(WEEK) -- Governor JB Pritzker is activating nearly 200 members of the Illinois National Guard to support the 59th presidential inauguration.
About 45 of those are security forces airmen coming from the 182nd Airlift Wing along with the 183rd Wing based in Springfield and the 126th Air Refueling Wing out of Scott Air Force Base. An additional 30 airmen from the Air National Guard will be activated to provide communication, logistics and religious support, according to a release.
Around 100 Illinois Army National Guard military police from the 404th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade's 33rd Military Police Battalion will also be activated to support the inauguration. The battalion is based in Bloomington with subordinate units in Springfield, Freeport and Fort Sheridan.
A small medical team is also being activated to support the military police.
Around 10 soldiers from the Bartonville-based 5th Civil Support Team will support the District of Columbia National Guard's 33rd Civil Support team.
“Supporting the presidential inauguration is a great opportunity for the Illinois National Guard to be part of history and represent the state of Illinois,� said Maj. Gen. Richard Neely, the Adjutant General of Illinois and Commander of the Illinois National Guard. “Our Soldiers and Airmen are highly trained and I have full confidence in their abilities to support local and federal agencies as needed.�
