I’m wondering, what sorts of things would the Guard have done, assuming they arrived after violence and entry into the building had already started? I assume they would have been in riot gear, but what would have been their likely strategies? Group up in tight formations and then shove and fight hand-to-hand their way up the steps and push people out of the building? Would they have used tear gas outside the Capitol to clear the crowds? Do they have the power to arrest or detain people who didn’t leave (assuming police had given orders to dispers)? Would they be armed? If so, who could authorize any soldier to fire?
Having just read the linked article, showing that there’s complete lack of certainty and confidence about even the process of how the Guard can/should be called out in D.C., I don’t see how any objectively factual answer is really possible about tactics. I guess the “do they have the power to arrest or detain people” part is factual.
Unless the article is wrong, of course, maybe the parameters are really much clearer than it suggests.
I think it can be factual if somebody with experience in policing, crowd control, or direct knowledge of what the National Guard is trained to do or has actually done in the past in addressing riots.
There is nothing the National Guard could have done in response to the Capitol on January 6th. They don’t have that kind of rapid action capability. That’s what the police are for. It would have been more likely and more beneficial to call for assistance from additional, nearby law enforcement agencies than from the National Guard.
For the National Guard to have done anything useful, they would have had to be mobilized and in place prior to the 6th. Otherwise, they’d be useless to call on the 6th as they wouldn’t arrive and be ready to do anything until at least the following day at the absolute earliest. Absent a prolonged siege of the building, it’s not the National Guard you want to call. You want to call in assistance from nearby police and Sheriffs who will send SWAT and trained riot control personnel.
Assuming the Guard were mobilized earlier, they would have massed around the Capitol to prevent protestors from breaching the barriers. As ridiculous as it sounds, they would have more likely than not been equipped with M4 Carbines but not a single round of ammunition among them. Tear gas? Also probably not. They’d have gas masks, though. They possibly could be granted powers of arrest, but most likely that would not happen. They would be there to assist local police who would be in charge of all the arresting.
In the unlikely event that any Guardsman were armed and issued ammunition, they would have been briefed on the use of force which would not have included “shoot to stop trespassers”. Rather, they would use physical, non-deadly, force to prevent protestors from trespassing and resorted to deadly force only to protect themselves or others from immediate danger of serious bodily injury or loss of life, limb or eye sight. They’re not going to shoot just to keep people back, though. Additionally, nobody would need to authorize the use of deadly force in self-defense, as that right is inherent to every person, including National Guardsmen.
Thanks for the thoughts.
FYI, they were in place (see the article) but not called. They are often used (or on standby at some local space) during inaugurations. Local law enforcement, all the way from NJ, did come.
This is what I thought completely. Now I believe they have their basic kit at home. Uniform backpack and such. My nephew does anyway. But they can’t just show up in their Toyota’s and Chevy’s
There was a unit spread across DC doing traffic control. They weren’t in place at the Capitol. Even with a unit in the area, and what they’re calling a “quick reaction” force of 40 people, it still took them several hours to show up. By then, there was nothing they could do except assist with traffic control around the perimeter. They did not show up in any great number until the following day. I don’t think there is anything those 40 people would have been able to do, even if called immediately. They would have had to be present at the very beginning to have been much help.
National Guard were called up at 2pm. 3 hours and 19 minutes later, the quick reaction force (QRF) received the orders. 20 minutes later, the QRF arrived at the Capitol.
Taking nearly 4 hours for the QRF to reach the Capitol from initial call to unloading the bus is not at all surprising. It takes time to execute an unplanned mission. The rest of the 1,100 members of the DC National Guard did not show up until the following day. That, too, is not unusual or surprising.
This should probably change. Search and rescue groups are out the door in 30 minutes or less 24/7. Most of them volunteers. Been there, done that.
No pay for that.
The National Guard would also fly Chinooks and Black Hawks for rescue missions. Air National Guard
I would think that the Guard could be on some sort of rotating schedule for what happened. I hope they will be in the future…
1/6 needed boots on the ground. A hovering Black Hawk would not hurt, and can be incredibly intimidating. That would get the attention from the rioters, and some would at least say, um no, this is probably a REAL bad idea.