THE NATIONAL GUARD INAUGURATION PATCH IS A NEW SECURITY FEATURE FOR GUARDSMEN

Identification comes into play for a number of reasons and security is at the forefront of them. A new National Guard inauguration patch was used on January 20, 2025, as a way to differentiate Guardsmen from other military and law enforcement working the event. Although things were much different with Trump’s latest inauguration, security measures from previous ceremonies and evolving standards have produced a unique patch for those involved.

What's the Purpose of the National Guard Inauguration Patch?

There were plenty of organizations on display for support and as security for Donald Trump’s ceremony. The National Guard inauguration patch helped distinguish Guardsmen from the rest.

Under any circumstance, identification is important, especially when security is at hand. The new patch adds a unique look but also provides the Guard with an easy way to make them stand out.

“Who Is Who?”

The new patches were brought in so that all of the Guardsmen who were a part of Trump’s inauguration would be easily recognizable. As stated as a caption for a post on the DC National Guard’s official Instagram page:

“National Guard leaders have authorized the use of a special shoulder patch with the Guard motto ‘Always Ready, Always There,’ to ensure that people coming to the #inauguration of President-elect Donald Trump on Monday will know who is who.”

It’s a little unsure why there could be some confusion in identifying the National Guard during an inauguration or similar event.

Nevertheless, there were instances involving previous racial justice protests as well as the January 6th insurrection where it became reportedly difficult to identify which organization was which once multiple came together in one area.

Patch Details

During the 2025 inauguration, National Guardsmen stood out with a unique, bright patch that was underneath the American flag patch on their uniform’s arm.

Instead of the Guard’s camo look, you’ll notice a design similar to the American flag featuring our nation’s colors, red, white, and blue, with a Minuteman from the American Revolution standing in front of our nation’s Capitol.

On the top of the circle in white lettering against a blue background is the text “60th Presidential Inauguration” with “Always Ready, Always There!” below.

The two phrases are separated by five white stars on each side, with a white border surrounding the entire patch.

The National Guard Inauguration Patch Helped Fix Past Problems

In 2021, things were a bit different. There were around 25,000 Guardsmen at the inauguration, because of the insurrection that had occurred only weeks prior.

In 2025, fewer than 8,000 troops made their way as Trump became President once more.

Troops from 40 states were activated with some deputized to act as special police during the ceremony.

It’s worth noting that the National Guard has used other techniques in the past to help itself stand out from law enforcement and other military branches, including identifying themselves explicitly on the back of their black identification vests.

Even during the 2021 presidential inauguration, a special Presidential Inauguration Support Ribbon was provided to Guardsmen who were a part of the ceremony.

Now that the event has run its course, the new National Guard inauguration patch has served its purpose but remains an interesting part of its history moving forward. It will be interesting to see if similar patches are adopted for similar causes in the future.

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