Gov. Brian Kemp said Friday that the Georgia National Guard is providing support to the ongoing Joint Task Force-District of Columbia (JTF-DC) operations in Washington, D.C.
In total, a contingent of 316 Guardsmen (16 support staff and approximately 300 Soldiers) will mobilize in and around the nation’s capital to aid in restoring public safety following the president’s executive order declaring a crime emergency in the District of Columbia, dated August 11.
Following a federal request for the Georgia Guard to provide up to 16 Soldiers as support staff to JTF-DC, these servicemembers were sent earlier this week to Joint Base Anacostia-Boiling within Washington, D.C. where they will work with other military personnel providing support for the broader mission. These Guardsmen are not expected to have any direct interaction with civilians.
Gov. Kemp also approved fulfillment of a separate request for up to approximately 300 Georgia Guard Soldiers to relieve service members stationed in D.C. from the start of the mission. These 300 servicemembers are scheduled to mobilize in mid-September and will be on active duty in Washington shortly thereafter, barring any changes to the schedule that may arise beforehand.