U.S. Army Specialist Alexander Benjumea, from Hopatcong, New Jersey, recently joined the Joint Task Force-National Capital Region (JTF-NCR), which is preparing to support the 60th Presidential Inauguration on January 20, 2025.
Benjumea is one of more than 800 service members assigned to JTF-NCR, a joint service command responsible for all military ceremonial support for the inaugural period. The JTF-NCR is comprised of service members from all branches of the armed forces of the United States, including Reserve and National Guard components.
Benjumea, a 2016 graduate of Hopatcong High School in Hopatcong, New Jersey, is assigned to the Ceremonies and Outreach Directorate as a broadcast engineer.
Benjumea is a member of the United States Army and has served for five years. “Documenting historic events is one of my favorite parts of my job in the military,” said Benjumea. “The military has had a role in every Inauguration since the first, and now I’m proud to do my part as we swear in the 47th Commander in Chief.”
JTF-NCR is the joint service command charged with planning, coordinating and providing U.S. military support to presidential inaugurations. During the upcoming inauguration, approximately 5,000 service members from every branch, including active and reserve components, will provide essential ceremonial and operational support for the 60th Presidential Inauguration.
Since 1789 when a military escort and full ceremonial procession including a military contingent of 500 members of the Army, local militia, and Revolutionary War veterans escorted the newly elected President to his swearing-in, military support has played a traditional role in presidential inaugurations.
Participation of the armed forces in this time-honored tradition demonstrates the military’s support to the nation’s newly elected commander in chief, reaffirms civilian control of the nation’s military and the peaceful transition of power which celebrates the principles of democracy.
Visit https://jtfncr.mdw.army.mil/inauguration/ for more information. Be sure to follow https://www.facebook.com/MDWUSARMY/ for behind-the-scenes military preparation leading up the inauguration of the 47th President of the United States of America.