Arizona National Guard not planning to send units to Washington

PHOENIX (AP) — The Arizona National Guard has no orders to send units to the nation’s Capitol to assist with security during the presidential inauguration next week, an Arizona National Guard spokesman said Friday.

In the wake of the breach of the U.S. Capitol last week, National Guards from multiple states are sending thousands of soldiers to Washington to help provide security for the inauguration.

However, the only Arizona personnel going are approximately 25 individual volunteers, mostly Air National Guard personnel, to help with administrative and support roles related to the inauguration itself, Maj. Kyle Key told The Associated Press.

“It’s a tradition because the inauguration is a national security event,” Key said.

President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris will be sworn in on Wednesday.

Key said the 300 soldiers belonging to the Arizona National Guard’s two companies of military police are training while on standby and are ready to deploy within two hours if needed.

“They train every day. They’re at the ready. They can deploy,” Key said of the two companies.

One of the two companies has been designated as the Army National Guard’s quick reaction force for the western half of the country.