COLUMBIA, SC Since the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, a ring of surface-to-air missiles has encircled Washington, D.C., prepared to shoot down any aerial threat to the nations capital be it piper cub, commercial airliner or enemy fighter.

Today, more than 200 soldiers from the South Carolina National Guard are manning those missiles, perched atop buildings at several locations around the city, in a yearlong deployment that began in April.

It is the fourth time that the unit the 263rd Army Air and Missile Defense Command and its subordinate 2-263rd Air Defense Artillery Battalion has held that important job in the past 10 years.

Most people in Washington, D.C., dont realize that they are surrounded by missiles and the number of rooftops these things are on, said Maj. Gen. Glenn Bramhall, a Spartanburg native who commands the 263rd. It doesnt get the media attention. Its low key. There are no special badges or medals. But the overall Army and the military know who we are and trust us to protect the capital.

The unit is one of only four theater-size air defense commands in the U.S. Army, and the only one in a state national guard. The mission is one of myriad specialized units and unique assignments handled by the military in South Carolina active duty, Reserve or Guard which are generally unknown to the general public.

It also exemplifies the many missions handled by the S.C. Guard, one of the nations most active.

It shows the diversity of the people we have and our ability to handle the missions that come our way, said Maj. Gen. Robert Livingston, the state adjutant general and the Guards commander.

The 263rd has two functions: The command and control element that coordinates with the FBI, Secret Service, Army, Air Force and NORAD, called Joint Air Defense Operations Center; and the men and woman of the 2-263rd Battalion who man the batteries.

Its rare that both the command and control and battery operations are filled by soldiers from one state.

It talks about the nations confidence in our ability to do that job, Livingston said. Its inter-agency. Its FBI, Secret Service, all of that.

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SC soldiers mission: Protect the nations capitol