No more cold marble': National Guard in DC to get cots so they don't have to sleep on the floor

[turbinetree]

By Bob Brigham
Published January 16, 2021

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Additional steps are for the massive deployment of National Guard troops to defend the inauguration following the January 6th insurrection at the U.S. Capitol.

"The National Guardsmen providing security in the U.S. Capitol ahead of the inauguration are soon getting cots, after images went viral last week of troops sleeping on the floor in the halls of Congress," Politico reported Saturday, citing "four people familiar with the decision."

"The Army is coordinating the effort with FEMA, the Department of Homeland Security and the Joint Force Headquarters National Capital Region, said a Guardsman familiar with the planning. Officials will collect cots from National Guard armories in Maryland and Virginia and transport them to the Capitol, the person said. Many officials believe the cots are unnecessary, but the photos of Guardsmen resting on the floor of the Capitol quickly became a 'PR issue,' the person said — particularly after more than a dozen House Democrats called Thursday on the Army Secretary to send cots, bedding, shower facilities and other resources," Politico reported.

https://www.rawstory.com/dc-national-guard/

[SheltieLover]

1. Didn't they initially lie & say all troops had appropriate accommodations?

So glad they are getting cots!

[SheltieLover]

8. That's true!

Likely public pressure. So many called offering donations.

I hope they are getting hot meals!

[haele]

10. Cots will be for the rest duty areas in the Capitol.

They have accommodations for their billeting when they aren't on duty. Especially since the inauguration will basically be virtual, instead of with hundreds of thousands of visitors.

The National Guard deployment is really very good for the local tourist economy.

Haele

[Hortensis]

14. No lie. Appropriate accommodations for troops (soldiers!) rushed to put down

an insurrection and rescue those in imminent danger of being murdered are going to be whatever's where they're instructed to stop and rest. Floors inside, hardscape, lawn, truck beds, dirt outside.

Glad they'll have cots now, though. Those pix were slightly wringing my grandma's heart.

[Demsrule86]

30. Mine too...many of them are babies...not much older than my youngest.

[Hortensis]

34. :) At that age they still not so secretly often prefer to climb a fence

to walking over to a gate. I imagine the "sleeping on marble inlay in the Capitol" part of this historic deployment got old pretty fast, though, even for them.

[CentralMass]

2. They should change that "Many officials believe the cots are unnecessary" to "republicans"

[SheltieLover]

11. Right!

[XanaDUer2]

21. Exactly nt

.

[Under The Radar]

3. Don't guess Trump offered quarters at his hotel 3/4 mile away?

[Blue Owl]

5. I wish tRump was asleep on a cold slab...

[Cha]

9. Excellent.. I mean the NG is Tough..

but come on, man!

[SheltieLover]

12. No matter one's age or physical condition,

Sleeping on cold marble will cause pain!

[spooky3]

15. And many in the Guard aren't young. I had a coworker who

Last edited Sat Jan 16, 2021, 07:25 PM - Edit history (1)

was in the Guard for extra pay and benefits for his family—he was over 40.

[SheltieLover]

22. Wow!

Didn't realize this. Ty for sharing!

Makes my bursitis ache to think about it!

[spooky3]

23. Ditto!!! Nt

[Cha]

16. Yeah, & I thought "cots" the first

thing when I saw them sleeping on the Floor. 'cause that's what I'd want.

We need them in their Best Condition!

[SheltieLover]

24. Absolutely!

[Tommymac]

31. They were just on break.

Soldiers take breaks on their backs when ever they can.

They have billets elsewhere.

[Cha]

33. Ah.. good to know! TY Tmac

[Cha]

20. So right.. Well said, Chin Music!

[SheltieLover]

25. +1,000!

They should be treated exceptionally well, imo!

[magicarpet]

13. Just imagine how at the end of a day working on your feet,..

... out in the cold,... then get off shift to rest and relax on a hard cold marble floor. Limited bathrooms,... no or limited showers,.. and R.M.E. meals.

[SheltieLover]

26. Grrrrr!

Few more days & things will shift for the better!

[Tommymac]

32. Those guys were just on a break.

They lie down whenever they can. They have billets elsewhere.

[magicarpet]

35. .... just on a break....? (But not sleeping) ?

As the threat of violence ramps up in America again, hundredths of exhausted National Guard troops have been forced to sleep on the cold marble floor of the Capitol building.

Incredible images show politicians practically stepping over the troops clinging to their rifles in the hallways of the heart of the US government.

Sleeping in almost any spot they can find, some are forced to use stairs as a makeshift pillow to get some rest as they ready for a potential insurgence in the run-up to President-elect Joe Biden’s inauguration next Wednesday.


https://www.news.com.au/world/north-america/us-politics/national-guardsmen-sleep-on-capitol-building-floors-amid-threats-of-violence/news-story/80ab1b742f3dce7c949b8ac5bdf9e4f2

[Tommymac]

36. That's how soldiers roll.

They catch some shut eye whenever they can.

[magicarpet]

37. .... just on a break....? (But not sleeping...?)

"While some GOP House members complain about having to walk through metal detectors, National Guard troops spent night sleeping on marble floors of the Capitol."

https://www.newsweek.com/photos-circulate-national-guard-members-riot-gear-sleeping-capitol-1561255

[iluvtennis]

27. Excellent news! nt

[BigmanPigman]

28. This should have been done the first night.

The poor guys were using a marble step for a pillow. Where is My Pillow Guy now? Oh wait, he has been promoted to the Secretary of BS, a new cabinet position.

[judesedit]

29. At least they should have single air rafts