
Hope you got through it all, and enjoyed the concept?
Last edited:
