News Release

Family Affair: 257th Army Band continues legacy of music and connection
December 18, 2023 — The District of Columbia National Guard’s 257th Army Band holds its annual “Sounds of the Season” holiday concert at Holy Comforter-Saint Cyprian Catholic Church, Dec. 11, 2023. The annual event is part of the band’s commitment to community engagements bolstering music, connection and recruitment throughout the year... MORE

The District of Columbia National Guard’s 257th Army Band holds its annual “Sounds of the Season” holiday concert at Holy Comforter-Saint Cyprian Catholic Church, Dec. 11, 2023. The annual event is part of the band’s commitment to community engagements bolstering music, connection and recruitment throughout the year. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Master Sgt. Arthur M. Wright)

2023 Holiday message from DCNG Commanding General, TAG and Command Senior Enlisted Leader
December 13, 2023 — Maj. Gen. John C. Andonie, Commanding General (interim), District of Columbia National Guard; Brig. Gen. Aaron R. Dean, The Adjutant General, D.C. National Guard and Command Sgt. Maj. Ronald L. Smith, Jr., Command Senior Enlisted Leader, D.C. National Guard thank Soldiers, Airmen, civilians, and family members for their accomplishments over the year... MORE

Maj. Gen. John C. Andonie, Commanding General (interim), District of Columbia National Guard; Brig. Gen. Aaron R. Dean, The Adjutant General, D.C. National Guard and Command Sgt. Maj. Ronald L. Smith, Jr., Command Senior Enlisted Leader, D.C. National Guard thank Soldiers, Airmen, civilians, and family members for their accomplishments over the year.

D.C. National Guard Command Team Holiday Message 2023
December 12, 2023 — Maj. Gen. John C. Andonie, Commanding General (interim), District of Columbia National Guard, and Command Sgt. Maj. Ronald L. Smith, Jr., Command Senior Enlisted Leader, D.C. National Guard thank Soldiers, Airmen, civilians, and family members for their accomplishments over the year... MORE

National Guard Bureau (G6) Holiday Toy Ruck
December 9, 2023 — Approx. 60 members of the National Guard Bureau (G6), District of Columbia National Guard, New York National Guard, Virginia National Guard, Maryland National Guard, Massachusetts National Guard, Task Force Echo (TFE), and D.C. National Guard Family Programs donate toys to Children's National Hospital in Washington, D.C., Dec. 8, 2023. National Guard members and their families carried rucksacks filled with toys approx. 4.8 miles throughout the city from the D.C. Armory to the hospital as part of the second annual NGB (G6) Toy Ruck. Donations were collected during a holiday toy drive at the Herbert R. Temple, Jr., Army National Guard Readiness Center (TARC)... MORE

D.C. National Guard's ‘District Dustoff’ maintains hoist proficiency
December 6, 2023 — Members of the District of Columbia Army National Guard's aeromedical evacuation operation, Det 2 G Co 2/104th General Support Aviation Battalion (GSAB) at Davison Army Airfield, Va., conduct hoist training, Nov. 8, 2023. Training scenarios are used to build proficiency and effectiveness to ensure members are ready to respond to emergency medical missions anywhere... MORE

Flutist hits different note as 2023 National Guard Army Bands Soldier of the Year
November 29, 2023 — The U.S. Army School of Music named Spc. Margaret Suarez, a flutist with the District of Columbia National Guard 257th Army Band, the National Guard Army Bands Soldier of the Year for 2023, Oct. 13, 2023. The purpose of The Army Bands Soldier/NCO of the Year competition identifies those Army musicians who best embodied the concept of highly trained, disciplined, holistically fit experts and professionals... MORE

The U.S. Army School of Music named Spc. Margaret Suarez, a flutist with the District of Columbia National Guard 257th Army Band, the National Guard Army Bands Soldier of the Year for 2023, Oct. 13, 2023. The purpose of The Army Bands Soldier/NCO of the Year Competition identifies those Army musicians who best embodied the concept of highly trained, disciplined, holistically fit experts and professionals.

SRP and PHA reaffirms commitment to Soldiers’ readiness, deployability
November 27, 2023 — Members of the District of Columbia National Guard undergo Soldier Readiness Processing (SRP), and the Periodic Health Assessments (PHA), at the D.C. Armory, Nov. 2-5, 2023. Both are integral components of the D.C. National Guards commitment to ensure members are deployable and prepared for any mission... MORE

Members of the District of Columbia National Guard undergo Soldier Readiness Processing (SRP), and the Periodic Health Assessments (PHA), at the D.C. Armory, Nov. 2-5, 2023. Both are integral components of the D.C. National Guards commitment to ensure members are deployable and prepared for any mission.

Keeping vehicles ‘Fully Mission Capable’ (FMC) no matter where it is
November 20, 2023 — Dozens of wheeled vehicle mechanics (91B) keep tactical vehicles operational at the District of Columbia National Guard’s Combined Support Maintenance Shop at Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling (JBAB), Oct. 21, 2023. Four maintenance shops ensure mechanics are technically sound in maintenance and recovery to fulfill mission requirements. Vehicles include Medium Tactical Vehicles (MTV), Light Medium Tactical Vehicles (LMTV), High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicles (HMMWV), and Mine Resistant Ambush Protected All-Terrain Vehicles (M-ATV)... MORE

Dozens of wheeled vehicle mechanics (91B) keep tactical vehicles operational at the District of Columbia National Guard’s Combined Support Maintenance Shop at Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling (JBAB), Oct. 21, 2023. Four maintenance shops ensure mechanics are technically sound in maintenance and recovery to fulfill mission requirements. Vehicles include Medium Tactical Vehicles (MTV), Light Medium Tactical Vehicles (LMTV), High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicles (HMMWV), and Mine Resistant Ambush Protected All-Terrain Vehicles (M-ATV). (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Master Sgt. Arthur Wright)

Operation Homefront brings Harlem Globetrotters, and holiday meal kits to D.C. Armory
November 19, 2023 — Harlem Globetrotters "Too Tall” Winston and "Wham” Middleton thanked District of Columbia National Guard members, while also participating in a holiday meal distribution during an Operation Homefront ‘Holiday Meals for Military’ event at the D.C. Armory, Nov. 17, 2023. Operation Homefront provides programs designed to build strong, stable, and secure military families... MORE

Harlem Globetrotters "Too Tall” Winston and "Wham” Middleton thank District of Columbia National Guard members, while also participating in a holiday meal distribution during a Operation Homefront ‘Holiday Meals for Military’ event at the D.C. Armory on Nov. 17, 2023. Operation Homefront provides programs designed to build strong, stable, and secure military families. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by MSgt Arthur M. Wright)

‘Ready to respond to the unknowns’: Vehicle-Mounted Radiological Detection System (VMRDS) elevates CST interoperability
November 16, 2023 — National Guard Bureau (NGB) J39 hosted a WMD-CST Capabilities Symposium allowing federal partners, state/local agencies, and civilian first responders to get an up-close look at the 33rd Weapons of Mass Destruction Civil Support Team (WMD-CST) at the D.C. Armory, Nov. 6, 2023. The team is able to deploy rapidly, respond to an incident within 90 minutes and assist local first-responders in determining the nature of a weapon of mass destruction or chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, and explosive incidents. Earlier this year, the 33rd WMD-CST acquired a Vehicle-Mounted Radiological Detection System (VMRDS)... MORE