Top photo: Pfc. Kelly Cahoy, 816th Military Police Company, looks toward the U.S. Capitol building while conducting security operations near the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C., on Jan. 22, 2021. Cahoy was one of approximately 60 Soldiers assigned to the 191st Military Police Company that were attached to the 816th Military Police Company during the unit's support to the 59th Presidential Inauguration.

TAG Line - Special Edition

816th MP Company Inauguration Support

The N.D. National Guard responded to a request by the Washington, D.C., National Guard to provide forces in support of the presidential inauguration on Jan. 20, 2021. Within 48 hours after answering the call, the Dickinson-based 816th Military Police Company with a detachment in Bismarck, assembled at the Raymond J. Bohn armory in Bismarck, N.D. on Jan. 13, 2021.

The unit was supplemented by Soldiers of the 191st Military Police Company as well as Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment, 131st Military Police Battalion. All the Soldiers served under the 816th Military Police Company flag during this mission. These 130 Guard members traveled to the nation’s capital along with 20 Soldiers and Airmen of the 81st Civil Support Team, whose support to the inauguration had been planned for months. More than 25,000 National Guard Soldiers and Airmen from throughout the country traveled to Washington to provide support to federal and district authorities leading up to the 59th Presidential Inauguration. The National Guard has participated in every inauguration since George Washington assumed duties of the first president of the United States on April 21, 1789. The photos in this TAG Line highlight their week-long mission to the nation's capitol.

"I could not be prouder of the contributions of our great Guard members that supported the 59th presidential inauguration in Washington, D.C.," said Maj. Gen. Al Dohrmann, N.D. adjutant general. "I am also grateful for the constant and unyielding support of our Families and employers, without whom we could not successfully accomplish our missions. Whether the missions are here at home containing the COVID-19 spread or fighting floods, to service overseas, we can rely on our Citizen-Soldiers and -Airmen to always excel at their duties."

Alert and Prep

After quickly responding to the mission alert, Soldiers of the 816th Military Police Company mustered at the Raymond J. Bohn armory for Soldier Readiness Processing (SRP). During the SRP, Soldiers' personnel and pay records were checked, packing lists were verified and a myriad of other required tasks were performed in anticipation of their upcoming mission. Maj. Gen. Al Dohrmann, N.D. adjutant general spoke with the Soldiers while members of the staff provided mandatory informational briefings. (U.S. Army National Guard story and photos by Staff Sgt. Ashley Johlfs, 116th Public Affairs Detachment)

Mission Prep and Training

Soldiers of the 816th Military Police Company teamed up with military police of the Montana and Rhode Island Army National Guard units to train over 1,000 Guard Soldiers from Guam, Kansas, Michigan and Vermont in civil disturbance response measures on Jan. 18, 2021. The training was conducted in the vicinity of FedExField in Landover, Md. (U.S. Army National Guard story and photos by Sgt. Michaela C.P. Granger)

Presence Patrols

After a quiet, uneventful day on a stand-by response mission, Jan. 20, at FedExField in Landover, Md., the 816th Military Police Company changed gears when they received a new tasking. The unit was ordered to conduct presence patrols in downtown D.C., near the Library of Congress. This new mission required movement planning and staging at a new location, along with assigning security sectors, and developing work and rest cycles. These presence patrols were in the vicinity of the Thomas Jefferson building, one of the four buildings that comprises the Library of Congress on Jan. 21 and 22, 2021. These types of patrols heighten visible security and is intended to discourage potential illegal activity.

Historic Washington

The N.D. National Guard Soldiers mobilized for duty in Washington, D.C., in support of the 59th Presidential Inauguration had little time for sightseeing. However, Soldiers were provided a few hours near the end of the mission to explore monuments and memorials within walking distance of the Lincoln Memorial and World War II Memorial on Jan. 23, 2021.

End of Mission

No military mission is complete without paperwork and procedure. The Soldiers returning from duty in Washington, D.C., in support of the 59th Presidential Inauguration, were out-processed at the Raymond J. Bohn armory on Jan. 25, 2021.