Governor Brian Kemp (R) has announced that the Georgia National Guard is providing support to the ongoing Joint Task Force-District of Columbia (JTF-DC) operations in Washington, D.C. In total, a contingent of 316 Guardsmen will mobilize in and around the nation's capital to aid in restoring public safety following the president's executive order declaring a crime emergency in the District of Columbia.
For context, the Georgia National Guard has a history of partnering with federal, state, and local agencies to respond to emergencies, both in the state and in other parts of the country. They have provided support in allied countries as well, without compromising their ability to respond to Georgia's needs.
Sixteen of these soldiers will serve as medical, PA, and MP support staff to the JTF-DC, and were sent earlier this week to Joint Base Anacostia-Boiling within D.C. They will work with other military personnel to provide support for the broader mission, but are not expected to have any direct interaction with civilians.
Kemp also fulfilled a request for approximately 300 Georgia Guard Soldiers to relieve other service members stationed in D.C. from the start of the mission. These servicemembers are scheduled to mobilize in the middle of September and will be on active duty shortly thereafter, barring any changes to their schedule.
As part of the JTF-DC mission, the Georgia Guard will join seven other states and over 2,200 Guardsmen from around the nation. They will provide a visible presence in support of local law enforcement and their tasks will vary based on the needs of their local partners.
Kemp expressed pride for being able to support President Donald Trump in his mission to clean up Washington D.C. and emphasized the importance of preserving the nation’s capital.
"We share a commitment to upholding public safety and are grateful to these brave Guardsmen and women, for the families that support them, and for their dedication to service above self,” Kemp commented. “As they have demonstrated again and again, our Georgia Guard is well equipped to fulfill both this mission and its obligations to the people of our state."
