Wyoming National Guard prepares to support peaceful transfer of power at inauguration
CHEYENNE (WNE) — Preparing to serve at next week’s presidential inauguration, nearly 70 soldiers and airmen of the Wyoming National Guard underwent civil disturbance training Wednesday morning.
They were activated to support the inauguration on Monday, serving as a part of a much larger military effort to provide security, logistical and support operations for the event in Washington, D.C.
This service is not unique to the transition of power between President Joe Biden and President-elect Donald Trump. The National Guard has supported inaugurations since 1789, when its predecessors escorted George Washington to the first inauguration, according to the Joint Task Force-District of Columbia.
Wednesday’s training was composed of soldiers and airmen of nearly every rank. Cowboy Guard troops will participate in a comprehensive training regimen before their departure.
JTF-DC is led by the Commanding General of the District of Columbia National Guard and supports civilian authorities, such as the U.S. Capitol Police, U.S. Secret Service and D.C. Metropolitan Police.
The task force provides crowd management; traffic control points; chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear response; civil disturbance response and sustainment operations.
While not a part of the JTF-DC, service members from Wyoming will be on reserve, ready to step in should their additional support be necessary.
Soldiers and airmen practiced tactical formations to be used for a myriad of scenarios, including protecting the injured and confronting rioters.
“I think every person here who’s wearing that uniform is praying nothing will happen, but making sure we have a peaceful transition of power is important to us,” said Wyoming National Guard Director of Strategic Communications Joseph Coslett Jr.