Headquartered at Fort McNair in the nation's capital, the Military District of Washington (MDW) is charged with a combination of combat and ceremonial duties.

Comprised of members of the 3rd U.S. Infantry and the 12th Aviation Battalion, MDW also includes the world renowned U.S. Army Band and is responsible for all ceremonial operations at Arlington National Cemetery. As the U.S. Army component of the Joint Force Headquarters ' National Capital Region (JFHQ-NCR), the soldiers of Military District Washington, play a vital role in the planning, coordination, and execution of security operations designed to protect America's vital strategic assets located in and around Washington, D.C.

This coin salutes the tireless efforts of all the members of Military District Washington to honor the nation's military tradition and defend the nation's capital. The obverse contains a rendering of the MDW's official Shoulder Sleeve Insignia, which features a double handled sword with a red blade in the foreground and the Washington Monument in the background, symbolizing MDW's mission to protect the nation's capital. The reverse contains the Distinctive Unit Insignia of the Military District of Washington, which features a pair of crossed swords set against the national colors.

Minted in a brass alloy and finished in bronze, this coin is accented by rich enameling on both sides. Each coin comes packaged with a header card that describes the history and mission of the U.S. Army.