U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III left talks with Spc. Brandt Cygan of the Michigan Army National Guard’s 46th Military Police Company near the U.S. Capitol building in Washington, D.C., Jan. 29, 2021. The National Guard has been requested to continue supporting federal law enforcement agencies with security, communications, medical evacuation, logistics, and safety support to state, district and federal agencies through mid-March.
The U.S. Capitol building steps stand vacant in Washington, D.C., Jan. 29, 2021. The National Guard has been requested to continue supporting federal law enforcement agencies with security, communications, medical evacuation, logistics, and safety support to state, district and federal agencies through mid-March.
U.S. Soldiers with the Michigan National Guard participate in civil disturbance training in Washington, D.C., on Jan. 29, 2021. The National Guard has been requested to continue supporting federal law enforcement agencies with security, communications, medical evacuation, logistics, and safety support to state, district and federal agencies through mid-March.
The U.S. Capitol building is lit up with sunlight in Washington, D.C., on Jan. 29, 2021. The National Guard has been requested to continue supporting federal law enforcement agencies with security, communications, medical evacuation, logistics, and safety support to state, district and federal agencies through mid-March. (Army National Guard photo by Capt. Joe Legros)
U.S. Army Brig. Gen. Janeen L. Birckhead left, assistant adjutant general Army, Maryland National Guard, presents a gift to both Brig. Gen. John J. Driscoll, center, adjutant general, Massachusetts National Guard, and Col. Chris McKinney, commander, 177th Military Police Brigade, Michigan National Guard, in Washington, D.C., Jan. 29, 2021. The National Guard has been requested to continue supporting federal law enforcement agencies with security, communications, medical evacuation, logistics, and safety support to state, district and federal agencies through mid-March.
U.S. Army Command Sgt. Maj. Rebecca Witt, command sergeant major, 177th Military Police Brigade, Michigan National Guard stands behind Col. Chris McKinney, 177th MP Bde. commander and new Task Force Independence commander as they await the arrival of U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III at the U.S. Capitol building in Washington, D.C., Jan. 29, 2021. The National Guard has been requested to continue supporting federal law enforcement agencies with security, communications, medical evacuation, logistics, and safety support to state, district and federal agencies through mid-March.
U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III meets with National Guard Soldiers and senior leaders at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C. Jan. 29, 2021. The National Guard has been requested to continue supporting federal law enforcement agencies with security, communications, medical evacuation, logistics, and safety support to the district, state, and federal agencies through mid-March. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Erica Jaros)
U.S. Army Capt. Dan Ramos, left, 46th Military Police Company, Michigan National Guard, conducts a perimeter walk and speaks with Soldiers around the Capitol grounds on Jan. 29, 2021. The National Guard has been requested to continue supporting federal law enforcement agencies with security, communications, medical evacuation, logistics, and safety support to state, district and federal agencies through mid-March
U.S. Soldiers with the Michigan National Guard participate in civil unrest response training, in Washington, D.C., Jan. 29, 2021. The National Guard has been requested to continue supporting federal law enforcement agencies with security, communications, medical evacuation, logistics, and safety support to state, district and federal agencies through mid-March
A U.S. Soldier with the Michigan National Guard poses for a photo in Washington, D.C., Jan. 29, 2021. The National Guard has been requested to continue supporting federal law enforcement agencies with security, communications, medical evacuation, logistics, and safety support to state, district and federal agencies through mid-March
U.S. Soldiers with the Michigan National Guard participate in civil unrest response training, in Washington, D.C., Jan. 29, 2021. The National Guard has been requested to continue supporting federal law enforcement agencies with security, communications, medical evacuation, logistics, and safety support to state, district and federal agencies through mid-March
U.S. Soldiers with the Michigan National Guard participate in civil unrest response training, in Washington, D.C., Jan. 29, 2021. The National Guard has been requested to continue supporting federal law enforcement agencies with security, communications, medical evacuation, logistics, and safety support to state, district and federal agencies through mid-March.
U.S. Army Capt. Dan Ramos, left, 46th Military Police Company, Michigan National Guard, conducts a perimeter walk and speaks with Soldiers around the Capitol grounds on Jan. 29, 2021. The National Guard has been requested to continue supporting federal law enforcement agencies with security, communications, medical evacuation, logistics, and safety support to state, district and federal agencies through mid-March.
A U.S. Soldier with the Michigan National Guard poses for a photo in Washington, D.C., Jan. 29, 2021. The National Guard has been requested to continue supporting federal law enforcement agencies with security, communications, medical evacuation, logistics, and safety support to state, district and federal agencies through mid-March.
U.S. Army Brig. Gen. Nick Ducich, vice director of operations, National Guard Bureau, bumps elbows with Col. Chris McKinney, Michigan National Guard, deputy commander, Task Force Capitol Response at Capitol Hill, Washington, D.C., Jan. 29, 2021. The National Guard has been requested to continue supporting federal law enforcement agencies with security, communications, medical evacuation, logistics, and safety support to state, district and federal agencies through mid-March.
U.S. Army Brig. Gen. Nick Ducich, vice director of operations, National Guard Bureau, discusses logistics with Col. Chris McKinney, center, Michigan National Guard, deputy commander, Task Force Capitol Response, and Lt. Col. Mark Correa, California National Guard, Task Force House commander, at Capitol Hill, Washington, D.C., Jan. 29, 2021. The National Guard has been requested to continue supporting federal law enforcement agencies with security, communications, medical evacuation, logistics, and safety support to state, district and federal agencies through mid-March.
A U.S. Soldier with the Michigan National Guard poses for a photo in Washington, D.C., Jan. 29, 2021. The National Guard has been requested to continue supporting federal law enforcement agencies with security, communications, medical evacuation, logistics, and safety support to state, district and federal agencies through mid-March.
U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III speaks with U.S. Army Col. Chris McKinney, Michigan Army National Guard, the deputy commander for Task Force Capitol Response, near the U.S. Capitol building in Washington, D.C., Jan. 29, 2021. The National Guard has been requested to continue supporting federal law enforcement agencies with security, communications, medical evacuation, logistics, and safety support to the district, state, and federal agencies through mid-March.
WASHINGTON – Soldiers with the Michigan Army National Guard’s 177th Military Police Brigade have been on duty in the nation’s capital since the presidential inauguration and remain in support of federal and local authorities.
Additional Michigan Army Guard troops arrived recently to augment those already in place.
“Our role is to provide defense support to civilian authorities,” said Capt. Dan Ramos, commander of the Michigan Army Guard’s 46th Military Police Company, adding that his unit will primarily provide security at areas throughout D.C.
The Michigan Guard members traveled to Washington via military and contracted aircraft. Soldiers already on the ground welcomed the new arrivals, who joined about 7,500 Guard members from around the country who are in Washington assisting.
“We completed a perimeter walk as well as a site reconnaissance of the Capitol grounds,” said Ramos. “Later tonight, the 46th MP Company will be assigned an area of responsibility. Knowing the lay of the land is important for any operation.”
Newly arrived Michigan Army Guard members also received additional training based on the needs of the mission.
“The training gives everyone a broad perspective of the type of mission we’re doing here,” said Staff Sgt. Brandon Bokmiller, a squad leader with 46th MP Company. "I like interacting with Soldiers from different parts of Michigan and other states. We’re all supporting the same cause here in D.C.”
Counterparts with the Michigan Army Guard’s 507th Engineer Battalion and the 156th Expeditionary Signal Battalion also participated in the training. The military police Soldiers assisted their engineer and signal counterparts with critical site security and the general duties expected of them while on the mission.
“Many individual skills go into making the mission successful,” said Ramos, and the Soldiers are “working together as a group to prevent entry into restricted areas.”
Ramos said there are peaceful protests taking place in Washington. Soldiers on duty are there to ensure those who want to protest can do so peacefully.
For the Michigan Soldiers, the mission has gone smoothly.
“During President Biden’s inauguration, our Michigan military forces provided outstanding assistance to D.C.-area law enforcement,” said Col. Chris McKinney, commander of the 177th MP Brigade. “We will diligently stand-up the units who just arrived to augment and continue this support.”
McKinney oversees all military personnel assigned to the Capitol, including service members from 19 states and territories. Successfully providing that support comes down to two things, said McKinney.
“We will protect critical Washington, D.C., infrastructure while making our loved ones back in Michigan proud,” he said.
About 26,000 National Guard men and women were on duty during inaugural activities, conducting security, communication and logistical missions.
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