News Release

Task Force Beautification Marks 100 Projects, Unveils New Strategy for Safer DC
October 3, 2025 — Task Force Beautification, a D.C. National Guard initiative, has completed its 100th project, revitalizing a recreation center in Ward 7, officials said. The initiative aims to improve public safety and empower communities by addressing the root causes of crime.Task Force Beautification focuses on factors contributing to crime, such as food... MORE

U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class Aaron Birchfield with the District of Columbia National Guard cleans up building 12 at the Youth ChalleNGe Academy to help the facility expand and reach more youth in Laurel, Md., Oct. 1, 2025. About 2,300 National Guard members are supporting the D.C. Safe and Beautiful mission providing critical support to the D.C. Metropolitan Police Department in ensuring the safety of all who live, work and visit the District. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Pfc. Kylie Jorgensen)

DMV Law Enforcement Career Fair promo
September 24, 2025 — U.S. Army Brig. Gen. Leland D. Blanchard II, Commanding General (Interim) of the D.C. National Guard, and Chief Pamela A. Smith, Chief of Police for the Metropolitan Police Department, discuss the DMV Law Enforcement Career Fair at MPD Academy, 4665 Blue Plains Drive SW, Washington, DC, 20032. The multi-agency recruiting event on Sept. 27, 2025, from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. is hosted by the Metropolitan Police Department Recruiting Unit and will include over 27 federal and local law enforcement agencies... MORE

D.C. National Guard Commanding General receives familiarization flight in an F-16D
September 20, 2025 — U.S. Army Brig. Gen. Leland D. Blanchard II, Commanding General (Interim) of the D.C. National Guard, receives his first familiarization flight in a 113th Wing, D.C. Air National Guard F-16D Fighting Falcon on Joint Base Andrews, Sep. 19, 2025. The aircraft was flown by Maj. Benjamin Saunders, pilot, 113th Wing Operations Group. Since Sept. 11, 2001, the 113th Wing's Aerospace Control Alert (ACA) mission has protected the skies 24/7 above the National Capital Region... MORE

TF Beautification teams with Advisory Neighborhood Commission (ANC) in the District’s Ward 8
September 16, 2025 — Soldiers and Airmen from the D.C. National Guard worked shoulder to shoulder with Ward 8 residents, volunteers and local leaders on Sept. 13 , marking Task Force Beautification’s first-ever participation in a neighborhood cleanup effort in the District... MORE

Brig. Gen. Leland D. Blanchard II, Commanding General (Interim) of the D.C. National Guard, and members of Task Force Beautification join Ward 8 residents, volunteers, and 8B06 Advisory Neighborhood Commission (ANC) members for a pop-up community clean-up in Washington, D.C., Sept. 13, 2025. The effort, led by ANC Commissioner Marcus “Mick” Hickman, marked the first time D.C. National Guard members worked alongside residents and elected officials in support of the D.C. Safe and Beautiful mission in providing critical support to the D.C. Metropolitan Police Department in ensuring the safety of all who live, work and visit the District. Many of the participating Guard members live and work in the District, strengthening their shared commitment to keeping local neighborhoods safe and clean.

Tennessee, D.C. National Guard mechanics partner for D.C. Safe and Beautiful
September 9, 2025 — D.C. National Guard mechanics have teamed with their Tennessee counterparts to ensuring vehicles remain at peak performance for any upcoming missions in the nation’s capital. The joint effort began when Tennessee’s mechanics answered D.C. National Guard’s request for support to repair a backlog of vehicles out of service. They divided their teams to maintain their own fleet and simultaneously completed work orders for D.C. vehicles. Combined, the two teams expect to bring more than 50 vehicles back into service... MORE

U.S. Army Spc. Josiah Davenport, assigned to the 269th Military Police Company, Tennessee National Guard conducts maintenance on a vehicle at Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling in Washington, D.C., Aug. 30, 2025. About 2,300 National Guard members are supporting the D.C. Safe and Beautiful mission providing critical support to the D.C. Metropolitan Police Department in ensuring the safety of all who live, work and visit the District.

Suicide Prevention Month: Message from the Commanding General
September 7, 2025 — September is Suicide Prevention Month, and the Department of War is committed to decisive and innovative actions and the theme "Joining Your Fight: Connect to Protect." Brig. Gen. Leland D. Blanchard II, Commanding General (Interim) for the D.C. National Guard, discusses the significance of knowing at-risk behaviors, stress reduction measures and available resources to help... MORE

State CCWO Aguon selected as the Army Guard’s Ninth Command Chief Warrant Officer
August 31, 2025 — Chief Warrant Officer 5 Bernard Aguon, who has served as the State Command Chief Warrant Officer (CCWO) for the District of Columbia National Guard since 2024, has been selected as the next Army National Guard Command Chief Warrant Officer at the National Guard Bureau. He will succeed Chief Warrant Officer 5 Brian Searcy... MORE

CW5 Bernard L. Aguon, State Command Chief Warrant Officer (CCWO) for the District of Columbia National Guard has been selected as the ninth Command Chief Warrant Officer of the Army National Guard and will serve as the principal military advisor to the Director of the Army National Guard on all matters affecting warrant officer training, utilization, health of the force, and professional development. Currently, CW5 Aguon is the D.C. National Guard's sixth State CCWO and advisor to the D.C. National Guard’s Commanding General, the Adjutant General, and Land Component Commander. He will succeed Chief Warrant Officer 5 Brian Searcy.

Guard members from six states, D.C. on duty in Washington in support of local, fed authorities
August 29, 2025 — Since Aug. 12, more than 75,000 meals, which all meet the Army food program’s calorie count and dietary requirements and restrictions have been distributed to Soldiers and Airmen at duty locations throughout Washington. Providing hot meals and ensuring Guard members are billeted in safe hotels are task force priorities. ... MORE

U.S. Soldiers of the Army National Guard serve meals at Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling, Aug. 29, 2025. Meals are served to about 2,300 National Guard members that are supporting the D.C. Safe and Beautiful mission providing critical support to the D.C. Metropolitan Police Department in ensuring the safety of all who live, work, and visit the District.

National Guard authorized to carry weapons in support of law enforcement
August 23, 2025 — WASHINGTON – U.S. Army Brig. Gen. Leland D. Blanchard II, the Commanding General (interim) of the D.C. National Guard, in support of local law enforcement agencies, gave the order for Guard members supporting Joint Task Force-DC to carry their service-issued weapons. The decision comes at the direction of the Secretary of Defense and in ... MORE

D.C. National Guard Activated to Support Law Enforcement in District of Columbia
August 23, 2025 — WASHINGTON – The District of Columbia National Guard was activated Aug. 11 to support local and federal law enforcement efforts aimed at restoring order in the District of Columbia. The activation aligns with the President’s executive order declaring a crime emergency.Currently over 1,900 Guardsmen from the D.C. National Guard, West Virginia, South... MORE