Air Force Honor Guard to welcome Obama to second term

  • Published
  • By 1st Lt. Ashleigh Peck
  • Air Force District of Washington Public Affairs
JOINT BASE ANDREWS, Md. --  On Jan. 21, more than 5,000 service members from active, Guard and Reserve components of the Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force and Coast Guard as well as other federal, state and local agencies will take part in the nation's 57th Presidential Inauguration.

The Department of Defense, through U.S. Northern Command and its Joint Task Force-National Capital Region (JTF-NCR), is providing military ceremonial support to inaugural events. JTF-NCR will coordinate all U.S. military support during the 10-day inaugural period from Jan. 15-24.

"The inaugural period is a large-scale cooperative effort among federal, state and local agencies - it's a great opportunity for our Airmen to work in a joint-interagency environment," said Air Force District of Washington Commander Maj. Gen. Sharon K.G. Dunbar who also serves as the 320th Air Expeditionary Wing (AEW) commander.

Air Combat Command activated the 320 AEW on April 9 as the Air Force Component Headquarters to JTF-NCR. The 320 AEW is providing an array of support including command and control, communications, inter-agency liaison, logistics, engineering, legal, and contingency response.

"We'll have a large contingent of proud Airmen supporting inaugural events. Our U.S. Air Force Band and Honor Guard will join Honor Cordons and marching units comprised of active duty, Reserve and Guard Airmen from across the National Capital Region and the Air Force Academy," Dunbar said. "Hundreds more Total Force Airmen will be supporting myriad contingency, communication, and command and control operations behind the scenes."

The U.S. military has participated in this important American tradition since April 30, 1789, when members of the U.S. Army, local militia units and Revolutionary War veterans escorted George Washington to his first inauguration ceremony at Federal Hall in New York City. Military support for the inauguration is designed to honor the Commander-in-Chief, recognize civilian control of the military and celebrate democracy.

"It has been a privilege to work with the great group of folks here at JTF-NCR - Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine, Coast Guardsmen - who are all doing phenomenal work," said Air Force Reserve Brig. Gen. James P. Scanlon, JTF-NCR deputy commander for inaugural support.