WASHINGTON (7News) — More than 300 National Guardsmen from South Carolina will be in the Nation’s Capital soon after their move was authorized by Gov. Henry McMaster.
The announcement comes a week after two West Virginia National Guard troops, Sarah Beckstrom and Andrew Wolfe, were shot blocks from the White House in what officials described as a targeted attack by an Afghan National.
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Beckstrom died days after the shooting, and Wolfe remains in critical condition.
Immediately following the shooting, Department of War Secretary Pete Hegseth said 500 additional guards would be deployed to D.C.
With those 500, and now the addition of 300 from South Carolina, there will be around 800 new troops in the District.
Before this announcement, 7News received numbers from D.C. National Guard to get an idea of how many troops are currently in the city.
D.C. National Guard: 899 (As of Dec. 1)Out of District support: 1,300 (As of Dec. 1)
The mission of the South Carolina guardsmen will be to support law enforcement in D.C. and keep all residents, workers and visitors safe, South Carolina Maj. Karla N. Evans said.
The soldiers will arrive by the end of the week, and will be briefed with the most relevant information pertaining to security. They will also go through additional training.
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The soldiers are part of the 1st Battalion, 178th Field Artillery Regiment unit, and commanded by Lt. Col. W. Brunson De Pass III.
“The Battalion has deployed to Iraq, Afghanistan and has mobilized as part of Defense Support of Civil Authorities, in the state of South Carolina with extreme success,” said De Pass.Comment with Bubbles
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This is the South Carolina National Guard’s second rotation to Washington, D.C.