Gov. Greg Gianforte is sending 150 Army National Guard soldiers to help with security duties in Washington D.C. for the upcoming presidential inauguration.
Montana Army National Guard soldiers are joining upwards of 21,000 Guard troops from around the country for Wednesday’s inauguration of President-Elect Joe Biden. They include soldiers from Billings, Malta, Glasgow and Lewistown. Members of Belgrade’s 1-163rd Combined Arms Battalion are helping support the mission.
A press release from the governor’s office says the request for Montana troops came from the federal National Guard Bureau and other federal authorities.
Montana National Guard spokesman Dan Bushnell tells MTPR they have fielded no requests to deploy troops around Montana in advance of inauguration day.