Photo By Aimee Fujikawa | Soldiers assigned to the 104th Maintenance Company, District of Columbia Army National...... read more read more
WASHINGTON, D.C. (July 4, 2016) - Plastic covered people and a sea of umbrellas navigated their way along busy streets as the rain poured down around the District. About 300 District of Columbia National Guard Soldiers and Airmen were on duty throughout the city, manning intersections and providing security, traffic and crowd control in support of federal and local law enforcement agencies during the annual Independence Day celebrations and festivities.
“On behalf of the Commanding General of the District of Columbia National Guard, and the President of the United States, thank you for volunteering to forego your July 4th holiday so that others can enjoy theirs,” said Brig. Gen. Renwick L. Payne, D.C. National Guard Adjutant General.
Soldiers and Airmen started their day getting deputized as Special Police Officers and were issued reflective vests, flashlights, and their essential gear before they headed out from the Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling, D.C., staging area. They drove out in military tactical vehicles to their assigned locations in the vicinity of the National Mall and surrounding areas.
“The DC National Guard is a part of the family and community we serve, said Army Maj. Travis Sloane Guardian Task Force commander. We are not just faceless people in uniforms, but that we are actually a part of the community because we work and live here. It is important for us to help the community out by bringing value and being visible.”
Many Soldiers commented about the populous who approached them for photo opportunities, expressed their appreciation for their service, and asked for direction to different locations for the many festivities.
While many Guardsmen were visible on the streets, a component of personnel was not visible but providing support to the task force.
“My role is to provide the Guardsmen with everything they need so they can go out and focus on their mission,” said Staff Sgt. Jay Antenorcruz, 273rd Military Police Company supply sergeant. “It’s an honor to be part of an organization who’s mission is to assist in serving and protecting our Nation’s Capital.”
The 33rd Weapons of Mass Destruction-Civil Support Team, or WMD-CST, provided an additional support aspect to the mission to detect potential chemical biological radiological nuclear explosive (CBRNE) threats.
“Our mission is to act as a joint hazardous assessment and response team with our inner agency civilian partners to anything that is classified as a Weapon of Mass Destruction in the District of Columbia,” said Sgt. 1st Class Earl Johnson, 33rd CST Chemical Biological Radiation and Nuclear Noncommissioned Officer In Charge.
The unit uses air monitoring systems that detect traces of chemicals for life safety threat analysis. All the information gathered by the CST is transmitted into a mobile, field workstation which transmits back to an off-site operations center that has an overview of the area of operation.
This mission occurs annually in support of local and federal law enforcement and first responders. The DCNG also provided support for the 2015 Papal visit, the 2016 Nuclear Security Summit. Additionally, the DCNG will partner with National Guard units from across the country to provide support for the 2017 Presidential Inauguration.
| Date Taken: | 07.04.2016 |
| Date Posted: | 07.05.2016 14:58 |
| Story ID: | 203132 |
| Location: | WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, US |
| Web Views: | 289 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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