U.S. Army Sgt. Isabela Tavares, West Virginia National Guard, patrols in Washington, D.C., Feb. 14, 2026. Approximately 2,600 National Guard members are supporting the D.C. Safe and Beautiful mission, providing critical assistance to the Metropolitan Police Department in helping ensure the safety of all who live, work and visit the District. (U.S. Army National Guard video by Spc. Paris Hayes)
On a busy Saturday morning at the heart of Navy Yard across from the metro station Police and National Guard were active at the local CVS partnering together to identify and detain a repeated shoplifter
At dawn in Washington, D.C., National Guard members quietly take up their familiar positions, blending into the city’s daily rhythm rather than disrupting it. Their mission isn’t defined by force or spectacle, but by consistency—showing up the same way, every day, in close coordination with civil authorities. Through disciplined restraint, clear legal boundaries, and steady partnership, their presence reinforces public confidence...
In late summer 2025, National Guard Soldiers and Airmen moved quietly through Washington, D.C.—visible but restrained—supporting civil authorities under the D.C. Safe and Beautiful mission. Their task wasn’t to dominate the streets, but to steady them: observe, communicate, and intervene only when necessary. Each patrol tested a balance of readiness and restraint, carried out under public scrutiny and strict legal limits.
Behind the...
