CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Around 475 members of the West Virginia National Guard will be in Washington, D.C. early next week to assist with law enforcement efforts related to the inauguration of President-elect Joe Biden.
“Our One Guard Soldiers and Airmen are expertly trained and prepared for the missions that they will carry out while supporting the 59th Presidential Inauguration next week and our primary objective is to provide support to local authorities,” state Adjutant General Bill Crane said in a release.
Crane noted the support is typical for the National Guard and not related to the Jan. 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol.
“Many of our Soldiers and Airmen are providing the same type of support that we do for any presidential inauguration or State of the Union address,” he said. “Our additional personnel will assist thousands of other National Guard members from across the United States and our law enforcement partners in providing a safe environment for all involved in the inauguration and leading up to it.”
Members of the 35th Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear and High-Yield Explosive Enhanced Response Force Package — which consists of 208 service members — assist with consequence management.
The inauguration festivities will take place Wednesday.