Patch ID: How to tell the difference between cops and troops at inauguration

As Donald Trump prepares to be inaugurated as the 47th president of the US, security is a high priority with roughly 8,000 US National Guard personnel being called into action.

To ensure that attendees can know who is who and avoid confusion, National Guard leaders have a new special shoulder patch with the Guard motto "Always Ready, Always There".

During the Washington Capitol building attack, on 6 January 2021, the chaos made it nearly impossible to know who to trust.

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This new patch hopes to "make sure it's easier to identify who's participating for the National Guard", said US Brigadier General Leland Blanchard II, adjutant general of the Washington DC Guard.

It will "connect each of the participants from the National Guard back to the mission set, back to what they're doing and the importance of participating in this peaceful transition", he added.

The distinctive new patch is red, white and blue and also depicts a minuteman, a long-standing symbol of the Guard that gives a nod to the Revolutionary War.

Officials say the US has stepped up its security, and is far more prepared this year for any emergency or incident, but believe that the latest transfer of power will be less violent and threatening than it was in 2021 – when about 25,000 Guard troops descended on the city in the wake of the siege at the Capitol.

The Virginia National Guard soldiers have been seen establishing traffic control points throughout the capital supporting the inauguration.

They continue a legacy that began in 1789, when their predecessors escorted George Washington to the first inauguration.

These National Guard service members provide "critical support" such as crowd management, traffic control points, CBRN response, civil disturbance response, and sustainment operations.

"Their expertise and seamless collaboration with interagency partners help ensure a safe and peaceful transition of power during this historic event," said the US Department of Defence.