News Release - Tag D.C. National Guard

D.C. National Guard Hosts Inaugural Law Enforcement Recognition Ceremony
February 27, 2026 — The District of Columbia National Guard hosts its first Law Enforcement Recognition Ceremony to honor officers from partner agencies for their service and contributions to public safety in support of the D.C. Safe and Beautiful mission, a law enforcement and military collaboration started in Aug. 2025. Composed of District and federal law enforcement, and the National Guard, the mission holds accountable those who pose a threat to public safety... MORE

Brig. Gen. Leland D. Blanchard II, Commanding General (Interim) of the District of Columbia National Guard, hosts a Law Enforcement Recognition Ceremony recognizing partner law enforcement agencies at the D.C. Armory, Feb. 26, 2026. Distinguished guests included U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi; Gady Serralta, Director of the U.S. Marshals Service; and Jeffery Carroll, Interim Chief of Police for Metropolitan Police Department. The ceremony recognized officers from 10 local and federal law enforcement agencies for their partnership with the National Guard and contributions to public safety in support of the D.C. Safe and Beautiful mission. Officers received the District of Columbia National Guard Commendation Medal, Meritorious Service Medal or Distinguished Service Medal based on their individual achievements and level of impact.

Amtrak Police, National Guard Support Public Safety Operations at Union Station
January 20, 2026 — A coordinated response between the Amtrak Police Department and National Guard members supporting the D.C. Safe and Beautiful mission led to the swift identification of a shoplifting suspect at Union Station on New Year’s Eve, Dec. 31, 2025. The incident began when Amtrak Police received a report of a shoplifting in progress at a Walgreens located in the station’s food court. Store employees reported that an individual wearing a red hoodie and gray jacket had taken merchandise and fled toward the Metro gates... MORE

Legal Readiness 101: District of Columbia National Guard Office of the Staff Judge Advocate
January 5, 2026 — Being legally prepared is just as important as being medically and physically ready! Taking proactive steps to get your legal affairs in order means you can focus on your mission with the peace of mind that comes from knowing your family is secure and your personal wishes are protected. To bolster military readiness, the District of Columbia National Guard (DCNG) Office of the Staff Judge Advocate (OSJA) presents "Legal Readiness 101." The goal of the Office of the Staff Judge Advocate is to help Guardsmen achieve legal readiness. Services are completely free and confidential for eligible service members. Legal assistance is available from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on the D.C. Armory drill floor on the 1st and 15th of each month. See the QR codes in the video to learn more. ... MORE

D.C. Safe and Beautiful Mission: 2025 Year in Review
December 28, 2025 — The Make D.C. Safe and Beautiful mission underscores the dedication of National Guard Soldiers and Airmen to work alongside federal, state and local partners. Joint Task Force - District of Columbia strengthens public safety through presence, partnership and trust while supporting communities, honoring service and standing ready to respond... MORE

33rd WMD-CST Joins MedStar Health SiTEL for Emergency Medical Training
December 26, 2025 — The D.C. National Guard (DCNG) offered a first-of-its-kind training exercise designed to strengthen emergency medical response in hazardous environments. The simulation brought together members of the Guard’s 33rd Weapons of Mass Destruction Civil Support Team (WMD-CST), as well as area medical students and physicians, for a day of intensive drills at a state-of-the-art simulation facility... MORE

Members of the D.C. National Guard's 33rd Weapons of Mass Destruction Civil Support Team (WMD-CST) join MedStar Health SiTEL clinicians, physicians, and medical students for an advanced emergency simulation in Northwest Washington, D.C., Aug. 28, 2025. The joint exercise tested rapid medical response in contaminated and high-risk environments, strengthening interagency readiness and ensuring both partners are better prepared to protect the community.

JTF-DC Commander Delivers Holiday Message to the Force
December 20, 2025 — U.S. Army Col. Larry Doane, Joint Task Force - District of Columbia commander, delivers a holiday message to Guardsmen supporting the Make D.C. Safe and Beautiful mission. The message highlights unwavering service, reinforced mission readiness, and dedication to duty. Additionally, the task force also extends heartfelt words of encouragement to U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Andrew Wolfe, and the families of U.S. Army Spc. Sarah Beckstrom and the West Virginia National Guard... MORE

D.C. National Guard Command Team Holiday Message
December 14, 2025 — Brig. Gen. Leland D. Blanchard II, Commanding General (Interim) of the D.C. National Guard; Command Sgt. Maj. Ronald L. Smith, Senior Enlisted Leader; and their spouses deliver a holiday message emphasizing gratitude for service, readiness, and family sacrifice to the D.C. National Guard and Joint Task Force - District of Columbia. This holiday season, they encourage the entire force to focus on connection, gratitude, achievements, and progress... MORE

Brig. Gen. Natasha S. Taylor Reflects on Service, Promotion, and New Role
December 3, 2025 — Brig. Gen. Natasha S. Taylor has built a career defined by service, leadership, and resilience. Qualities she says she plans to now bring to her role as the Director of Joint Staff - Joint Force Headquarters (JFHQ), District of Columbia National Guard. She says her recent promotion and new position are less about personal achievements and more about the people who shaped her career... MORE

Brig. Gen. Natasha S. Taylor, director of the Joint Staff, Joint Force Headquarters, District of Columbia National Guard, speaks to attendees at a ceremony formally promoting her to the rank on Joint Base Andrews, Dec. 3, 2025. In this role, she is responsible for overseeing and managing the development, execution, and evaluation of joint staff programs and policies pertaining to the command, control, and operation of joint functions within the District of Columbia Army and District of Columbia Air National Guard. She manages readiness of joint defense programs to include the Civil Support Team, Homeland Response Force, State Partnership Program, Counter Drug Task Force, and Defense Support to Civil Authorities. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Tech. Sgt. Andrew Enriquez)

W.Va. National Guard Soldier dies following D.C. shooting
November 27, 2025 — We are saddened to confirm the death of Army National Guard Spc. Sarah Beckstrom, 20, of Summersville, West Virginia. Spc. Beckstrom died Nov. 27, 2025, as a result of a gunshot wound. She was one of the two West Virginia National Guardsmen who were shot near the Farragut Square Metro Station in Washington D.C. on November 26... MORE

DCNG Counterdrug Program Closes Out Fiscal Year 2025 with Historic Impact Across Enforcement, Community Outreach, and Compliance
November 12, 2025 — The District of Columbia National Guard Counterdrug Program concluded Fiscal Year 2025 with historic achievements in drug interdiction support, community outreach, and compliance, solidifying the program’s supporting role in protecting District residents and assisting law enforcement partners across the region... MORE