The National Guard has introduced a new shoulder patch to help distinguish its personnel from other security forces during the inauguration of President-elect Donald Trump. This change addresses confusion that arose in previous events where similar camouflage uniforms worn by law enforcement and military personnel made it difficult to identify different groups.
The new patch, designed specifically for the 60th Presidential Inauguration, features bright red, white, and blue colors to stand out against the National Guard’s standard camouflage uniforms.
It depicts a Revolutionary War-era minuteman standing in front of the U.S. Capitol, encircled by the Guard’s motto: “Always Ready, Always There.” The patch sits below the American flag on the uniform sleeve.
The Washington D.C. National Guard will be wearing special patches during the upcoming U.S. presidential inauguration on Monday. The patch is meant to allow people to differentiate between the National Guard and law enforcement according to the adjutant general of the Washington… pic.twitter.com/GtonfbQ5OX
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According to Brigadier General Leland Blanchard II, adjutant general of the D.C. National Guard, the patch ensures that those attending the event can easily identify National Guard members. “It’s to make sure it’s easier to identify who’s participating for the National Guard,” Blanchard explained.
The decision to introduce identification patches follows difficulties during events such as the racial justice protests of 2020 and the January 6 Capitol riot in 2021. In both instances, large numbers of law enforcement officers and military personnel in similar camouflage gear led to public confusion about who was performing what duties.
Roughly 7,800 National Guard troops from 40 states and U.S. territories are being deployed to the nation’s capital for the inauguration, far fewer than the 25,000 troops activated in 2021 following the Capitol insurrection.
