United States Army Military District of Washington | |
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United States Army Military District of Washington shoulder sleeve insignia
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Active | 1921 – present |
Country | United States |
Allegiance | Regular Army |
Branch | United States Army |
Type | Army Command |
Part of | JFHQ-NCR |
Garrison/HQ | Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, D.C. |
Nickname(s) | Guardian of the Nation's Capital |
Motto(s) | Haec Protegimus (This We Guard) |
Website | Official Website |
Commanders | |
Current commander |
Major General Bradley A. Becker |
Insignia | |
distinctive unit insignia |
The United States Army Military District of Washington (MDW) is one of nineteen major commands of the United States Army. Its headquarters are located at Fort Lesley J. McNair in Washington, D.C. The missions of the units in the Military District of Washington include ceremonial tasks as well as a combat role in the defense of the National Capital Region.
Besides Fort McNair, the following installations are included under the umbrella of the MDW's command:
Units assigned to the Military District of Washington include:
The Military District of Washington also represents the U.S. Army in the Joint Force Headquarters National Capital Region (JFHQ-NCR), as well as oversight of all ceremonial operations in Arlington National Cemetery.
The current Commanding General of the Military District of Washington is Major General Bradley A. Becker. The Military District of Washington Chief of Staff, and liaison to the JFHQ-NCR, is Colonel Mark A. Bertolini. The Commanding General, Chief of Staff, and Command Sergeant Major of the Military District of Washington hold the same positions at the JFHQ-NCR, which supervises military planning for defense of the National Capital Region.
MDW can trace its origin back to 1921 when the War Department created the District of Washington. Today MDW is one of the Army's major commands. Its installations include Fort McNair, the nation's second-oldest military post still in use, and Fort Myer, Gen. Philip Sheridan's cavalry showplace and site of the first military aircraft flight.
The District of Washington initially included Fort Washington, Md., Fort Hunt, Va., the District of Columbia and Fort Myer. With the dissolution of the District of Washington in 1927, the commanding general of the 16th Infantry Brigade at Fort Hunt became responsible for conducting military ceremonies and administering discipline to service members in the nation's capital.