The National Guard In Washington Is Now Armed With M4 Assault Rifles And M17 Pistols

United States (US) soldiers exercise fire with weapons of the Karabin M4. (doc Alaska National Guard)

JAKARTA - National Guard troops deployed to Washington DC to support US President Donald Trump's efforts to reduce crime have been armed with firearms starting Sunday, August 24 evening local time.

According to a US Department of Defense official to NBC News, Monday, August 25, the majority of the National Guard soldiers will carry M17 pistols. While a small number of troops will be armed with an M4 Karabin assault rifle.

After being deployed earlier this month to Washington DC without carrying weapons, the National Guard was allowed to use their respective service weapons for self-protection and "as a last resort" in response to threats.

Several armed National Guard troops began to be seen on Sunday night while patrolling the Pepinan area in Washington. Those patrolling the area in army uniforms with the "MP" label signaled the military police.

The permits to carry firearms were issued by US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Friday last week, for about 2,000 National Guard troops in Washington.

This policy marks the change in the attitude of members of the National Guard in the field, who were previously unarmed while in charge of supporting law enforcement by assisting community security patrols, at points of traffic control and crowds.

Currently, the federal task force said it received a request from the Washington DC Police to "enhanced the presence of the National Guard at designated metro locations".

This request is a series of the start of the new school year for many schools in the Washington area.

According to the US Army, these deployed National Guard soldiers have received initial, routine, sustainable training, including "solving annual weapons qualification, before carrying weapons."

A White House official said, although armed, as of Saturday evening, August 23, no arrests had been made by National Guard forces in Washington.

He said the National Guard will continue to focus on protecting federal assets and maintaining conduciveness for other law enforcers who carry out arrest operations.