New Award for National Guard

The new D.C. Inauguration Support Ribbon features blue, white and red bands and a miniature of the Washington, D.C. flag in the center (Photo courtesy D.C. National Guard)

National Guard troops who deployed to the nation’s capital to provide security following the Jan. 6 riot at the Capitol Building will be awarded local service ribbons, a defense official said Friday.

The District of Columbia National Guard plans to award at least one of two ribbons to all soldiers and airmen who supported the security mission before, during and after the 59th presidential inauguration in recognition of their service.

More than 26,000 National Guard members from all 50 states, D.C., and three territories were deployed ahead of the inauguration to support local and federal law enforcement agencies

AW1 Rod sends.

Guard Members Who Deployed for the Inauguration Are Getting a Brand-New Award

Tens of thousands of National Guard troops who deployed to Washington, D.C., ahead of a 2021 inauguration under threat of violence are eligible for a brand-new award in recognition of their service, Military.com has learned.

The D.C. National Guard has created a new “Presidential Inauguration Support Ribbon” in recognition of a deeply unusual security mission earlier this year, an official confirmed to Military.com.

“In recognition of their service as part of the security mission at the U.S. Capitol and other facilities in Washington, D.C., before, during and after the 59th Presidential Inauguration, the District of Columbia National Guard plans to present all Soldiers and Airmen who took part in the mission one or both of the following decorations: the District of Columbia National Guard Presidential Inauguration Support Ribbon and/or the District of Columbia Emergency Service Ribbon,” Air Force Lt. Col. Robert Carver, spokesman for the Virginia Air National Guard and director of Joint Task Force-DC Joint Information Center, said in a statement. “Both ribbons are District-level decorations. Plans for their presentation are not yet final. Other federal decorations are also being considered.”

While the Emergency Service Ribbon previously existed to honor Guard members who serve in support of a non-war emergency or crisis, the Presidential Inauguration Support Ribbon is new, designed specially for troops from D.C. and the other 53 states and territories who participated in the 2021 deployment.

Clearly a new participation award is needed to commemorate the occasion. Read the entire article here: Military.com

Thanks, Rod.

Category: "Your Tax Dollars At Work", Guest Link, National Guard