WASHINGTON – Military escorts, marching bands, color guards, honor cordons, firing details, and salute batteries will be part of the celebration of President Bush’s second swearing-in next month – just as they have been for other inaugurations.

The military’s official ceremonial duties won’t be much, if any, different from inaugurations past despite the heavy emphasis Mr. Bush’s wartime service-and-freedom-themed inauguration will place on the armed services.

“From what I’ve seen so far, it’s very traditional military support,” Air Force Brigadier General Duane J. Lodrige, deputy commander of the Joint Task Force-Armed Forces Inaugural Committee, said during a briefing for reporters yesterday at the D.C. Armory. “It’s almost cookie-cutter the way we do things every four years.”

The only difference, General Lodrige said, is that personnel from the five military branches – Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, and Coast Guard – likely will turn out in larger numbers as they attend several events the Presidential Inauguration Committee is hosting in their honor.

On Wednesday, that committee announced the theme of the January 20 inauguration – “Celebrating Freedom,Honoring Service”- and a schedule of events that includes a salute to the troops and a commander in chief’s ball for those who served in Iraq or Afghanistan and their families.

“The president made it very clear that he wants to recognize the military as a part of this,” said the committee’s deputy director of operations, Ed Cowling.

The military has played a role in every presidential inauguration since George Washington’s on April 30, 1789. Then, Army soldiers escorted the president-elect to Federal Hall in New York City for his swearing-in ceremony.

Over the years,the military’s involvement in the inaugural ceremonies increased to the point that the Defense Department created the Joint Task Force-Armed Forces Inaugural Committee in the 1950s to coordinate military involvement across all five branches.

“Our mission is strictly ceremonial support,” said Navy Captain Curtis Reilly, a spokesman for the task force. The Secret Service is the lead agency on security, although the military will provide personnel and equipment for the first post-September 11 inauguration.

The armed services will participate in the nine gala balls, prayer services, dinners,and youth events.The biggest event that falls under the military’s ceremonial auspices is the inaugural parade.

About 400 military members will escort the president’s car along Pennsylvania Avenue, from the Capitol to the White House.

As Mr. Bush crosses 4th Street NW near the Mall, 14 giant floats, 45 marching bands from across the country, 48 marching units, and thousands of dignitaries and representatives from every state will fall in behind him.The military estimates about 10,000 participants.

Once Mr. Bush reaches the White House, he will climb onto a viewing platform to watch the remainder of the parade.