The Pentagon says it's streamlined the approval process for urgent use of National Guard forces in the District of Columbia.

An independent review has concluded that the Defense Department and its top leaders acted appropriately before and during the Jan. 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol.

He said Guard members are also getting training on how to identify potential insider threats. Multiple officials said the process began as the first Guard troops began deploying to D.C. more than a week ago. That could include involvement in prior investigations or terrorism-related concerns, said David Gomez, a former FBI national security supervisor in Seattle. Insider threats have been a persistent law enforcement priority in the years after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks. Gen. Daniel R. Hokanson, chief of the National Guard Bureau, has been meeting with Guard troops as they arrive in D.C. and as they gather downtown.

As of Thursday, there are roughly 7,000 Guard members in Washington, with thousands more on the way. Officials say Guard members from all 50 states, as well as the District of Columbia, are deploying to the city. As of Thursday, there are roughly 7,000 Guard members in Washington, with thousands more on the way. Officials say 3,000 to 4,000 of those Guard members are armed. Pentagon officials approved requests to have some Guard members armed with either long guns or handguns, particularly those Guard members assigned near the U.S. Capitol.

And it would require the permission of various authorities, depending on where the Guard members were stationed. He said Friday that there are new plans to have more frequent meetings with law enforcement to go over the intelligence reports so that law enforcement is better prepared. As of Thursday evening, he said Guard members in D.C. are being allowed to wear their ballistic helmets. Officer Brian D. Sicknick, 42, was hit in the head with a fire extinguisher, two law enforcement officials said. All together, 6,200 Guard members have been activated, and are expected to arrive in D.C. over the next few days.

Capitol police officers stand outside of fencing that was installed around the exterior of the Capitol grounds, Thursday, Jan. 7, 2021 in Washington. A woman was fatally shot, windows were bashed and the mob forced shaken lawmakers and aides to flee the building, shielded by Capitol Police. And as the mob descended on the building Wednesday, Justice Department leaders reached out to offer up FBI agents. The rioting and loss of control has raised serious questions over security at the Capitol for future events. Army Secretary Ryan McCarthy said that as the rioting was underway, it became clear that the Capitol Police were overrun.

Secretary of the Army Ryan McCarthy speaks about an investigation into Fort Hood, Texas at the Pentagon, Tuesday, Dec. 8, 2020, in Washington. A day after Army officials released an independent panel's report on chronic leadership failures and widespread violence at Fort Hood, lawmakers said they will ensure the Army makes long-delayed changes. Elder Fernandes, who was missing for more than a week before he was found dead about 28 miles from Fort Hood. Army leaders concluded that leadership failures contributed to the widespread crime problems at Fort Hood. The five-member panel spent three weeks at Fort Hood and conducted more than 2,500 interviews, including 647 in person.

The Army says it has fired or suspended 14 officers and enlisted soldiers at Fort Hood, Texas, and ordered policy changes to address chronic leadership failures at the base that contributed to a widespread pattern of violence including murder, sexual assaults and harassment. He also ordered a separate probe into staffing and procedures at the base's Criminal Investigation Command unit, which is responsible for investigating crimes on Fort Hood. Mejhor Morta was found near a reservoir by Fort Hood. The five-member panel spent three weeks at Fort Hood and conducted more than 2,500 interviews, including 647 in person. Fort Hood, he said, has the highest rate of positive drug tests in the Army.

Guillen, who was last seen on April 22, was laid to rest nearly four months after she is said to have been killed by a fellow soldier at Fort Hood, a U.S. Army base in Texas. McCarthy and other senior Army leaders are expected to announce the results of the review on Tuesday. Army leaders have already delayed Efflandt's planned transfer to Fort Bliss, where he was slated to take over leadership of the 1st Armored Division. In a recent video message on Twitter, McCarthy said he had reviewed the findings of the independent commission he sent to assess the command climate at Fort Hood. All together, so far this year, 25 soldiers assigned to Fort Hood have died due to suicide, homicide or accidents, compared with 32 last year and 24 in 2018.

WASHINGTON – Army Secretary Ryan McCarthy has reversed the COVID-related cancellation of an annual wreath-laying event at Arlington National Cemetery next month, following criticism on social media and pleas to the White House. President Donald Trump said later Tuesday it was he who had reversed “the ridiculous decision” to cancel the event. Each year, volunteers around the country place wreaths on the tombstones and markers of veterans as part of Wreaths Across America. The tradition began in 1992 when a Maine wreath maker donated 5,000 wreaths to Arlington. On Monday, Arlington National Cemetery announced that it was “with great regret,” cancelling the Wreaths Across America event scheduled for Dec. 19, due to COVID-19.

Army leaders said Tuesday that they have not received any requests to use active-duty or National Guard troops for possible civil unrest surrounding the presidential election next month, but are ready to do so if called on. Army Secretary Ryan McCarthy said no government agencies have asked for military troops. Thousands of National Guard troops, however, were used in Washington and in states across the nation to help law enforcement. The Army leaders on Tuesday also addressed other issues surrounding possible unrest. He and other Army leaders sat socially distant during the event and wore masks whenever they were not speaking.

LEXINGTON, Va. – Vice President Mike Pence spoke to VMI cadets on Thursday afternoon at about 3 p.m. He was joined by Secretary of the Army Ryan McCarthy who is also a VMI grad. [VMI prepares for Vice President Mike Pence’s visit to speak to cadets]School officials said they specifically requested that the vice president speaks about international affairs and defense issues.

LEXINGTON, Va. – Vice President Mike Pence will travel to Virginia next week to deliver remarks to cadets at VMI. VMI, located in Lexington, is the oldest state-supported military college in the U.S. The school said in a news release that Pence would be joined by Secretary of the Army Ryan McCarthy, who graduated from VMI in 1996. “VMI is fortunate to be able to attract such prominent speakers to provide our Corps of Cadets an opportunity to learn from their leadership,” VMI Superintendent Gen. J. H. Binford Peay said in a statement. “Both Vice President Pence and, VMI’s own, Secretary McCarthy have many experiences upon which to draw in imparting their wisdom and contributing to our mission of forming citizen soldiers.”The event is closed to the public, VMI said.

WASHINGTON The Army will take a few limited steps to counter racial divisiveness among its force, but is delaying a number of more contentious decisions, including recommendations on banning Confederate symbols and changing the names of bases. Trump two weeks ago said his administration will not even consider changing the name of any of the 10 Army bases that are names for Confederate Army officers. The Senate's top Republican, Sen. Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, has said he would be OK with renaming bases. McCarthy and Esper both had indicated this month that they were open to discussions about renaming bases, but are now relying on Congress. The Navy, which had begun steps to direct the removal of Confederate symbols, has not finalized or put in place the plan.

FILE - In this Jan. 4, 2020, file photo a sign for at Fort Bragg, N.C., is shown. (AP Photo/Chris Seward, File)WASHINGTON The U.S. military is rethinking its traditional connection to Confederate Army symbols, mindful of their divisiveness at a time the nation is wrestling with questions of race after the death of George Floyd in police hands. The Army and Air Force have not yet followed Berger's lead, but a defense official said Tuesday that the issue of banning Confederate Army symbols is now under discussion at the highest levels of the Pentagon. Ten major Army installations are named for Confederate Army officers, mostly senior generals, including Robert E. Lee. Few voices in the military are openly defending the link to Confederate symbols, but some of the bases named for Confederate officers are legendary in their own right.

FILE - In this Jan. 4, 2020, file photo a sign for at Fort Bragg, N.C., is shown. (AP Photo/Chris Seward, File)WASHINGTON The U.S. military is rethinking its traditional connection to Confederate Army symbols, mindful of their divisiveness at a time the nation is wrestling with questions of race after the death of George Floyd in police hands. The Army and Air Force have not yet followed Berger's lead, but a defense official said Tuesday that the issue of banning Confederate Army symbols is now under discussion at the highest levels of the Pentagon. Ten major Army installations are named for Confederate Army officers, mostly senior generals, including Robert E. Lee. Few voices in the military are openly defending the link to Confederate symbols, but some of the bases named for Confederate officers are legendary in their own right.

But a number of other active-duty soldiers remain on alert in the region, prepared to respond if needed. The decision to send the troops home comes as D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser has repeatedly complained about the growing contingent of National Guard troops in the city to help handle the protests,and has opposed any use of active-duty forces. The troops, known as the Old Guard, are based close to D.C. at Fort Myer, Virginia, and have been on 30-minute alert status. The active-duty troops were available, but were not used in response to the protests and never went into D.C. They were brought to the capital region early this week as protests in the city turned violent.

WASHINGTON WASHINGTON (AP) Several hundred active-duty troops brought in to help if needed with the civil unrest in the nations capitol are leaving Washington, D.C. Thursday, just a day after their initially planned departure was abruptly delayed. The remainder of the active-duty troops are expected to get pulled home in the coming days if conditions allow. The active-duty troops were available, but were not used in response to the protests. About 1,300 active-duty troops were brought in to the capital region early this week as protests in the city turned violent. The troops, known as the Old Guard, are based close to D.C. at Fort Myer, Virginia, and have been on 30-minute alert status.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Army on Friday became the first military service to announce it is shutting down all of its recruiting stations around the country in an effort to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. The Navy and Marine Corps said that they are keeping their recruiting stations open, but the services will also follow state or local guidelines. The Marine Corps, meanwhile, said recruiters are taking steps to protect themselves and any recruits that come in. “If a Navy Region directs teleworking in specific cities, counties, or states, we will switch those specific recruiting stations to 100% virtual recruiting," he said. Army leaders have increased the number of recruiters and beefed up efforts to connect with young people through online sports and similar events.