DC Army Guard takes to water for homeland defense

WASHINGTON - The District of Columbia National Guard's 260th Special Purpose Brigade, or SPB, has commissioned its first maritime security vessel, marking the first time an Army unit in the nation's capital has operated a dedicated waterborne platform.

The new capability strengthens the Guard's ability to secure the District's waterways, critical infrastructure and major national events - a mission aligned with the National Defense Strategy's warning that "the homeland is no longer a sanctuary."

U.S. Army Brig. Gen. Leland D. Blanchard II, interim commanding general of the District of Columbia National Guard, said the organization's newest maritime capability reflects its 224-year legacy of service and its vision for the future.

"For 224 years, the District of Columbia National Guard has answered our nation's call by evolving to meet the challenges of every generation. This new maritime capability is more than a vessel - it is an investment in the partnerships, readiness and modern capabilities that enable us to better support the local, state and federal agencies that protect our nation's capital every day," Blanchard said.

Created under Executive Order 14339, the SPB was designed to enhance coordination between military forces and the District's civilian security agencies.

"Homeland defense is a team sport. We're the connective tissue between military response and the agencies that secure the capital every day," said U.S. Army Col. Larry Doane, Special Purpose Brigade commander.

Washington's security environment is uniquely complex, with protected airspace, dense federal infrastructure and overlapping jurisdictions all within two bodies of water - the Potomac and Anacostia rivers. SPB Soldiers routinely support the District of Columbia Metropolitan Police Department, D.C. Fire and EMS, the U.S. Marshals Service, U.S. Capitol Police, U.S. Park Police and the U.S. Secret Service during National Special Security Events, or NSSEs.

Bounded by the Potomac and Anacostia Rivers, the District requires a robust maritime security posture. The SPB's new vessel, sourced through a Navy partnership, will support waterborne operations during events such as the Fourth of July. It will serve primarily as an observation and assessment platform and enable Civil Support Teams to conduct hazard detection aboard vessels and expand overwatch alongside the D.C. Metropolitan Police Department's Harbor Patrol.

"We're not replacing law enforcement - we're increasing their capacity. When the District needs more eyes, more reach, more resilience, that's where we come in," Doane said.

The waterborne vessel complements a broader modernization effort within the SPB's 547th Transportation Company, which now operates a growing fleet of Polaris MRZRs to maneuver through dense crowds and restricted urban terrain during NSSEs. These assets support local and federal law enforcement armed overwatch, traffic control points, rapid movement across secured zones, medical services and dignitary protection missions - completing the brigade's evolution into a multi-domain security force.

During this year's Fourth of July celebrations, the SPB provided District and federal partners with critical capability enhancements, including additional traffic control points, crowd management and medical support to help ensure a safe and successful event.

The integration of enhanced capabilities designed to increase operational flexibility and response capacity distinguished this year's support. These included specialized response teams to complement local and federal law enforcement, maritime security assets and increased mobility to rapidly maneuver personnel and resources wherever they were needed.

"When symbols of freedom are center stage, like on the Fourth of July, some bad actors might see a target. In such cases, we pivot on a dime and defend the capital," Doane said. "But even more important that the pivot, is the deterrence of presence, high-level training and equipment that prevents the attack in the first place."

With one vessel operational and four planned, the SPB is working with the Navy to select platforms proven worldwide and interoperable with the D.C. Metropolitan Police Department's fleet. The goal is seamless coordination across agencies responsible for defending the nation's capital.

"We used to rely on the oceans for homeland defense," Doane said. "We can't rely on that anymore. We rely on resilience and deterrence - our enemies must know we're prepared."

Blanchard emphasizes the investment ensures the D.C. National Guard remains prepared to meet tomorrow's challenges while strengthening the partnerships that protect the nation's capital.

"Today, our mission is clear: Be ready before we're needed, strengthen the partnerships that make this region more secure and continue building a force that can meet whatever challenge comes next. Every investment we make in our people, our capabilities and our relationships makes us more prepared to serve the District and the nation. As we commemorate America's 250th year, we remain committed to being more ready, more capable and more connected to the people we serve than the day before," Blanchard said.