As tradition and history dictates, each Presidential Inauguration calls on the military to provide ceremonial support in the form of an integrated total force.
“You would be surprised how much organization and planning it takes,” said U.S. Navy Senior Chief Petty Officer Michael Bartsch, a logistics specialist working with JTF-NCR in support of the 58th Presidential Inauguration.
Joint Task Force-National Capital Region (JTF-NCR) consists of service members from all branches of the military – Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force and Coast Guard –active, National Guard and Reserve – executing their mission as one.
JTF-NCR also supports numerous civilian agencies involved in the Presidential Inauguration and works to bring synergy operating together during the swearing-in of the 45th Commander in Chief.
Much of the planning involves coordination with the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies, the Presidential Inaugural Committee, federal law enforcement agencies and emergency management partners.
Bartsch is a Navy Reservist with 25 years in service. His role as ceremonies senior noncommissioned officer is to help organize the outgoing president’s departure ceremony.
The departure ceremony begins when former President Barack Obama leaves the United States Capitol aboard a Marine Corps helicopter after the swearing-in of President-elect Donald J. Trump. The helicopter will travel to Joint Base Andrews where the former President and family will board Air Force One (which will be redesignated with a Special Mission call sign) to depart D.C. and assume his new position as one of five living former Presidents of the United States.
When Bartsch is not assigned to a mission, he is a Collinsville School District teacher in Maryville, Illinois. He said he found the Presidential Inauguration mission interesting and volunteered to be a part of history.
“I was excited to participate in the peaceful transition of power from one civilian leader to another,” said Bartsch.
So far the mission has been a unique experience for Bartsch, who was afforded an opportunity to visit the White House grounds and the Pentagon.
However, while he has been in the area Bartsch has not skipped his chance to spend quality time with family.
“I have been able to show my wife, my son and his fiancée around,” he added.
Reflecting on his experience so far, Bartsch said he was surprised how diverse and interesting he found the Nation’s Capital area.
“[The] best part [of the mission] is always the people, the worst part is the traffic,” Bartsch joked.