JTF-DC JIC: Preserving History

WASHINGTON — The echoes of 1918 rang out at the World War I Memorial as the Doughboy Foundation’s American Expeditionary Forces Headquarters Band played center stage, July 23, 2026, delivering a living-history performance titled “From the Trenches to Broadway.”

While the audience watched the concert, part of an ongoing summer series designed to honor the legacy of American soldiers who served on the front lines in Europe over a century ago, a Soldier worked quietly behind the scenes covering the event.

Photo By Sgt. Taylor Kurto | U.S. Army Sgt. Katlynn Pickle, a mass communication specialist with the Georgia National Guard, assigned to Joint Task Force-District of Columbia (JTF-DC) records video footage at the World War I Memorial, July 23, 2026, in Washington. Pickle, in support of the D.C. Safe and Beautiful mission, was capturing photos and videos from a summer concert series. Approximately 5,000 National Guard members are supporting the mission, providing critical assistance to the Metropolitan Police Department to help ensure the safety of residents, commuters, and visitors throughout the District. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Sgt. Taylor Kurto)

Sgt. Katlynn Pickle, a mass communication specialist from the Georgia Army National Guard, assigned to Joint Task Force-District of Columbia (JTF-DC), captured video footage of the concert series and Soldiers patrolling.

“I feel that documenting missions like this is important because people want to know what we do,” said Pickle. “I love being able to tell our story.”

Assigned to the Joint Information Center (JIC), Pickle documents the mission of National Guard service members supporting DC Safe and Beautiful. Through photography, video and written products, she helps inform the public about the mission and preserve history.

The JIC team, comprised of Soldiers and Airmen, work alongside approximately 5,000 National Guard members currently supporting the DC Safe and Beautiful mission. While JTF-DC personnel spend their days providing critical security and traffic assistance to the Metropolitan Police Department, events like the concert offer a profound reminder of the history they protect.

“Part of the Joint Information Center’s purpose is to be a conduit for internal and external communication,” said U.S. Air Force Capt. Melody Daniel, deputy director of the JIC. “Being able to show what the National Guard does in the community highlights the Joint Information Center’s ability to connect National Guard activities with community engagement.”

Throughout the mission, the JIC has produced more than 6,000 communication products, generated more than 290,000 views, supported more than 2,000 media outlets, answered countless media and public inquiries, and helped communicate the National Guard’s mission.

For fellow mass communication specialist Pfc. Christopher Lara Martinez, documenting events during this mission helps connect today’s service members with those who served before.   “Telling the story is very important because you have to tell people why something is going on, capture the emotions, and show why we’re doing this,” Lara Martinez said. “Showing the world what the Army does helps people understand our mission.”

By documenting things such as the historic concert series performance, as well as the ongoing DC Safe and Beautiful mission, the JTF-DC JIC team preserves the legacy of those who served a century ago alongside those serving in the Nation’s capital today.

“Guardsmen are community members first and foremost,” Daniel said. “The important part is to make sure that everyone who comes to Washington D.C., whether they live here, work here or they’re just a visitor, has the same safe enjoyable experience.”

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