United States Army Military District of Washington

The United States Army Military District of Washington (MDW) is one of nineteen major commands of the United States Army. It is headquartered in Fort Lesley J. McNair in Washington, D.C. The missions of the units in the Military District of Washington include ceremonial tasks as well as a combat role in the defense of the National Capital Region.

The Military District of Washington also represents the U.S. Army in the Joint Task Force – National Capital Region (JTF-NCR), as well as oversight of all ceremonial operations in Arlington National Cemetery.

The current Commanding General of the Military District of Washington is Major General Antoinette Gant. The Commanding General, Chief of Staff, and Command Sergeant Major of the Military District of Washington hold the same positions at the JTF-NCR, which supervises military planning for the defense of the National Capital Region.

The MDW can trace its origin back to the American Civil War when it was formed on 12 March 1862, as the Military District of Washington, and it included the areas of the District of Columbia, Alexandria, Virginia, and Fort Washington, Maryland. It was first under the command of Bvt. Major General James S. Wadsworth.^[1] It became part of the Department of Washington under the 22nd Army Corps on 2 February 1863 and it was disbanded in 1869.^[2]

The MDW was reformed in 1921 when the War Department created the District of Washington.^[3] Today MDW is one of the Army's major commands. Its installations include Fort McNair, the nation's third-oldest military post still in use, and Fort Myer, Gen. Philip Sheridan's cavalry showplace and site of the first military aircraft flight.^[4]

The District of Washington initially included Fort Washington, Md., Fort Hunt, Va., the District of Columbia and Fort Myer. With the dissolution of the District of Washington in 1927, the commanding general of the 16th Infantry Brigade at Fort Hunt became responsible for conducting military ceremonies and administering discipline to service members in the nation's capital. In 1936, the Washington Provisional Brigade was organized, thus relieving the 16th Infantry Brigade. The Provisional Brigade was formed around elements of the 12th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Cavalry Regiment, 10th Cavalry Regiment and the 16th Field Artillery Regiment.^{[citation needed ]}

In 1942, about five months after the U.S. entered World War II, the War Department created the U.S. Army Military District of Washington to plan for a ground defense of the nation's capital.^[5]

MDW was headquartered during those years in "temporary" buildings at Gravelly Point, Virginia., near Washington National Airport. It moved to Second Street, S.W., in Washington, D.C., in the early 1960s, and to its present headquarters at Fort Lesley J. McNair in 1966.^[5]

During the World War II era, MDW was gradually reorganized as a service-and-support command. One of MDW's main responsibilities was servicing the newly built Pentagon through the Army Headquarters commandant. The United States Army Band, "Pershing's Own," also became an integral part of the command's ceremonial mission during this period.

At the end of World War II, the 3rd Infantry Regiment (The Old Guard) was deactivated in Germany. This regiment, the oldest U.S. infantry unit, was reactivated in 1948 and assigned to MDW to meet the command's tactical commitments and for military ceremonies.^[6]

Although MDW's mission has remained the same, it has gained, lost and regained various installations and support responsibilities over the years. Vint Hill Farms and Arlington Hall Station, both in Virginia, and Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C., were once part of MDW. Cameron Station and Davison Army Airfield, near Fort Belvoir, joined MDW in the 1950s.

In 1980 MDW gained responsibility for the administration and daily operation of Arlington National Cemetery, in addition to the ceremonial support the command has always provided.^[5]

In 1987 MDW's support responsibilities for the Pentagon were transferred to the Washington Headquarters Services. Fort Belvoir became a major subordinate command in 1988.

In 1992 Davison Aviation Command was reorganized as the Operational Support Airlift Command, with responsibilities for fixed-wing Army aircraft support throughout the United States. Additionally, they provide rotary-wing (helicopter) support to Army leadership and distinguished officials in the National Capital Region.^[5]

In April 1993, MDW reorganized its MACOM staff and the Fort Myer Military Community formed a garrison staff to support Forts Myer and McNair, and Cameron Station.^[5]

On 1 October 1993, Fort Meade, and Fort Ritchie in Maryland, and A.P. Hill in Virginia joined the MDW family of installations. The command more than doubled in size as MDW went from four posts totaling 9,802 acres (39.67 km²) to eight posts totaling 91,889 acres (371.86 km²). The number of service members and civilians on MDW installations also increased from 16,166 to 61,531.^[5]

Cameron Station officially closed on 30 September 1995. Most of the organizations were relocated to either Fort Belvoir or Fort Myer.

Fort Hamilton, New York, became the newest member of MDW's family of installations when it was transferred to MDW from U.S. Army Forces Command 6 October 1997. The post is 172 years old.^[5]

On 10 June 2010, Secretary of the Army John M. McHugh rescinded MDW's responsibility for the administration and daily operation of Arlington National Cemetery. However, MDW still maintains ceremonial support for funerals and guarding the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.^[5]

Current units commanded by the district include;^[11]

• The United States Army Band "Pershing's Own"
• The United States Army Field Band
• Regimental Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment (The Old Guard)
  • Caisson Platoon
  • Commander-in-Chief's Guard
  • Continental Color Guard
  • The Old Guard Fife and Drum Corps
  • Presidential Salute Battery
  • Tomb of the Unknown Soldier Sentinels
  • The United States Army Drill Team
  • 1st Battalion, 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment (The Old Guard) (Infantry)
    • Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion
    • B Company
    • C Company
    • D Company
    • H Company
    • 1st Battalion Chaplains Group
  • 4th Battalion, 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment (The Old Guard) (Ceremonial)
    • Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 4th Battalion
    • 529th Regimental Support Company
    • A Company
    • Honor Guard Company
    • 289th Military Police Company
    • Regimental Fife and Drum Corps
• United States Army Transportation Agency
• The Army Aviation Brigade
  • United States Army Priority Air Transportation (Jet) Detachment
  • 12th Aviation Battalion - Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk VH-60M "Gold Top" variants are heavily modified UH-60Ms used for executive transport. Members of the Joint Chiefs, Congressional leadership, and other DoD personnel are flown on these exclusively by Alpha company 12th Aviation Battalion at Fort Belvoir, Virginia.^[12]
  • Army Aviation Brigade Airfield Division

A Priority Air Transport helicopter was involved in the 29 January, 2025 Potomac River mid-air collision.

The Joint Service Honor Guard is composed of personnel from the official honor guard (see also honour guard) units of each uniformed DOD branch. The honor guard units of each of the services are located in or near Washington D. C., and they form the ad-hoc battalion sized unit to represent the entire armed forces at numerous ceremonies of state, mostly State visits to the United States and the Armed Forces Farewell ceremony to the outgoing President before the United States presidential inauguration in January.

The following units make up the battalion:

• Echo Company, 4th Battalion, 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment (The Old Guard)
• Ceremonial Company A, Marine Barracks Washington
• United States Navy Ceremonial Guard
• United States Air Force Honor Guard
• United States Coast Guard Ceremonial Honor Guard

Since the early 1940s, the 3rd United States Infantry Regiment (The Old Guard) has served as the official escort to the President, additionally providing security for the National Capital Region during national/local emergencies.^[13]

Operationally attached to the ad-hoc battalion are five of the military bands and two field music formations designated as premier ensembles of the entire Armed Forces:

• United States Marine Band
• United States Marine Drum and Bugle Corps
• United States Navy Band
• The United States Army Band
• Old Guard Fife and Drum Corps
• United States Air Force Band
• United States Coast Guard Band

These bands take turns whenever they are assigned to perform in state ceremonies with the exception of the USMDBC, which, given that it reports directly to the office of the Commandant of the Marine Corps, can only be assigned on similar events upon his discretion. The 257th Army Band of the District of Columbia National Guard is occasionally attached if any of the bands are absent.

• Naval District Washington
• Air Force District of Washington
• Washington Headquarters Services
• Pentagon Force Protection Agency
• Protective Services Battalion
• Joint Task Force – National Capital Region

• Eicher, John H., and David J. Eicher. Civil War High Commands. Stanford, CA: Stanford University Press, 2001. ISBN 0-8047-3641-3.

• Military District of Washington
• https://web.archive.org/web/20010516210117/http://www.afic.army.mil/ - archive Armed Forces Inaugural Committee webpage from 16 May 2001