Overview
- About 300 Hoosier soldiers arrived Saturday to support local and federal authorities through community safety patrols and traffic-control posts.
- Lt. Col. Derek Sutton said the contingent's goal is to help create a safer environment and support civil authorities through a visible presence.
- Troops trained since mid-November at Camp Atterbury on response, crowd management and de-escalation, with additional training continuing in Washington alongside Joint Task Force–District of Columbia.
- Gov. Mike Braun authorized the deployment at the president's request, and Indiana officials estimate the mission will last up to four months.
- Indiana joins multi-state Guard rotations in the capital, with Ohio extended to Feb. 28, as scrutiny grows following the shootings of two West Virginia guardsmen and the president's stated plan to add 500 more troops.