News Release - Tag D.C. National Guard

Ten Minutes Can Make a Difference: Participate in the Defense Organizational Climate Survey (DEOCS)
September 3, 2026 — Beginning Sept. 8, 2026, the D.C. National Guard's annual Defense Organizational Climate Survey (DEOCS) fielding window will open, giving every Capital Guardian an opportunity to speak candidly about the environment in which they serve and work. The DEOCS is one of the most significant tools available to D.C. National Guard leaders to understand what is happening across the force — what is working, where challenges exist and where meaningful change is needed...

In the Trenches: Chaplain Edward Lartey’s Life of Service Earns Distinguished Honor
August 28, 2026 — For more than two decades, Chaplain (Maj.) Edward Lartey has built his ministry around one principle: being present when Soldiers and families face their most difficult moments. From combat in Iraq and civil unrest in Washington to hospital rooms where service members took their final breaths, Lartey has sought to be a “chaplain in the trenches,” providing spiritual, emotional and practical support wherever it is needed. His commitment to service earned him the Military Chaplains Association Distinguished Service Award, an honor recognizing excellence in ministry, resilience and operational support. For Lartey, however, the award is not a culmination, but an affirmation of a lifelong calling: “I’ve been called all my life to serve. Since there’s more serving to do, it goes in with my calling and my mission from God.”...

The Capital’s Defenders: 212 Years After Bladensburg, Honoring the Citizen-Soldiers Who Answered the Call
August 24, 2026 — As America celebrates 250 years of independence, the District of Columbia National Guard and Historic Congressional Cemetery gathered Aug. 23 to look back 212 years—to a moment when ordinary citizens answered an extraordinary call and stood in defense of the young nation’s capital during the Battle of Bladensburg...

National Guardsmen Assist in Locating Missing Child
August 16, 2026 — National Guardsmen patrolling near LeDroit Park were approached by a concerned citizen reporting that their 14-year-old daughter was missing...

Year One: Make DC Safe and Beautiful Mission
August 11, 2026 — For 365 days, Soldiers and Airmen from 30 states, territories, and the District of Columbia have answered the call to serve in the nation’s capital as part of Joint Task Force–District of Columbia. But the story of the Make DC Safe and Beautiful mission is more than a timeline of events or a collection of statistics. It is the story of the people...

Service Takes the Microphone: Maj. Karen Fraley-Deegan's Mission in Music
July 29, 2026 — Music can inspire, unite, and tell the story of a nation. For U.S. Air Force Maj. Karen Fraley-Deegan, every performance of The Star-Spangled Banner is another act of service—honoring those who have served, those who continue to serve, and the freedoms they protect. From military ceremonies to center court at a Washington Mystics game, this Capital Guardian proves that leadership isn't just heard through commands—sometimes, it's heard through song...

SPB: A One of One Brigade
July 29, 2026 — In the nation's capital, no two missions are exactly alike. One day, Soldiers coordinate with federal agencies to protect critical infrastructure and conduct maritime operations. The next, they support first responders during emergencies or help secure nationally recognized events attended by millions of visitors. Those missions belong to the 260th Special Purpose Brigade (SPB), a one-of-a-kind Army formation that brings military and other law enforcement agencies together...

CSM Williamson Leaves a Lasting Legacy at the LCC
July 27, 2026 — Command Sergeant Major Octavia V. Williamson, the command sergeant major for the Land Component Command (LCC) of the District of Columbia National Guard, retired after 37-years of service. Over the course of her service career, she held three military occupational specialties, deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, and held multiple leadership assignments - including being the first female LCC command sergeant major...

Army technology chief reviews JTF-DC systems ahead of future events
July 26, 2026 — The Army’s chief technology officer, Alex Miller, visited Joint Task Force-District of Columbia (JTF-DC) on July 26 to assess the systems supporting the Make DC Safe and Beautiful mission and identify improvements ahead of large-scale events, including the Freedom 250 Grand Prix...

D.C. National Guard Boosts Homeland Defense as 260th Special Purpose Brigade Commissions First Maritime Security Vessel
July 11, 2026 — The District of Columbia National Guard’s 260th Special Purpose Brigade (SPB) has commissioned its first maritime security vessel, marking the first time an Army unit in the Nation’s Capital has operated a dedicated waterborne platform. The new capability strengthens the Guard’s ability to secure the District’s waterways, critical infrastructure, and major national events — a mission aligned with the National Defense Strategy’s warning that “the homeland is no longer a sanctuary.”...