The MDW can trace its origin back to the American Civil War when it was formed on 12 March 1862, as the Military District of Washington, and it included the areas of the District of Columbia, Alexandria, Virginia, and Fort Washington, Maryland. It was first under the command of Bvt. Major General
James S. Wadsworth. It became part of the
Department of Washington under the
22nd Army Corps on 2 February 1863 and it was disbanded in 1869. The MDW was reformed in 1921 when the War Department created the District of Washington. Today MDW is one of the Army's major commands. Its installations include
Fort McNair, the nation's third-oldest military post still in use, and
Fort Myer, Gen. Philip Sheridan's cavalry showplace and site of the first military aircraft flight. The District of Washington initially included
Fort Washington, Md.,
Fort Hunt, Va., the District of Columbia and Fort Myer. With the dissolution of the District of Washington in 1927, the commanding general of the
16th Infantry Brigade at
Fort Hunt became responsible for conducting military ceremonies and administering discipline to service members in the nation's capital. In 1936, the Washington Provisional Brigade was organized, thus relieving the 16th Infantry Brigade. The Provisional Brigade was formed around elements of the
12th Infantry Regiment,
3rd Cavalry Regiment,
10th Cavalry Regiment and the
16th Field Artillery Regiment. In 1942, about five months after the U.S. entered
World War II, the War Department created the U.S. Army Military District of Washington to plan for a ground defense of the nation's capital. MDW was headquartered during those years in "temporary" buildings at
Gravelly Point, Virginia., near
Washington National Airport. It moved to Second Street, S.W., in Washington, D.C., in the early 1960s, and to its present headquarters at Fort Lesley J. McNair in 1966. Although MDW's mission has remained the same, it has gained, lost and regained various installations and support responsibilities over the years.
Vint Hill Farms and
Arlington Hall Station, both in Virginia, and
Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C., were once part of MDW.
Cameron Station and
Davison Army Airfield, near
Fort Belvoir, joined MDW in the 1950s. In 1980 MDW gained responsibility for the administration and daily operation of
Arlington National Cemetery, in addition to the ceremonial support the command has always provided. The Military District of Washington is also responsible for organizing
Presidential inaugurations every four years, as well as championship parades for all of Washington's sports teams. From 1953 to 2003 the Armed Forces Inaugural Committee (AFIC) coordinated military support to the
Presidential Inaugural Committee (PIC) and the
Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies (JCCIC). Beginning in 2003, the AFIC mission was assumed by the
Joint Task Force-National Capitol Region (JTF-NCR). The military has participated in inaugural day ceremonies since President
George Washington. The ten-day celebration surrounding the
second inauguration of Richard Nixon in 1973 was impacted by the death of former President
Lyndon B. Johnson, just two days into Nixon's new term. The remainder of the ceremonies were cancelled, as the military would have to deal with the
state funeral for the nation's 36th president. Because of the inauguration, all the military men who participated in the inauguration participated in the state funeral. == Organization ==