1. The Georgia Department of Defense
Georgia Army National Guard Georgia Air National Guard Georgia State Defense Force
Welcome to this brief overview of the roles and missions of the Georgia Department of Defense, a look at our organization, and a little bit about how we serve our state and the nation in times of peace and war.
Give a brief introduction about yourself and your role in the Ga. DoD.
Thank you very much for this opportunity to talk with you today.

2. The Army's chief of staff presented the ARMY Communities of Excellence Award to the Georgia Army National Guard in 2013.
The award recognized the Georgia Army National Guard as having the best business practices and dedication to efficiency, effectiveness and customer care as compared to their 53 state and territory peers.
The prize include $300,000 to be spent in installation upgrades to enhance the support given to the soldiers, families, retirees and civilian employees who work there. It also goes toward improving the morale and the quality of life for guardsmen.

3. Mission
The Georgia Department of Defense provides ready and relevant military forces to Combatant Commanders, and with consent of the Governor provides capabilities to support Homeland Defense and Defense Support to Civil Authorities.
The Georgia Guard traces its history back to the first formal militias established in the New World in These early militias were composed of citizens who served part-time.
While some Guardsmen are full-time, most of us maintain entirely separate civilian careers as did those early militia members.
But Georgia Guardsmen all have one thing in common: Our job is to serve our State anywhere, any time we’re needed – and to serve our Nation anywhere in the world.
Because of our backgrounds as civilians, because of the depth of experience we bring to our military mission, we have a unique approach to everything we do – whether in the skies over Afghanistan, or down on the ground in its deserts, or right here at home responding to a domestic emergency.

4. Organization Georgia Department of Defense President National Guard
Governor Nathan Deal Commander-in-Chief
President
Maj. Gen. Jim
Butterworth Adjutant General
National Guard
Bureau
Most folks think of us as “The National Guard,” but it’s actually a little more complex than that.
The Georgia Department of Defense is a state agency charged with coordinating and supervising all agencies and functions of the Georgia National Guard. Headquartered at Clay National Guard Center in Marietta, the Department includes the Georgia Army National Guard, the Georgia Air National Guard, and the Georgia State Defense Force.
Pictured here are the Commanders of each component: Brigadier General Joe Jarrard - Georgia Army National Guard; Major General Tom Moore - Georgia Air National Guard; and Brigadier General Tom Danielson, Georgia State Defense Force and Mr. Carlson, Deputy Adjutant General in charge of State Operations.
More on those components in a moment.
In peacetime, the Governor is our commander-in-chief. But as you can see, we also can report to the President; and we coordinate through the National Guard Bureau in Washington.
Georgia Department of Defense
State Operations
Army
National Guard
Air National Guard
State Defense Force
11,000+ Soldiers
2,800+ Airmen
800+ Members
460+ State Employees

5. The National Guard
​Guardsmen serve for one-third the cost of their active duty counterparts
​Consumes only 11% of the Army budget, yet provides 32% of Army’s total personnel
​Guardsmen serve longer and retire later than active counterparts for increased return on investment
​ 85% of Guardsman are traditional part-time service members
(Note) this is the whole National Guard, not just Georgia Guard
As you can see, the National Guard is very cost effective when compared to the Active Duty. As we negotiate a period of budgetary cutbacks, you can be sure the National Guard will be relied upon even more by the Department of Defense to carry out more missions in more places.
With our National Guardsmen serving longer, the return on investment in training is high. Our longer service also translates to our formations being led by mature and seasoned leaders, most of whom have multiple deployments around the world.
As a part time service, one of the additional strengths and capability the National Guard brings to any operation, , is our civilian acquired skills, be it war fight or defense support to civil authorities here in the states. Not only are our service members well trained and experienced in their military occupation, but their civilian experience and training is invaluable. Many times we look to our service member’s civilian abilities to accomplish the mission.

6. Deployments – more than 1500 GA Guardsmen deployed in FY 2013.
Exercise Maple Resolve
Kosovo
State Partnership - Georgia
Operation Enduring Freedom
One thing most people don’t realize is just how many places the Georgia Guard deploys on missions. On any given day in 2013, you might have found up to 1,000 Army Guardsmen and up to 200 Air Guardsmen deployed overseas.
In fact, more than 16,000 Georgia Guardsmen have deployed in support of the Global War on Terror since 9-11.
Note that the 116th Air Control Wing, based at Warner Robins AFB has been continuously deployed since 9-11 and the 48th Infantry Brigade based in Macon has served lengthy tours in both Iraq and Afghanistan.
In addition to peacekeeping missions in Kosovo, we maintain a strong state partnership with the country of Georgia and maintain a small presence there. We also conduct regular, short overseas training deployments in places like Malaysia, Scotland, Germany, and many countries in Africa such as Ghana, Benin, Brundi, Togo, and Burkina Faso.
Besides building or maintaining relationships with our allies and partners, these missions train strong, competent, insightful, experienced leaders who return to Georgia ready to serve in domestic emergencies…or to take that maturity back to their civilian workplace.
*****Discuss some of your own deployments, whether in peace or in war. Audiences typically want to know a little about your duties; what daily life was like; and how your family was impacted. It’s always good to close with a discussion of what the deployment taught you, or how you grew as a result. Feel free to add a slide with your deployment photos that help describe your experience.
Africa
 Beyond the Horizon
Qatar (OEF)
Malaysia
UNCLASSIFIED

7. Georgia Army National Guard Total Strength: 11,000+ Soldiers
78th Troop Command
Total Strength: 11,000+ Soldiers
Let’s take a look at our major components.
The Georgia Army National Guard consists of more than 11,100 Citizen-Soldiers training in hometown armories and regional facilities across the state. Georgia’s Army Guard is the 8th largest in the nation.
Each of these large units is commanded by a colonel and have separate company and battalion sized units throughout the state.
The 48th Infantry Brigade Combat Team is based in Macon, the 201st Regional Support Group in Marietta provides our Homeland Response Force capabilities, 78th Aviation Troop Command also in Marietta commands our rotary wing assets, the 560th Battlefield Surveillance Brigade in Cumming provides intelligence and reconnaissance capabilities, 648th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade in Columbus has engineer field artillery and transportation assets and our 78th Troop Command in Marietta has various training and support units.
Georgia has become well-known around the world for the high quality of its Army units, which have served with distinction in some of the most difficult combat areas.
78th Aviation Troop Command
201st Regional Support Group

8. Georgia Air National Guard Total Strength: 2,800+ Airmen
116th Air Control Wing
165th Airlift Wing
The Georgia Air National Guard consists of over 2,800 Airmen assigned to two flying wings and seven Geographically Separated Units throughout the state. Principal aircraft are the E-8C JSTARS and C-130 Hercules.
The 116th Air Control Wing at Robins Air Force Base in Warner Robins flies and maintains the Air Force's only fleet of Joint STARS (Joint Surveillance and Target Attack Radar System) aircraft. The air-to-ground surveillance radar system is capable of tracking moving ground targets from more than 150 miles away, and provides ground commanders with real time intelligence.
The 165th Airlift Wing in Savannah flies C-130 cargo aircraft carrying personnel and equipment around the world. The unit returned in 2011 from its most recent deployment to Afghanistan.
Other Air Guard units include Explosive Ordnance Disposal units, Engineering units, communications units, and many other high-tech specialties.

9. Georgia State Defense Force Total Strength: 800+ Volunteers
Re-authorized in 1973 under the Official Code of Georgia, Title 38, and the State Constitution.
Supports National Guard forces deployed on state missions and the families of federalized National Guard units.
Can be mobilized to provide immediate, short-term aid to communities.
The Georgia State Defense Force is a volunteer military unit of the Georgia Department of Defense, serving under the direction of the Governor and the Adjutant General. Volunteers are trained to assist the Guard and provide search and rescue, medical support, and disaster relief.
The SDF is what we call a “force-multiplier.” That’s military speak for a group of folks who help us do much more than we could do on our own. We’re glad to have these volunteers on our team.

10. A Statewide Impact
$680M in federal funds brought into Georgia, balanced by $9M State budget for FY 2013
$25M in state income tax generated from Guard payroll
$135M in military construction throughout the state since 2009
We have a statewide presence…in fact, of Georgia’s 159 counties, all but nine -- either have a National Guard armory or are immediately adjacent to a county with one.
Although we don’t talk about it all that much, the Georgia Guard has an incredible impact on the State’s economy. For instance, we know that the State collects more than 25 million in payroll taxes alone. And of course we pay utility bills, maintain contracts, build buildings, buy food, and everything else you can imagine.
All told, in 2011 we had about one $ billion worth of positive economic impact in Georgia. Not bad, considering that the State budget provided to us is less than one percent of that impact.
* Yellow = Georgia National Guard Armories

11. As you can see, the Georgia Guard is represented in every county.
While most of our Guardsman live near more populated areas and communities, you may notice we have one lone soul down in Echols county.
We are thinking of paying him to live down there so we can keep on saying we have a Guardsman in each county – (joke)
So, do know your Georgia National Guard truly reflects all of Georgia and that the call to service has been answered by many of your neighbors.

12. State Missions “Always Ready, Always There, ALWAYS ON TARGET!”
Counterdrug Task Force Program
Provides full-spectrum law enforcement operations
Bridges gap between DoD and civil authorities relationships and capabilities
Partners with law enforcement, community organizations and school districts
Assisted in the seizure of $144,000,000 so far in 2013
In the next couple of slides, I will discuss some of our State Missions which are unique to the National Guard.
First is the Counterdrug Task Force. The Task Force provides military support to local law enforcement across the State.
Some of that support includes training on advanced reconnaissance techniques; aerial surveillance in search of illegal drugs; and an extensive reduction and education program.
Here you can see some of the reconnaissance training we conduct, where we share our skills with law enforcement agencies.

13. State Missions “Always Ready, Always There, ALWAYS ON TARGET!”
State Partnership Program
Enduring civil-military relationship with the country of Georgia
Improves international security and builds partnership capability
Increases country of Georgia combat operations and disaster response capabilities
The State Partnership Program (SPP) was established in 1993 by the Department of Defense and the National Guard Bureau as a way to build relationships with countries after the fall of the Soviet Union. Part of that program was to line up American states with former Soviet states to exchange ideas and culture. It didn’t take long for someone to figure out that the perfect partner for Georgia was the former Soviet Republic of Georgia.
Our very long relationship with Georgia – over a decade and a half – has allowed us to foster one of the best State Partnership Programs in the country. More than just military-to-military aid, we also support civil-military operations. In fact, we’re currently in a three-year program to help them grow their ability to respond to domestic emergencies. This has involved everything from operational planning to HAZMAT considerations to public affairs training.

14. State Missions “Always Ready, Always There, ALWAYS ON TARGET!”
Youth ChalleNGe Academy
Provides "at-risk" youth academic training
22-week intensive academic programs at Ft. Gordon and Ft. Stewart
YCA graduates awarded the General Equivalency Diploma or high school diploma
Return on investment for Georgia is $2.61 for every YCA dollar spent
The Youth Challenge Academy is a 22-week, in-residence, military- styled program that emphasizes academics, the development of important life skills, and physical fitness. This helps “at-risk” high school dropouts ages complete their education and receive a G.E.D. or high school diploma. Many continue into higher education, while others return to their hometowns with marketable skills, or join the military.
This year, Georgia graduated its 12,300th cadet from the Youth Challenge Academy.

15. YOUR Georgia National Guard
FY 2013 Highlights
(1 OCT12 – 30 SEP13)
2013 Army Communities of Excellence Winner
GaDoD has highest National Guard Medical Readiness Rate in the country – over 90%
1,693 service members will have deployed to 20 different countries
YCA will graduate 805 students this year. 12,304 since 1993
Partnered with country of Georgia 10 times for training and emergency preparedness
Your Georgia National Guard has had an extremely busy and productive year. Some of this years highlights include:
Winning the prestigious Army Communities of Excellence award
-YOUR GA National Guard deployed more than 1,600 service members away from their families to 10 different countries around the world since last November…many of them for up to one year
Youth Challenge Academy graduated over 805 students this year
-The State Partnership program allowed us to train with the Republic of Georgia half a dozen times this past year, strengthening our partnership
-Support here stateside to the DNC (Democratic National Convention), RNC (Republican National Convention), Hurricane Sandy, South West Border Support, on going Counter Drug Support to the state of Georgia, and other routine support to the state.
-Our new CH-47 Chinooks out of Savannah are a wonderful addition to our fleet…YOUR GA National Guard was one of the first to respond to Hurricane Sandy relief efforts deploying 3 of our new Chinooks to NY and NJ.

16. Supporting Your Georgia Guard
Support drilling Guardsmen when they return home from the war fight
Hire a hero – “Guard your Business” helped 300 Guardsmen find work since June 2012
Support Guard families
Support for the National Guard has pretty much always been high in Georgia. But in the last decade of war, we have been humbled and amazed at the outpouring of support from our Georgia communities. There are places in Georgia where a Guardsman can’t buy their own lunch. When Troops come home, some towns let out schools so children can welcome them home. And when Guardsmen have been killed in the line of duty, your love and support for the families has been warm, sincere, and overpowering.
We deeply appreciate your support.
Still, we’re often asked how people can support what we do. These are three great ways to do so.
First, support drilling Guardsmen. We know only too well that our duties take us away not only from our families, but sometimes from our jobs as well. Thank you for your patience and support for our periodic absences while we do our duty to the State and Nation.
Second, hire a Guardsman. Yes, we’ll be away from work periodically. But you know that you’re hiring someone with a great work ethic, solid values, a commitment to excellence, and leadership abilities well beyond the norm. Our new program in the GA National Guard called “Guard your business” has helped 300 Guardsmen find work since June of 2012!
Third, consider supporting our Guard families through the Georgia National Guard Family Support Foundation. It’s a 501 (c) (3) charitable organization established in 1994 to provide emergency relief assistance during times of financial crisis to the members and families of the Georgia National Guard.
Helpful web sites:

17. The Georgia Department of Defense www.GeorgiaGuard.com www.GaDoD.net
So – that’s a little bit about the Georgia Department of Defense: The Georgia Army National Guard, Georgia Air National Guard, and the State Defense Force.
If you’d like to learn more, I’d encourage you to visit us on the web at As you see from the icons, we have video, photo, Facebook, and other sites set up to further inform you of your Georgia Guard.
I appreciate your time, and appreciate the opportunity to tell you a little bit about who we are. We Guardsmen are proud of our mission, and proud of the role we play both at home and abroad.
Thank you.
Thank you for having me.