District of Columbia Army National Guard The District of Columbia Army National Guard is composed of 10 units : Constitution . The District of Columbia Army National Guard has a unique mission . It is led by a Commanding General , and is the only Army National Guard organization activated by the President of the United States for natural and civil emergencies . The D . C . National Guard is also unique from other National Guard organizations because , unlike state organizations who have dual jurisdiction for federal and local matters , the D . C . National Guard has no local jurisdiction . This means the mayor cannot call upon the District of Columbia National Guard forces to protect local interests in Washington , D . C . ( hence the City ' s nickname , the Federal City ) . Like all other Army National Guard units , the D . C . Army National Guard continues to support the United States Army and its national security objectives . District of Columbia Army National Guard units are trained and equipped as part of the United States Army . The same ranks and insignia are used and National Guardsmen are eligible to receive all United States military awards . The District of Columbia National Guard also bestows a number of state awards for local services rendered in or to the District of Columbia . Lineage . " The following contains public domain text from the records of the DC National Guard " The DC Army National Guard was constituted on January 1776 as Headquarters 25th Battalion , Georgetown and Headquarters 29th Battalion , Bladensburg in the Maryland Militia . These initial units were mobilized in March and July 1776 to repel marauders . Mobilized January 1777 for services at Trenton and Princeton , and in October 1777 for combat service in Germantown . In April 1781 , the 25th Battalion remobilized for defense of the Potomac River Valley , and in May 1781 for defense of Georgetown . The unit saw further service at Fredericktown and Old Fort Frederick through 1781 . The Act of December 1793 reconstituted the 29th Battalion and officially recognized it on 18 June 1794 as the 14th and 18th Regiments , Maryland Militia , and Headquarters 4th Brigade , Maryland Militia , with headquarters in Georgetown . The units were established as Headquarters , District of Columbia Militia by Act of the Congress in March 1802 , and organized during May and June 1802 as a Brigade Headquarters . Again the unit was reorganized by Act of the Congress 3 March 1803 . The Militia was mobilized in Federal service from 1 – 4 July 1863 to resist Confederate forces . The unit was immediately demobilized after the fight was completed on 4 July 1863 . Again , a year later the Federal government called upon the militia to resist Confederate attacks in July 1864 on the District of Columbia . The unit was further reorganized under the Territorial Act of 1871 with the position of Commanding General eliminated and the position of Adjutant General established as commander of military forces . However , 16 years later , in 1887 under the Act of 1803 the position of Commanding General was reestablished . The Militia was reconstituted as the National Guard of the District of Columbia under the Act of the Congress , 1 March 1889 with the headquarters retaining the designation as Headquarters , District of Columbia Militia , with the command of the District of Columbia National Guard . The Act specified that the unit have no more than twenty - eight companies of infantry organized into regiments , battalions , and unattached companies as may be deemed expedient ; one battery of light artillery ; one signal corps ; one ambulance corps ; one band of music ; and one corps of field music . The District of Columbia National Guard were brought into Federal service April 1898 to fight in the Spanish - American War . The Organization of the District of Columbia National Guard modified by Act of the Congress , 11 May 1898 to provide for organization of a naval battalion to consist of not more than four companies of naval militia . The DC National Guard was mustered into Federal service at Fort Myer , Virginia 20 June 1916 to mobilize units for Mexican Border Service . However the units were soon discharged again on 21 October 1916 . Furthermore , between 25 March 1917 and 25 July 1917 , all elements and personnel , less Headquarters mobilized for Federal service . Their Commanding General was later mustered into Federal service on 5 August 1917 . The unit was further Reorganized between October and December 1917 to include Companies A & B , 4th DC Infantry ( units never established ) , and the 2nd Separate Battalion ( Colored ) to consist of retired and discharged veterans and exempt men to provide a “ home guard ” for the defense of the District of Columbia . Further reorganized on 5 March 1918 established the 5th DC Infantry and the 2nd Separate Battalion ( Colored ) . On 19 December 1919 the DC Guard was reorganized to consist of one battalion and two companies of infantry , one headquarters company , one field artillery battery , and one signal company . Only Headquarters , 5th Infantry and companies A and C were established . Further more , the Fifth Infantry was reorganized and redesignated 31 December 1920 as the Engineer Regiment ( Federal recognition as 121st Engineers , 1 January 1921 creating a separate lineage ) . Reorganized 19 January 1922 with the 260th Coast Artillery ( separate lineage ) and elements of the 29th Division ( separate lineages ) added . On 16 October 1923 , the Commanding General of the District of Columbia Militia was appointed , Commanding General , 29th Division with Headquarters , 29th Division allocated to the District of Columbia National Guard . However , the 29th Division transferred to the Maryland National Guard on 10 April 1934 . From October 1940 until July 1941 , the Commanding General of the District of Columbia Militia , was brought to active duty and appointed District of Columbia Director of Selective Service . Soon however , the Commanding General of the District of Columbia Militia was appointed Commander of the Washington Provisional Brigade ( precursor of the Military District of Washington ) in July 1941 serving in this capacity until May 1942 when appointed Provost Marshal of the District of Columbia ( with jurisdiction over trial of five German saboteurs ) . He remained Provost Marshal until October 1942 when he was relieved from active duty and returned to command of the District of Columbia National Guard . Supervision and control of District of Columbia National Guard passed from the President of the United States to the Secretary of Defense pursuant to Executive Order 10030 , 26 January 1949 with authority given to the Secretary to designate officials of the National Military Establishment to administer affairs of the District of Columbia National Guard . The Secretary of the Army was directed to act for the Secretary of Defense in all matters pertaining to the ground component , and Secretary of the Air Force directed to act in all matters pertaining to the air component of the District of Columbia National Guard by Secretary of Defense memorandum , 2 February 1949 . By Act of the Congress , 2 September 1957 the Commanding General of the Militia of the District of Columbia was authorized to hold the rank of major general or brigadier general . The DC guard was placed into Federal service from 5 to 16 April 1968 to aid civil authorities and again in May 1971 . Heraldic Items . Distinctive Unit Insignia : A gold color metal and enamel device consisting of the dome of the United States Capitol in white in front of a gold rising sun and supported by a torse of six twists alternately of white and red ; on a blue scroll arched above the dome , the motto , Capital Guardians , in gold . Approved 10 October 1972 . Symbolism : The dome of the United States Capitol typifies the District of Columbia . The rising sun is adapted from the District of Columbia Seal and signifies the ascendancy of the National Capitol and the country it represents . Since the District of Columbia lies within the original thirteen English Colonies , the twists of the wreath are accordingly in white and red . Shoulder Sleeve Insignia : On a red three - sided background , the crest of the National Guard of the District of Columbia , proper . Approved 7 June 1948 . Distinguished Flag : A blue rectangular field , centered thereon the crest of the National Guard of the District of Columbia , proper . Below the crest , Headquarters , District of Columbia National Guard inscribed in blue on white ribbons edged in gold . Approved 1930 . 4 . Campaign Participation Credit . - Revolutionary War . - Germantown . - Civil War - Defense of Washington . - War with Spain . - Mexican Expedition . - World War I . - World War II American Theater . 5 . Decorations . None . / signed / CALVIN G . FRANKLIN Major General , DCNG Commanding General