On January 20, 2025, soldiers from the Veterinary Readiness Activity at Fort Belvoir supported the 60th Presidential Inauguration (PI60). The team provided essential food protection and veterinary medical support to ensure the safety and success of the event.
As part of the planning efforts, MAJ Looman-Nelson and CW4 Ward augmented the Joint Task Force-National Capital Region (JTF-NCR) Surgeon's cell, while Military Working Dog (MWD) care was coordinated with support from the 72nd Medical Veterinary Service Support (MDVSS) teams.
Personnel from VRA, Fort Belvoir were deployed to provide critical support in two key areas: food protection and equine veterinary care. A team of experts, including CW4 Ward, CW2 Eubanks, CW2 Jones, WO1 Lauer, SFC Laine, and SGT Mendez, worked tirelessly to ensure the safety of food and water for participants and attendees. Additionally, MAJ Roberts, CPT Bright, and CPT Brown provided vital equine veterinary support to the Joint Task Force-Parade, caring for over 250 horses that traveled to the National Capital Region to participate in the Inauguration Parade.
The significance of veterinary personnel in supporting PI60 cannot be overstated. By providing food protection and military working animal care, they greatly improved the Anti-Terrorism/Force Protection (AT/FP) posture at this high-profile event. The successful execution of this mission required extensive coordination and collaboration between VRA, Fort Belvoir, JTF-NCR, and multiple federal and state agencies to ensure seamless coverage.
The outcome of the VRA, Fort Belvoir’s efforts was a resounding success. Through their oversight of food protection and veterinary medical support, they ensured the safety of personnel and animals participating in PI60 activities and ceremonies. Their dedication and expertise played a vital role in making the 60th Presidential Inauguration a secure and memorable event.
VRA, Fort Belvoir team's contributions to PI60 demonstrate the importance of veterinary personnel in supporting national security efforts. Their selfless service and commitment to excellence are a testament to the professionalism and expertise of the Army's Veterinary Corps.