Our streets might soon see a new kind of law and order with the National Guard rolling out a massive "quick reaction force" to handle civil unrest.
The Hill reported that a leaked memo from October 8 reveals the National Guard is assembling a force of around 23,500 troops, trained for crowd control and civil disturbances, with a target operational date of January 1, 2026, spanning nearly every state, Puerto Rico, and Guam.
This all kicked off with President Trump’s executive order on August 25, mobilizing the D.C. National Guard to the capital over claims of rampant crime—despite data showing crime rates have actually dropped there over the past two years.
Since that order, D.C. Guard members have been tasked with odd jobs like trash pickup and mulch laying for over two months, which raises eyebrows about whether this is about safety or optics.
Trump has also activated the Guard in Los Angeles to manage mostly peaceful protests over immigration enforcement policies, while attempts to deploy troops to Portland and Chicago were halted by court rulings.
Critics argue this pattern of sending military forces to Democrat-led cities smacks of using the Guard to push a political narrative rather than address genuine crises. Still, supporters might see it as a long-overdue response to urban chaos, even if the stats don’t always back up the rhetoric.
Turning to the leaked memo, signed by Maj. Gen. Ronald Burkett orders each state to train 500 service members for this quick reaction force, with smaller numbers for places like Delaware (250), Alaska (350), and Guam (100).
The Pentagon is stepping in with military trainers to ensure these units are ready by the target date, and each state will get 100 sets of crowd control gear—Tasers, pepper spray, batons, and shields included.
These troops aren’t just standing around; they’ll be drilled in riot control formations, baton use, and de-escalation techniques, with monthly progress reports required through a defense readiness system.
A Guard member told Task & Purpose, “This is different because we’re essentially establishing a unit for space to respond to civilian activities.”
Let’s unpack that: setting up a standing force for domestic issues feels like a shift from the Guard’s usual disaster-response role—more like prepping for dissent than hurricanes. Is this precaution or overreach?
Another Guard member added to Task & Purpose, “We are ready to go when we’re called upon.” That readiness is admirable, but the question lingers: called upon for what, exactly, when the crises cited often seem more political than practical?
Historically, national quick reaction forces aren’t new—think Hurricane Katrina in 2005, when troops were mobilized for genuine emergencies in New Orleans. Today’s context, though, feels less about natural disasters and more about narrative control.
Meanwhile, a separate Pentagon memo from September ordered the D.C. Guard to form a specialized military police battalion for public order in the capital, further centralizing this push for readiness.