Hail to the chief: preparations for the inauguration began more than a year ago when the first Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines and Coast Guard members started filtering into temporary offices at Fort McNair in Washington, D.C

THE world will watch as the president of the United States is inaugurated on the steps of the nation's Capitol Jan. 20. The procession will appear seamless, but to the 710 military members assigned to Joint Task Force--Armed Forces Inaugural Committee, the event will culminate months of hard work.

JTF-AFIC is a joint-service organization established every four years to coordinate Department of Defense support with civilian planning committees. Military support is primarily ceremonial, occurring at such events as gala parties, dinners, the swearing-in ceremony and inaugural parade.

"We have an important and challenging mission, and with all great missions come great responsibilities," said Air Force Brig. Gen. Duane J. Lodrige, deputy commander of JTF-AFIC. "The entire world will be watching the nonpartisan celebration of our democratic values."

Preparations for the event began more than a year ago when the first Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines and Coast Guard members started filtering into temporary offices at Fort McNair in Washington, D.C. The first arrivals established computer networks and acquired equipment ranging from phones to vehicles.

"Planning for this inauguration began nearly 15 months before the actual ceremony," said COL John Spinelli, chief of staff. "Early on, the focus was on establishing a sound organization with the capability to conduct detailed planning and coordination."

Directorates under JTF-AFIC are in charge of military personnel, operations, logistics, communications, ceremonies, legal and public affairs, said Spinelli.

Plans made by JTF-AFIC must be flexible, however. The bulk of decision-making authority rests in the hands of the Presidential Inaugural Committee, which is assigned after the election. The PIC is a private, nonprofit committee appointed by the president-elect to organize, plan and execute most events during the 10-day inaugural period.

"The PIC is one of our 'customers' for ceremonial support," said Spinelli. "They ask us for military support, and we provide support consistent with DOD policy guidance."

The JTF-AFIC Ceremonies Division plans, coordinates and executes joint-service ceremonial support for events at the U.S. Capitol and the White House.

"Ceremonies Division is actually the part of JTF-AFIC that executes the mission," said Army MAJ Gray Cockerham, the division's logistics coordinator.

"We play the biggest role, in the sense of getting the public-viewed elements of military support in place," said Coast Guard Capt. Donald Grant, the ceremonies division's deputy director. "In the end, all the directorates within JTF-AFIC support us, and we in turn are supporting all of the elements that come in from outside."

The Ceremonies Division is responsible for the color guard at the president's arrival in the East Capitol, the Marine Band, the ushers, the street cordons and coordinating support elements for the inaugural parade.

The JTF-AFIC works alongside the FBI, U.S. Secret Service and U.S. Park Police to ensure security is provided to dignitaries and in areas surrounding inaugural events.

"Security considerations in this post-9/11 environment are certainly our top concern," said Spinelli. "We must ensure our planned ceremonial-support activities are fully integrated into all security planning for this inaugural."

JTF-AFIC also coordinates closely with the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies, a committee of senators and representatives that executes the swearing-in ceremony.

"I always tell everybody that if you were going to equate the inaugural committee to a football team, we're not the players," Grant said. "We're the coaches, the trainers--all the support elements that ensure the players have all the tools and support they need to give the best light to the military for the inauguration."

SSG Christine Thompson is a member of JTF-AFIC.

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