COLUMBIA, S.C. (WSPA) – On Thursday morning, over 300 soldiers from the South Carolina Army National Guard embarked on a mission to Washington, D.C. This deployment comes just a week after two Guardsmen were shot in the capital.

This 90-day mission, directed by the governor, aligns with President Trump’s initiative to maintain safety and aesthetics in Washington, D.C., under the banner “Keep D.C. Safe and Beautiful.”

Although the deployment has been planned for months, the recent shooting incident has left a mark on the soldiers and their families. Many soldiers voiced that they continue to hold the families of the affected Guardsmen in their thoughts and prayers.

“Our mission approach hasn’t changed,” stated Captain Jonathan Love, Commander of Delta Battery. “We’re just a bit more conscious of our surroundings and committed to avoiding complacency.”

Sgt. First Class Dashawn Drayton emphasized that the troops are committed to being “more vigilant, more intentional” as they head to the nation’s capital.

Seven buses carried the Guardsmen from their Midlands base early Thursday. It marks the second major deployment of South Carolina Guardsmen to Washington in the past six months. South Carolina is replacing the Georgia Army National Guard, who previously replaced their soldiers. None of the South Carolina soldiers deployed Thursday had participated in the previous mission.

Captain Love said the unit has a long history of responding effectively when called upon. “This is another opportunity for us to prove we can handle the call,” he said.

While in Washington, soldiers will undergo specialized training and acclimate to the local environment before being assigned to three and four-member patrol teams. Their responsibilities will include observing, reporting and supporting local agencies as needed.

Major General Richard Wholey, commander of the 263rd Army Air Missile Defense Command, said he is “extremely prideful” to see the troops represent both South Carolina and the nation.

Soldiers acknowledged that deploying during the holiday season, missing both Christmas and New Year’s is difficult, but said service and duty come first.

State leaders emphasized that enough Guard personnel remain in South Carolina to respond to emergencies at home.