National Guard troops deputized for inauguration

Donna Leinwand Leger USA TODAY3:48p.m. EST January 21, 2013

(Photo: Robert Deutsch, USA TODAY)

Story Highlights

• 6,000 soldiers and airmen assist with security
• Units come from 26 states
• 2,000 guardsmen on alert in surrounding states

WASHINGTON — Back home, Steven Jackson is police chief of DeKalb, Miss., pop. 1,000. On Inauguration Day , he is Capt. Steven Jackson, a Mississippi guardsmen in charge of crowd control at the Gold Gate into the Capitol grounds, where 100,000 people passed by his troops by 7 a.m.
"It's a little different than DeKalb but nothing we can't handle," he said. "Everyone has been very cordial and under control."
FULL COVERAGE: The presidential inauguration
Jackson is one of 6,000 National Guard soldiers and airmen from 26 states deployed throughout the capital to manage crowds and traffic, and provide security and medical support.
Washington police deputized the force as special police authorized to make arrests, but the National Guard expects little trouble. Maj. Gen. Errol Schwartz, commanding general, District of Columbia National Guard, said the troops made no arrests in 2009.
"It's lots of very excited, happy people," said Sgt. Sara Walker of the Tennessee National Guard. Walker had been at her post near the Capitol South Metro exit since before dawn. Crowds of spectators began arriving by 5 a.m.
"We just want to make sure everyone gets in safely," said Sgt. Brian McIntosh of Oak Ridge, Tenn.
Duty brought Sgt. Reuben Merritt of Florida's National Guard to the Capitol before dawn in bone-chilling cold. As the sun rose over the Capitol, the cold gave way to the thrill of the moment.
"It was beautiful," said Merritt, who has completed two tours of Iraq, but is visiting Washington for the first time. "This is historical."
The 113th Wing, the Capital Guardians, a Washington Air National Guard based at Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland, patrolled the airspace over the event.
Other National Guard troops will march in the Inaugural Parade and provide color guards, salute batteries and honor cordons. Examples:

• Pennsylvania: 1,900 Army and Air National Guard to provide security, traffic control and crowd management
• West Virginia: 400 to manage crowds
• Virginia: 600 for security detail
• Delaware: 300 to assist Washington police with traffic control
• Maryland: 300 to direct people around the monuments on the National Mall
• Tennessee: 250 Army and air troops to handle traffic control and crowd control
• Puerto Rico: 150 to handle safety for inaugural participants
• Mississippi: 150 soldiers to handle safety

The guard arrived Jan. 18 at the Washington National Guard Armory, Joint Base Andrews and Fort Belvoir. An additional 2,000 National Guard troops are on alert in surrounding states.
States and territories contributing National Guard are Alabama, Arizona, Colorado, California, Delaware, District of Columbia, Kansas, Indiana, Iowa, Massachusetts, Maryland, Michigan, Mississippi, Montana, New York, North Dakota, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Virgin Islands, West Virginia and Wisconsin.