Pentagon deploys 500 troops as a rapid response team in each state, according to reports

National Guard Establishes Quick Response Force

The National Guard is setting up a “quick response force” (QRF) comprising around 23,500 troops trained specifically for crowd control and managing civil disturbances. This effort aims to prepare them for deployment to cities across the U.S. by early next year, as indicated by a leaked memorandum that several news outlets reported on Wednesday.

An October 8 memo, signed by Maj. Gen. Ronald Burkett, who heads operations for the National Guard Bureau, instructs the National Guards of nearly all U.S. states, along with Puerto Rico and Guam, to train about 500 service members each. States with smaller populations, like Delaware, will train 250 troops, whereas Alaska will have 350 and Guam will involve 100.

A prior memo from the Pentagon, released in September, tasked the Washington, D.C. National Guard with forming a “specialized military police battalion” dedicated to ensuring safety in the capital as necessary.

The recent memo clarifies that the Department of Defense will send military trainers to each state to ensure the QRF is operational by January 1, 2026. Additionally, each state is set to receive “100 sets of crowd control equipment,” which will include items like Tasers, pepper spray, batons, and body shields.

Requests for comment from the Department of Defense were not addressed.

Under the Trump administration, the military has increasingly been deployed to support domestic political agendas, particularly sending the National Guard to predominantly Democratic-run cities under the pretext of combating crime.

In line with an Executive Order from August 25, President Trump mobilized the D.C. National Guard despite opposition from local leaders, citing crime concerns even as data showed a decline in crime rates over the previous two years. Troops have been assisting in the city for over two months, mainly focusing on beautification efforts, like trash collection and mulching.

Furthermore, President Trump has dispatched the National Guard to Los Angeles to manage mainly peaceful protests against ICE operations, while attempts to send the Guard to cities such as Portland and Chicago face legal challenges.

A spokesperson for the National Guard stated that they are working with the Department of Defense and various states to fulfill the directives outlined in Trump’s August 25 order.

The establishment of a national rapid response force isn’t entirely new, though it usually follows crises, like Hurricane Katrina in 2005.

However, a representative from the Guard remarked, “This is different because we are essentially creating a space force to respond to civilian operations.” They emphasized readiness to act immediately when needed but clarified that they aren’t being organized for constant crowd control actions.

The memo details the training that troops will undergo, including forming small riot control teams, using riot batons, supervising crowd control, and learning techniques for de-escalating conflicts.