Photo By Sgt. Jalen Miller | U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Noah Boggs, left, and 1st Lt. Joseph Murphy, with the 4th...... read more read more
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Small squads of service members walk down busy streets and through crowded metro stations in the nation’s capital — ensuring Washington, D.C. remains safe and beautiful while embodying the combat readiness and professionalism central to the National Guard mission.
A key highlight within the National Guard’s mission statement centers on being a representation of the nation’s best — not only in professionalism, but also in the ability to meet and uphold military standards that ensure Soldiers remain physically fit and tactically proficient. This commitment extends from home-state drill weekends to overseas deployments and remains evident among those serving in the nation’s capital.
South Carolina National Guard Soldiers serving under the Joint Task Force - District of Columbia for the D.C. Safe and Beautiful Mission conduct daily patrol operations. Soldiers in these patrols provide support to the safety aspect of the mission. They continually make efforts to prevent and intervene in criminal activity, provide immediate medical aid to people in need, and instill a general feeling of ease amongst the District of Columbia community. While keeping the safety of the capital citizens and maintaining their situational awareness remains at the forefront of their minds, the citizen-Soldiers must also remember that they not only represent themselves but the image of the U.S. Army National Guard as a whole. This means that it has become the duty of National Guard Soldiers to not only adhere to, but also uphold the standards regardless of where they serve.
The Honorable Pete Hegseth, the U.S. Secretary of War, focused heavily on the importance of standards within the military during his speech to military leaders in September at Quantico, Virginia.
“Standards must be uniform, gender neutral and high,” said Hegseth. “If not, they're not standards. They're just suggestions, suggestions that get our sons and daughters killed.”
The importance of service members training towards and maintaining set standards is not only used to keep appearances up but paramount in ensuring that the nation is putting forth its best when it comes to keeping its citizens safe. The Army National Guard’s motto of “Always there, Always Ready” echoes this sentiment.
First Battalion, 118th Infantry Regiment, South Carolina National Guard Soldiers follow this motto, both during drill weekends as well as in deployed locations. This past August, 1-118th Soldiers deployed to the District of Columbia for operations within the nation’s capital, but they haven’t let the everchanging environment or distance from home prevent them from upholding this standard.
U.S. Army 1st Lt. Joseph Murphy emphasized how physical fitness and weapons qualification standards shape what people picture when they think of an American Soldier.
“As far as upholding military standards it’s simply that— it’s a must,” said Murphy. “Soldiers are expected to move further, faster and fight harder because they are placed in more unique situations than the average citizen.”
Murphy was placed in a unique situation last month. He was called upon to serve as the lead officer in charge of a small platoon of S.C. Soldiers who returned to Washington D.C. to assist the Georgia National Guard. As the platoon’s officer in charge, Murphy led by example — organizing physical training sessions at the D.C. Armory, coordinating emergency medical training with District of Columbia Park Police, and providing opportunities for Soldiers to meet weapons qualification standards at Fort A.P. Hill in Bowling Green, Virginia. His leadership reinforced the importance of upholding military standards during such a unique mission in the nation’s capital.
“Here in D.C., standards are important because we are not operating around enemies of our country, we are here to provide security to our family, friends, and our fellow Americans,” said Murphy. “Rules are to be followed, exactly as they are set.”
Through their commitment to excellence and adherence to military standards, South Carolina National Guard Soldiers continue to embody what it means to be “Always Ready, Always There,” both at home and in the nation’s capital.
| Date Taken: | 10.21.2025 |
| Date Posted: | 10.27.2025 13:58 |
| Story ID: | 550441 |
| Location: | DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, US |
| Hometown: | CHARLESTON, SOUTH CAROLINA, US |
| Hometown: | COLUMBIA, SOUTH CAROLINA, US |
| Hometown: | SOUTH CAROLINA NATIONAL GUARD HEADQUARTERS, SOUTH CAROLINA, US |
| Hometown: | UNION SOUTH CAROLINA, SOUTH CAROLINA, US |
| Web Views: | 129 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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