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In Pictures

In-Pictures: National Guard Support to 58th Presidential Inauguration

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Pennsylvania National Guard Convoy Rolls Out for Presidential Inauguration
Pennsylvania Soldiers and Airmen in-processed at Fort Indiantown Gap, Pennsylvania, Jan. 17 in preparation to support the Inauguration. More than 1,000 Pa. Guardsmen will support the inauguration by providing traffic and logistics management, medical support and other capabilities as needed by the civilian leadership. Credit: Joint Force Headquarters

More than 7,500 National Guard Soldiers and Airmen, from 44 states, three territories and the District of Columbia, will support Joint Task Force – National Capital Region (JTF-NCR) for the 58th Presidential Inauguration 18-21 January 2017. Approximately 3,500 of those service members will be deployed directly to the Washington D.C. area.

2017 Inauguration Rehearsal
Members of the Police Task Force escort members in the rehearsal parade on Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington, D.C., Jan. 15, 2017. More than 5,000 military members from across all branches of the armed forces of the United States, including Reserve and National Guard components, provided ceremonial support and Defense Support of Civil Authorities during the inaugural period. Credit: Jada Owens
Florida National Guardsmen join forces with other states in Washington D.C. to provide security support for the 2017 Presidential Inauguration. They rest up for the week’s event on cots at a local school. Credit: Ching Oettel
Georgia Air Guard 116th Services Flight
Airmen working in military food services from the 116th Air Control Wing, 116th Force Support Squadron, Georgia Air National Guard, join for a group photo while preparing to transport their disaster relief mobile kitchen trailer (DRMKT) to Washington, D.C. to support the 58th Presidential Inauguration. Credit: Roger Parsons)
JTF-NCR Presidential Inauguration Preparations
Members of the Joint Task Force-National Capital Region, listen to a briefer during Map Exercise One, Oct. 12, 2016, at Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington. The 60-by-40-foot planning map helps the JTF-NCR plan with partner agencies for the upcoming 58th Presidential Inauguration. The JTF-NCR staff plans, coordinates and provides authorized DoD ceremonial support during the inaugural period. Credit: Dylan Nuckolls

National Guard Soldiers and Airmen will augment the U.S. Secret Service, U.S. Capitol Police and D.C. Metropolitan Police forces on a range of support, including traffic control, crowd management, logistics, Chemical-Biological-Radiological incident response, aviation lift support, and response to civil disturbance.

JTF-NCR has been preparing for the presidential inauguration over the past year. As a joint component, it includes members from all branches of the armed forces of the United States, including Reserve and National Guard components.

“It’s an honor to serve as the JTF-NCR commander during the 58th Presidential Inauguration,” said Maj. Gen. Bradley A. Becker, commander of the JTF-NCR. “The service members participating that day represent the 2 million service members serving around the world. It is a privilege to lead the men and women of our armed forces during such a historic moment in our nation’s history as we will render honors to our new commander in chief and reaffirm our support for the democratic principles enshrined in our Constitution.”

58th Presidential Inauguration JRSOI Briefing
Soldiers with the Delaware Army National Guard gather for a 58th Presidential Inauguration briefing at FedEx Field in Landover, Md., Jan. 18, 2017. During the inauguration, National Guard troops from almost every state and territory will provide several critical functions including crowd management, traffic control, emergency services, logistics, and ceremonial marching elements. Credit: Brendan Mackie

459 ARW Inauguration Parade Practice

Presidential Escort Ceremonial Guard Platoon
The United States Navy Presidential Escort Ceremonial Guard Platoon march down Pennsylvania Avenue during the Department of Defense 58th Presidential Inauguration Dress Rehearsal in Washington, D.C., Jan. 15, 2017. More than 5,000 military members from across all branches of the armed forces of the United States, including Reserve and National Guard components, provided ceremonial support and Defense Support of Civil Authorities during the inaugural period. Credit: Abigayle Marks
A Maryland National Guard soldier setups a cot at FedEx Field in Landover, Md., on Jan. 18, 2016. More than 400 Maryland National Guard members will assist in monitoring traffic control points and facilitating crowd movements, as well as assisting in communication and cyber security for the 58th Presidential Inauguration. Credit: Elizabeth Scott)

On Inauguration Day, following the Congressional Luncheon, Maj. Gen. Becker will escort President Donald J. Trump, First Lady Melania Trump, Vice President Michael R. Pence and Second Lady Karen Pence down the East Steps of the United States Capitol for the Pass in Review.

The first and second families will review the military units of the Presidential Escort as they pay their respects to the commander in chief on the East Plaza of the United States Capitol.

The pass in review is a long standing military tradition dating back to when Baron Von Steuben arrived at Valley Forge and reported to General George Washington during the American Revolution in 1778. Von Steuben’s training technique was to create a “model company” and one of the ways he did this was through drill and ceremony, which is still being used to this day and is an important part of the presidential inauguration.

The Presidential Escort is a military formation which precedes the inaugural parade and escorts the president, vice president and other dignitaries from the U.S. Capitol to the White House along Pennsylvania Avenue.

Further, Maj. Gen. Becker will then lead representatives of each of the military services down Pennsylvania Avenue: U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Laura Richardson, Chief, Office of the Congressional Legislative Liaison; U.S. Marine Corps Maj. Gen. John J. Broadmeadow, Commander Marine Corps Installations Command; U.S. Navy Rear Adm. Gene F. Price, Deputy Commander, U.S. Fleet Cyber Command/U.S. 10th Fleet; U.S. Air Force Maj. Gen. Darryl W. Burke, Commander Air Force District of Washington; and U.S. Coast Guard Rear Adm. James E. Rendon, Superintendent of the United States Coast Guard Academy.

Military involvement in the presidential inauguration dates back to April 30, 1789, when members of the U.S. Army, local militia units and Revolutionary War veterans escorted George Washington to his first inauguration ceremony.

Article adapted from original by Christopher Bevins, Joint Task Force – National Capital Region.

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