Terror in Washington on Thanksgiving night. Two blocks from the White House, a man opened fire on two US soldiers National Guardtroops deployed by President Donald Trump to fight crime in the city. Despite sudden intervention from health workers, the two officers could not do anything. Also seriously injured, the suspect was arrested in less than half an hour.
What is the National Guard
The US National Guard is a military corps consisting of reserve troops that can be mobilized either by individual state authorities or by the federal government. President Trump sent more than 2,000 troops to the capital after the declaration “crime emergency” issued by the government. The military deployment has been extended several times and is expected to continue at least until next February. A recent ruling issued by a federal judge declared the deployment unlawful, but the effectiveness of the ruling was suspended for 21 days to allow the government to evaluate a possible appeal.
Considered an integral part of the United States defense and emergency management system, the National Guard is composed of private citizens who combine their professional activities with regular military training. Volunteers come from very different backgrounds – from teaching to healthcare to manual workers – and typically undergo monthly training and annual intensive periods to be ready to intervene when necessary.
The structure is divided into two components: Army National Guard and Air National Guard. All states, along with Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia, have their own National Guards. Under normal circumstances, command is in the hands of the governor, who can request the use of the military in the event of a natural disaster, civil emergency, or social tension. In more serious circumstances, the president can “federalize” the force and transfer its management to the Department of Defense. In these cases, the National Guard operates as part of the regular military on a temporary basis, usually to address large-scale threats or domestic security needs.
The capital’s residents are now used to seeing the military equipped with
guns and bulletproof vests, roaming the streets. Many thanked them for their services, some even asked to be photographed, but there were also those who didn’t like their presence because of their role in anti-immigrant raids.
