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NEWS | Nov. 18, 2025

W.Va. Guard extends support to President Trump’s initiative to make D.C. Safe and Beautiful

By West Virginia National Guard Public Affairs Office West Virginia National Guard

CHARLESTON, W.Va.  –  

The West Virginia National Guard, under the command of West Virginia Adjutant General Maj. Gen. Jim Seward, is extending support to President Donald Trump’s DC Safe and Beautiful mission through Dec. 31, 2025.   

Governor Patrick Morrisey has authorized WVNG members to volunteer for continued service in the nation's capital in support of President Trump’s initiative and will re-evaluate extending the mission every quarter through the end of Fiscal Year 2026. 

WVNG involvement will continue to include providing mission-essential equipment, specialized training, and skilled personnel as directed. As of Nov. 18, 2025, approximately 160 WVNG volunteers have been approved to remain in DC on Title 32, U.S.C., federally funded orders. 

The WVNG is committed to the continued success of the DC Safe and Beautiful initiative, while simultaneously safeguarding our readiness and response capabilities within West Virginia.  

All personnel not continuing as part of the DC Safe and Beautiful mission returned to West Virginia on Nov. 17, 2025. 

“The WVNG exemplifies the spirit of collaboration that is vital in today’s efforts to enhance the safety of our homeland while supporting state and federal missions,” said Seward. 

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W.Va. Guard extends support to President Trump’s initiative to make D.C. Safe and Beautiful

U.S. Army Spc. Ayden Holbert and Pfc. Daniel Tippett, with the West Virginia National Guard and assigned to Joint Task Force–District of Columbia, conduct a presence patrol in Dupont Circle, Washington, D.C., Nov. 3, 2025. The WVNG is extending support to President Donald Trump’s DC Safe and Beautiful mission through Dec. 31, 2025. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Takara Williams)
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West Virginia Landscape

Landscape of West Virginia Mountains.
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Keough, Frank

SPC Frank Keough Janurary 8, 1969 - February 25, 1991 Jeannette, Pennsylvania 14th Quartermaster Detachment, 99th Army Reserve Command, Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, New Jersey
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West Virginia National Guard Welcomes New Inspector General

Maj. Gen. James Seward, the Adjutant General of the West Virginia National Guard, administered the oath of responsibility to Col. Steven Niewiarowski as the new WVNG State Inspector General during a ceremony at Joint Force Headquarters on August 19, 2025.
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West Virginia National Guard Welcomes New Inspector General

Maj. Gen. James Seward, the Adjutant General of the West Virginia National Guard, administered the oath of responsibility to Col. Steven Niewiarowski as the new WVNG State Inspector General during a ceremony at Joint Force Headquarters on August 19, 2025.
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West Virginia National Guard Soldiers and Airmen arrive in Washington, D.C.

U.S. Soldiers from the South Carolina National Guard and U.S. Army and Air Force service members from the West Virginia National Guard receive a briefing prior to being deputized as part of D.C. Safe and Beautiful Task Force, Washington, D.C., Aug. 19, 2025. Approximately 800 National Guard service members comprise JTF-DC, supporting the D.C. Safe and Beautiful Task Force. These National Guard service members provide critical support, including crowd management, presence patrols, and perimeter control, in support of law enforcement. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Amber Peck)
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West Virginia National Guard Soldiers and Airmen arrive in Washington, D.C.

U.S. Soldiers from the South Carolina National Guard and U.S. Army and Air Force service members from the West Virginia National Guard receive a briefing prior to being deputized as part of D.C. Safe and Beautiful Task Force, Washington, D.C., Aug. 19, 2025. Approximately 800 National Guard service members comprise JTF-DC, supporting the D.C. Safe and Beautiful Task Force. These National Guard service members provide critical support, including crowd management, presence patrols, and perimeter control, in support of law enforcement. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Amber Peck)
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West Virginia National Guard Soldiers and Airmen arrive in Washington, D.C.

U.S. Soldiers from the South Carolina National Guard and U.S. Army and Air Force service members from the West Virginia National Guard receive a briefing prior to being deputized as part of D.C. Safe and Beautiful Task Force, Washington, D.C., Aug. 19, 2025. Approximately 800 National Guard service members comprise JTF-DC, supporting the D.C. Safe and Beautiful Task Force. These National Guard service members provide critical support, including crowd management, presence patrols, and perimeter control, in support of law enforcement. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Amber Peck)
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WVU expands global impact through Gabon apointment, with support from WVNG

As part of the West Virginia National Guard’s state partnership with Gabon, West Virginia University is now expanding its global footprint through education and cooperation. Dr. Christopher Martin, a professor at the WVU School of Medicine and WVU School of Public Health and director of Global Engagement at Health Sciences, represented WVU at a signing ceremony that formalized the partnership between West Virginia and Gabon through the National Guard Bureau’s State Partnership Program
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Patriot Pop-Up’ Opens at Capitol Market, Showcasing Veteran Entrepreneurs

On Tuesday, Aug. 7, the West Virginia National Guard’s Patriot Guardens program joined Charleston, West Virginia’s Capitol Market and community partners for a ribbon-cutting ceremony to officially open the “Patriot Pop-Up”. Coinciding with National Market Week, it highlights continued collaboration between agriculture and veteran entrepreneurship in West Virginia. The Patriot Pop-Up is a dedicated space at Capitol Market for Veterans to sell and highlight both products and small veteran-run businesses.
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Patriot Pop-Up’ Opens at Capitol Market, Showcasing Veteran Entrepreneurs

On Tuesday, Aug. 7, the West Virginia National Guard’s Patriot Guardens program joined Charleston, West Virginia’s Capitol Market and community partners for a ribbon-cutting ceremony to officially open the “Patriot Pop-Up”. Coinciding with National Market Week, it highlights continued collaboration between agriculture and veteran entrepreneurship in West Virginia. The Patriot Pop-Up is a dedicated space at Capitol Market for Veterans to sell and highlight both products and small veteran-run businesses.
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Patriot Pop-Up’ Opens at Capitol Market, Showcasing Veteran Entrepreneurs

On Tuesday, Aug. 7, the West Virginia National Guard’s Patriot Guardens program joined Charleston, West Virginia’s Capitol Market and community partners for a ribbon-cutting ceremony to officially open the “Patriot Pop-Up”. Coinciding with National Market Week, it highlights continued collaboration between agriculture and veteran entrepreneurship in West Virginia. The Patriot Pop-Up is a dedicated space at Capitol Market for Veterans to sell and highlight both products and small veteran-run businesses.
Details Download

Patriot Pop-Up’ Opens at Capitol Market, Showcasing Veteran Entrepreneurs

On Tuesday, Aug. 7, the West Virginia National Guard’s Patriot Guardens program joined Charleston, West Virginia’s Capitol Market and community partners for a ribbon-cutting ceremony to officially open the “Patriot Pop-Up”. Coinciding with National Market Week, it highlights continued collaboration between agriculture and veteran entrepreneurship in West Virginia. The Patriot Pop-Up is a dedicated space at Capitol Market for Veterans to sell and highlight both products and small veteran-run businesses.
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Ridge Runner Irregular Warfare Exercise 2025

The Ridge Runner Irregular Warfare Program is operated by the West Virginia National Guard and provides an exercise venue for Special Operations Forces (SOF) to train and validate units prior to deployment. Originally established in the 1980s as a personnel recovery exercise, the program refocused on multi-domain irregular Warfare (IW) operations to meet current emerging great power competition training requirements.
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Ridge Runner Irregular Warfare Exercise 2025

The Ridge Runner Irregular Warfare Program is operated by the West Virginia National Guard and provides an exercise venue for Special Operations Forces (SOF) to train and validate units prior to deployment. Originally established in the 1980s as a personnel recovery exercise, the program refocused on multi-domain irregular Warfare (IW) operations to meet current emerging great power competition training requirements.
Details Download

Ridge Runner Irregular Warfare Exercise 2025

The Ridge Runner Irregular Warfare Program is operated by the West Virginia National Guard and provides an exercise venue for Special Operations Forces (SOF) to train and validate units prior to deployment. Originally established in the 1980s as a personnel recovery exercise, the program refocused on multi-domain irregular Warfare (IW) operations to meet current emerging great power competition training requirements.
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Exercise Ridge Runner 2017

Estonian Special Operations Force soldiers, along with U.S. Army Special Operations Forces Soldiers with 10th Special Forces Group (Airborne) and soldiers of the West Virginia National Guard, quickly move to assault a building containing high-value adversary targets during an air-assault training exercise as part of Exercise Ridge Runner Feb. 23, 2017 in West Virginia. Ridge Runner is an exercise hosted by the West Virginia National Guard involving U.S. and NATO special operations forces focused on unconventional warfare. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. 1st Class Jeff Smith)
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Exercise Ridge Runner 2017

U.S. Army Special Operations Forces Soldiers assigned to 10th Special Forces Group (Airborne) provide security during an assault training exercise as part of Exercise Ridge Runner Feb. 14, 2017 in West Virginia. Ridge Runner is an exercise hosted by the West Virginia National Guard involving U.S. and NATO special operations forces focused on unconventional warfare. (U.S. Army photo by Pfc. Christopher Stevenson)
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West Virginia Army National Guard Medical Readiness Detachment Earns National Recognition for FY2024

Pfc. DA-Aldo Prince, Virgin Islands National Guard, receives a dental examination from Maj. Gerald Clark, West Virginia National Guard, during the VING’s annual Periodic Health Assessment held on St. Croix, VI, May 19, 2018. The assessment is designed to measure a Soldier’s current state of health and their ability to deploy. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Army Sgt. Priscilla Desormeaux)
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West Virginia Army National Guard Medical Readiness Detachment Earns National Recognition for FY2024

West Virginia Army National Guard Spc. Amia Adkins adjusts a Soldier's hands before a dental x-ray during a yearly Physical Health Assessment Feb. 3, 2018, at the Medical Detachment in Charleston. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Sgt. Zoe Morris)
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