District of Columbia Army National Guard
| District of Columbia Army National Guard | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Country | United States |
| Allegiance | District of Columbia |
| Branch | United States Army |
| Type | ARNG Headquarters Command |
| Size | 1,350 |
| Part of | District of Columbia National Guard |
| Garrison/HQ | D.C. Armory |
| Anniversaries | March 3rd, 1802 |
| Commanders | |
| Current commander |
Brigadier General William J. Walker |
The District of Columbia Army National Guard is the Army component of the District of Columbia National Guard. As the District of Columbia is a capital and not a state, the guard is placed under the authority of the President of the United States, unlike most other National Guard units which are headed by their state's governor.
The District of Columbia Army National Guard was formed in 1802 by President Thomas Jefferson to defend the newly created District of Columbia. It has always been led by a Commanding General as opposed to an Adjutant General and is the only Army National Guard state-level organization activated by the President of the United States for natural and civil emergencies. The Mayor of the District of Columbia may only activate the National Guard assets for local purposes after consulting with the President.
District of Columbia Army National Guard units are trained and equipped as part of the United States Army. The same ranks and insignia are used and National Guardsmen are eligible to receive all United States military awards. The District of Columbia National Guard also bestows a number of state awards for local services rendered in or to the District of Columbia.
The District of Columbia Army National Guard includes the following subordinate units:
The DC Army National Guard traces its lineage to January 1776 as Headquarters 25th Battalion, Georgetown and Headquarters 29th Battalion, Bladensburg in the Maryland Militia before the District of Columbia was created. These initial units were mobilized in March and July 1776 to repel marauders. Mobilized January 1777 for services at Trenton and Princeton, and in October 1777 for combat service in Germantown.
In April 1781, the 25th Battalion remobilized for defense of the Potomac River Valley, and in May 1781 for defense of Georgetown. The unit saw further service at Fredericktown and Old Fort Frederick through 1781.
The Act of December 1793 reconstituted the 29th Battalion and officially recognized it on 18 June 1794 as the 14th and 18th Regiments, Maryland Militia, and Headquarters 4th Brigade, Maryland Militia, with headquarters in Georgetown.
The units were established as Headquarters, District of Columbia Militia by Act of the Congress in March 1802, and organized during May and June 1802 as a Brigade Headquarters.
...
Wikipedia