Georgia Department of Defense
Encyclopedia
The Georgia Department of Defense is a state agency charged with coordinating and supervising all agencies and functions of the Georgia National Guard
. Located at Clay National Guard Center
in Marietta, Georgia
, the Georgia Department of Defense includes the Georgia Army National Guard
, the Georgia Air National Guard
, and the Georgia State Defense Force
.
The Georgia Department of Defense provides ready and relevant military forces to the Combatant Commanders, and with the consent of the Governor provides command and control and capabilities to support Homeland Defense
and Defense Support of Civil Authorities
.
employs over 11,000 Army National Guard
soldiers, 2,800 Air National Guard
airmen, 850 State Defense Force
members, and 460 state employees. It oversees the Georgia National Guard
as part of the total force policy and trains its units to fight and to win on battlefields with modern technology and weaponry.
consists of more than 11,100 citizen-soldiers training in more than 79 hometown armories and regional facilities across the state. Georgia’s Army Guard is the 8th largest in the nation and includes combat, combat support and combat service support units. The Georgia Army National Guard is organized into five major subordinate commands: the 48th Infantry Brigade Combat Team of Macon
; the 78th Homeland Response Force
at Clay National Guard Center in Marietta
; the 78th Aviation Troop Command
also at Clay; the 560th Battlefield Surveillance Brigade at Fort Gillem; and the 648th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade in Columbus
at Fort Benning
.
In 2009, the Georgia Army National Guard deployed more than 3,200 soldiers in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom. Since September 11, 2001, more than 12,000 citizen-soldiers from every deployable line unit in the Georgia Army National Guard have seen federal service in support of Overseas Contingency Operations, often with multiple rotations.
is the air force militia of the state of Georgia. It is, along with the Georgia Army National Guard
, an element of the Georgia National Guard
. It is also considered a part of the United States Air Force
. It has 3,000 airmen and officers assigned to the two flying wings and seven geographically separated units (GSUs) throughout Georgia, including the 165th Airlift Wing
at Savannah International Airport; the 116th Air Control Wing
at Robins Air Force Base
; the 117th Air Control Squadron
of Savannah
; the 165th Air Support Operations Squadron of Brunswick, Georgia
; the 224th Joint Communications Support Squadron
also of Brunswick
; the 283rd Combat Communications Squadron
at Dobbins Air Force Base in Marietta
; the 139th Intelligence Squadron
at Fort Gordon
; the 202nd Engineering Installation Squadron
of Macon
; and the 530th Air Force Band
at Dobbins Air Force Base in Marietta
.
All units of the Georgia Air National Guard play an active role in supporting Georgia's homeland defense posture, providing airlift, engineering and communications resources and abilities. Air Guard personnel train regularly with the Georgia Army Guard's
78th Homeland Response Force
and have responsibilities with Georgia's 4th Civil Support Team, as well as the Chemical, Biological, Radiological/Nuclear, and Explosive (CBRNE)- Enhanced Response Force Package (CERFP) organization.
(GSDF, GASDF, or Georgia SDF) is a volunteer military unit of the Georgia Department of Defense, serving in support of the national and state constitutions under direction of the governor and the adjutant general of Georgia. Members of the Georgia State Defense Force
serve alongside the Georgia Army National Guard
and the Georgia Air National Guard
.
The GSDF's members help support and augment the Georgia National Guard
, provide professional skills to the Georgia Department of Defense, and assist Georgia communities. Volunteers are trained to assist the National Guard
, provide search and rescue, medical support, and disaster relief.
to stand by to assist the state or nation in matters of homeland security
or natural disasters. This includes anything from fighting wild fires, helping with oil spills, helping flood victims, and assisting with riot control. The Guard has also been fighting drug violence throughout the state of Georgia, with the Georgia Department of Defense
having an entire unit dedicated to Counter-drug efforts.
The Joint Staff, through the JFHQ, provides a community-based response force that offers support in defense of the state, region, and country. the Joint Staff enhances mission performance and strengthens the care provided to Georgia Department of Defense members and their families by leveraging community presence, employer support, and family care programs.
Under the JFHQ umbrella, the Georgia Department of Defense maintains liaison with the Georgia Office of Homeland Security and the Georgia Emergency Management Agency, along with key emergency and law enforcement officials across the state.
The Guard's Quick Reaction Force
(QRF) provides force protection and security for WMD Civil Support Teams and CBRNE Enhanced Response Force Package Teams. The QRF is comprised of 132 personnel who are capable of responding within eight hours, and 500 personnel who can respond within 24 hours.
runs the state and federally funded Youth ChalleNGe Academy
(YCA) program. The stated purpose of the Youth ChalleNGe Academy is to provide "at-risk" youth with academic and life skills training aimed at improving employment potential and creating productive citizens. Each young person that enrolls is matched with a qualified mentor who follows the student during the residential phase and then formally assists and monitors their success during the 12 months following graduation.
The Georgia Department of Defense orchestrates two campuses, one at Fort Gordon in the Brems Barracks on Fort Gordon
, near Augusta
and one at Fort Stewart
near Savannah
. They service students from around the State of Georgia and accept applications year round. Classes begin twice each year, in March and in September, and are continuous for 5 1/2 months. Following the residential phase of the program, the students must complete the 12 month post-residential phase in order to successfully complete the Youth ChalleNGe Program. The Fort Gordon Youth ChalleNGe Academy graduates approximately 425 students each year.
Students completing the program successfully can be awarded two separate diplomas, the Youth ChalleNGe Academy Diploma and the General Equivalency Diploma.
State Partnership Program With the Nation of Georgia
The National Guard State Partnership Program
(SPP) was established in 1993 in response to the radically changed political-military situation following the collapse of communism and the dissolution of the Soviet Union
. The SPP began as a bilateral military-military contact program to engage the countries of central and eastern Europe, and is a direct growth of the United States European Command Join Contact Team Program. The Georgia National Guard has a state Partnership with the country of Georgia
, which began in 1995.
In 2010, the Georgia National Guard helped train over 2000 Georgian Soldiers. Embedded Georgia National Guard Soldiers have fought side-by-side with Georgian Soldiers in Iraq, with the country of Georgia being the 3rd largest contributor of coalition forces currently in Iraq.
The State of Georgia is the home of the second-largest diaspora of Georgians outside the Country of Georgia. Many National Guardsmen are active in the Atlanta-Tbilisi Sister City Committee, which contributes to building relationships within the state.
(STARBASE) program seeks to build interest in science, technology, engineering and math amongst Georgia's at-risk youth. The program exposes students and their teachers to real-world applications of math and science, through experiential learning, simulations and experiments in aviation and space-related fields.
Georgia's STARBASE serves approximately 800 fifth graders annually, with quantifiable improvement. Before participation in the program, students averaged 53% on a standardized science, technology, and math test. After participating in Georgia's STARBASE, average student scores improved by over 20 percentage points to 76.9%.
At STARBASE, students interact with military personnel to explore careers and make connections with the real world. The program provides students with 20–25 hours of experience, exposing youth to the technological environments found within the Georgia National Guard
.
The Cumming armory is the first new armory in Georgia in many years. The Georgia Department of Defense also acquired Clay National Guard Center from the Navy, where a new $30 million JFHQ building is under construction, the Fort Benning joint use armory, AASF 2 being renovated to house its parachute rigger company, and a new Language Lab. There has been $300 Million in renovation and construction over the last ten years, after seeing virtually none over the course of the previous forty.
The State’s investments in its National Guard has had a significant positive impact on the State’s economy. Because most of the organization’s funds come from federal sources, Georgia actually sees more tax revenue from the income of its Citizen-Soldiers than it spends on the Georgia Guard as a whole. the Georgia National Guard
is provided about $10 million in state funding annually. This $10 million pulls down another $30 million in federal matching funds into the state account. Its federal budget is about $500 million, allowing the initial $10 million investment to generate $500 million for the state's economy. On top of that, the guardsmen and women pay about $25 million in state income tax. This means the original $10 million is a loan the Georgia Department of Defense uses each year to then generate a half-billion dollars in revenue, and paying the loan back with 250% interest.
is the senior military officer and de facto commander of the Georgia National Guard. Also known as TAG, they are subordinated to the Governor, the Chief Executive. As of today, there have been 35 Adjutant Generals in Georgia and the position has changed hands 40 times.
Georgia National Guard
The Georgia National Guard is the National Guard of the U.S state of Georgia consists of the Georgia Army National Guard and the Georgia Air National Guard...
. Located at Clay National Guard Center
Naval Air Station Atlanta
General D. Lucius Clay National Guard Center is a military facility located south of Marietta, Georgia, United States. It is located immediately south of Dobbins Air Reserve Base and shares its runways....
in Marietta, Georgia
Marietta, Georgia
Marietta is a city located in central Cobb County, Georgia, United States, and is its county seat.As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 56,579, making it one of metro Atlanta's largest suburbs...
, the Georgia Department of Defense includes the Georgia Army National Guard
Georgia Army National Guard
The Georgia Army National Guard is the Army National Guard component of the Georgia National Guard, administratively part of the Georgia Department of Defense. It consists of more than 11,100 Citizen-Soldiers training in more than 79 hometown armories and regional facilities across the state...
, the Georgia Air National Guard
Georgia Air National Guard
The Georgia Air National Guard is the air force militia of the U.S. state of Georgia. It is, along with the Georgia Army National Guard, an element of the Georgia National Guard...
, and the Georgia State Defense Force
Georgia State Defense Force
The Georgia State Defense Force is a military unit of the Georgia Department of Defense, serving in support of the national and state constitutions under direction of the governor and the adjutant general of the U.S. state of Georgia...
.
The Georgia Department of Defense provides ready and relevant military forces to the Combatant Commanders, and with the consent of the Governor provides command and control and capabilities to support Homeland Defense
Homeland defense
Homeland defense is the protection of U.S. territory, sovereignty, domestic population, and critical infrastructure against external threats and aggression....
and Defense Support of Civil Authorities
Defense Support of Civil authorities
Defense Support of Civil Authorities is the current process by which United States military assets and personnel can be used to assist in missions normally carried out by civil authorities. These missions have included: responses to natural and man-made disasters, law enforcement support, special...
.
Organization
The Georgia Department of DefenseUnited States Department of Defense
The United States Department of Defense is the U.S...
employs over 11,000 Army National Guard
Army National Guard
Established under Title 10 and Title 32 of the U.S. Code, the Army National Guard is part of the National Guard and is divided up into subordinate units stationed in each of the 50 states, three territories and the District of Columbia operating under their respective governors...
soldiers, 2,800 Air National Guard
Air National Guard
The Air National Guard , often referred to as the Air Guard, is the air force militia organized by each of the fifty U.S. states, the commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the territories of Guam and the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the District of Columbia of the United States. Established under Title 10 and...
airmen, 850 State Defense Force
Georgia State Defense Force
The Georgia State Defense Force is a military unit of the Georgia Department of Defense, serving in support of the national and state constitutions under direction of the governor and the adjutant general of the U.S. state of Georgia...
members, and 460 state employees. It oversees the Georgia National Guard
Georgia National Guard
The Georgia National Guard is the National Guard of the U.S state of Georgia consists of the Georgia Army National Guard and the Georgia Air National Guard...
as part of the total force policy and trains its units to fight and to win on battlefields with modern technology and weaponry.
Georgia Army National Guard
The Georgia Army National GuardGeorgia Army National Guard
The Georgia Army National Guard is the Army National Guard component of the Georgia National Guard, administratively part of the Georgia Department of Defense. It consists of more than 11,100 Citizen-Soldiers training in more than 79 hometown armories and regional facilities across the state...
consists of more than 11,100 citizen-soldiers training in more than 79 hometown armories and regional facilities across the state. Georgia’s Army Guard is the 8th largest in the nation and includes combat, combat support and combat service support units. The Georgia Army National Guard is organized into five major subordinate commands: the 48th Infantry Brigade Combat Team of Macon
Macon, Georgia
Macon is a city located in central Georgia, US. Founded at the fall line of the Ocmulgee River, it is part of the Macon metropolitan area, and the county seat of Bibb County. A small portion of the city extends into Jones County. Macon is the biggest city in central Georgia...
; the 78th Homeland Response Force
78th Homeland Response Force
Georgia's 78th Homeland Response Force is a major command of the Georgia Army National Guard. Formerly 78th Troop Command, it officially changed its unit designation on November 1, 2010. Once home-stationed in Decatur, it has, since Jan...
at Clay National Guard Center in Marietta
Marietta, Georgia
Marietta is a city located in central Cobb County, Georgia, United States, and is its county seat.As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 56,579, making it one of metro Atlanta's largest suburbs...
; the 78th Aviation Troop Command
78th Aviation Troop Command
Home-stationed at Clay National Guard Center in Marietta, the 78th Aviation Troop Command is the aviation arm of the Georgia Army Guard.-Mission:The mission of the 78th’s more than 574 pilots, aircrew, maintenance, and support personnel is to mobilize and deploy aviation forces for providing...
also at Clay; the 560th Battlefield Surveillance Brigade at Fort Gillem; and the 648th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade in Columbus
Columbus, Georgia
Columbus is a city in and the county seat of Muscogee County, Georgia, United States, with which it is consolidated. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 189,885. It is the principal city of the Columbus, Georgia metropolitan area, which, in 2009, had an estimated population of 292,795...
at Fort Benning
Fort Benning
Fort Benning is a United States Army post located southeast of the city of Columbus in Muscogee and Chattahoochee counties in Georgia and Russell County, Alabama...
.
In 2009, the Georgia Army National Guard deployed more than 3,200 soldiers in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom. Since September 11, 2001, more than 12,000 citizen-soldiers from every deployable line unit in the Georgia Army National Guard have seen federal service in support of Overseas Contingency Operations, often with multiple rotations.
Georgia Air National Guard
The Georgia Air National GuardGeorgia Air National Guard
The Georgia Air National Guard is the air force militia of the U.S. state of Georgia. It is, along with the Georgia Army National Guard, an element of the Georgia National Guard...
is the air force militia of the state of Georgia. It is, along with the Georgia Army National Guard
Georgia Army National Guard
The Georgia Army National Guard is the Army National Guard component of the Georgia National Guard, administratively part of the Georgia Department of Defense. It consists of more than 11,100 Citizen-Soldiers training in more than 79 hometown armories and regional facilities across the state...
, an element of the Georgia National Guard
Georgia National Guard
The Georgia National Guard is the National Guard of the U.S state of Georgia consists of the Georgia Army National Guard and the Georgia Air National Guard...
. It is also considered a part of the United States Air Force
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
. It has 3,000 airmen and officers assigned to the two flying wings and seven geographically separated units (GSUs) throughout Georgia, including the 165th Airlift Wing
165th Airlift Wing
The Georgia Air National Guard's 165th Airlift Wing is a unit located at Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport, Georgia. The Airlift Wing, which currently flies the C-130H cargo aircraft, came into existence after World War II in 1946. The unit was officially mobilized first for the Korean...
at Savannah International Airport; the 116th Air Control Wing
116th Air Control Wing
The United States Air Force's 116th Air Control Wing is a joint active duty/Air National Guard air control wing located at Robins AFB, Georgia.-Mission:...
at Robins Air Force Base
Robins Air Force Base
Robins Air Force Base is a major United States Air Force base located in Houston County, Georgia, United States. The base is located just east of and adjacent to the city of Warner Robins, Georgia, SSE of Macon, Georgia, and about SSE of Atlanta, Georgia...
; the 117th Air Control Squadron
117th Air Control Squadron
The 117th Air Control Squadron is an air control unit headquartered in Hunter Army Airfield, Savannah, GA. It provides theater command with air battle management, radar surveillance, air space control, and long haul communication capabilities to plan and execute combined air operations; air...
of Savannah
Savannah, Georgia
Savannah is the largest city and the county seat of Chatham County, in the U.S. state of Georgia. Established in 1733, the city of Savannah was the colonial capital of the Province of Georgia and later the first state capital of Georgia. Today Savannah is an industrial center and an important...
; the 165th Air Support Operations Squadron of Brunswick, Georgia
Brunswick, Georgia
Brunswick is the major urban and economic center in southeastern Georgia in the United States. The municipality is located on a harbor near the Atlantic Ocean, approximately 30 miles north of Florida and 70 miles south of South Carolina. Brunswick is bordered on the east by the Atlantic...
; the 224th Joint Communications Support Squadron
224th Joint Communications Support Squadron
The 224th Joint Communications Support Squadron , located in Brunswick, Georgia, provides deployable tactical communications for Joint Task Force Headquarters and Joint Special Operations Task Force Headquarters. It can operate in environments without a reliable terrestrial network...
also of Brunswick
Brunswick, Georgia
Brunswick is the major urban and economic center in southeastern Georgia in the United States. The municipality is located on a harbor near the Atlantic Ocean, approximately 30 miles north of Florida and 70 miles south of South Carolina. Brunswick is bordered on the east by the Atlantic...
; the 283rd Combat Communications Squadron
283rd Combat Communications Squadron
Georgia's 283rd Combat Communications Squadron is a unit of the Georgia Air National Guard and is responsible for "first-in" rapid deployment and "build-up" of an integrated force with state-of-the-art communications equipment and multi-skilled personnel....
at Dobbins Air Force Base in Marietta
Marietta, Georgia
Marietta is a city located in central Cobb County, Georgia, United States, and is its county seat.As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 56,579, making it one of metro Atlanta's largest suburbs...
; the 139th Intelligence Squadron
139th Intelligence Squadron
The 139th Intelligence Squadron is the newest unit of the Georgia Air National Guard, focusing on intelligence operations. The commander of the 44-member intelligence squadron is Lt. Col. Kimberly Chatfield, and the detachment commander is Lt. Col. Jeff L. Thetford, both former members of the...
at Fort Gordon
Fort Gordon
Fort Gordon, formerly known as Camp Gordon, is a United States Army installation established in 1917. It is the current home of the United States Army Signal Corps and Signal Center and was once the home of "The Provost Marshal General School" . The fort is located in Richmond, Jefferson, McDuffie,...
; the 202nd Engineering Installation Squadron
202nd Engineering Installation Squadron
The 202nd Engineering Installation Squadron is a unit of the Georgia Air National Guard. The installation, repair and serviceability of sophisticated command, control, communications, intelligence, intelligence, surveillance, and air reconnaissance to Air Force installations worldwide is the...
of Macon
Macon, Georgia
Macon is a city located in central Georgia, US. Founded at the fall line of the Ocmulgee River, it is part of the Macon metropolitan area, and the county seat of Bibb County. A small portion of the city extends into Jones County. Macon is the biggest city in central Georgia...
; and the 530th Air Force Band
530th Air Force Band
The 530th Air Force Band supports global Air Force and Air National Guard missions by fostering patriotism and providing musical services for the military community as well as the general public.- History :...
at Dobbins Air Force Base in Marietta
Marietta, Georgia
Marietta is a city located in central Cobb County, Georgia, United States, and is its county seat.As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 56,579, making it one of metro Atlanta's largest suburbs...
.
All units of the Georgia Air National Guard play an active role in supporting Georgia's homeland defense posture, providing airlift, engineering and communications resources and abilities. Air Guard personnel train regularly with the Georgia Army Guard's
Georgia Army National Guard
The Georgia Army National Guard is the Army National Guard component of the Georgia National Guard, administratively part of the Georgia Department of Defense. It consists of more than 11,100 Citizen-Soldiers training in more than 79 hometown armories and regional facilities across the state...
78th Homeland Response Force
78th Homeland Response Force
Georgia's 78th Homeland Response Force is a major command of the Georgia Army National Guard. Formerly 78th Troop Command, it officially changed its unit designation on November 1, 2010. Once home-stationed in Decatur, it has, since Jan...
and have responsibilities with Georgia's 4th Civil Support Team, as well as the Chemical, Biological, Radiological/Nuclear, and Explosive (CBRNE)- Enhanced Response Force Package (CERFP) organization.
Georgia State Defense Force
The Georgia State Defense ForceGeorgia State Defense Force
The Georgia State Defense Force is a military unit of the Georgia Department of Defense, serving in support of the national and state constitutions under direction of the governor and the adjutant general of the U.S. state of Georgia...
(GSDF, GASDF, or Georgia SDF) is a volunteer military unit of the Georgia Department of Defense, serving in support of the national and state constitutions under direction of the governor and the adjutant general of Georgia. Members of the Georgia State Defense Force
Georgia State Defense Force
The Georgia State Defense Force is a military unit of the Georgia Department of Defense, serving in support of the national and state constitutions under direction of the governor and the adjutant general of the U.S. state of Georgia...
serve alongside the Georgia Army National Guard
Georgia Army National Guard
The Georgia Army National Guard is the Army National Guard component of the Georgia National Guard, administratively part of the Georgia Department of Defense. It consists of more than 11,100 Citizen-Soldiers training in more than 79 hometown armories and regional facilities across the state...
and the Georgia Air National Guard
Georgia Air National Guard
The Georgia Air National Guard is the air force militia of the U.S. state of Georgia. It is, along with the Georgia Army National Guard, an element of the Georgia National Guard...
.
The GSDF's members help support and augment the Georgia National Guard
Georgia National Guard
The Georgia National Guard is the National Guard of the U.S state of Georgia consists of the Georgia Army National Guard and the Georgia Air National Guard...
, provide professional skills to the Georgia Department of Defense, and assist Georgia communities. Volunteers are trained to assist the National Guard
National Guard
The term National Guard originally referred to a French citizen militia . The term is now used in many countries. Depending on the country in question, "national guard" may refer to an organized militia, a military force, a paramilitary force, a gendarmerie, or a police force:- Americas :* National...
, provide search and rescue, medical support, and disaster relief.
Defense Support Civil Authorities
It is a primary mission of the Georgia National GuardGeorgia National Guard
The Georgia National Guard is the National Guard of the U.S state of Georgia consists of the Georgia Army National Guard and the Georgia Air National Guard...
to stand by to assist the state or nation in matters of homeland security
Homeland security
Homeland security is an umbrella term for security efforts to protect states against terrorist activity. Specifically, is a concerted national effort to prevent terrorist attacks within the U.S., reduce America’s vulnerability to terrorism, and minimize the damage and recover from attacks that do...
or natural disasters. This includes anything from fighting wild fires, helping with oil spills, helping flood victims, and assisting with riot control. The Guard has also been fighting drug violence throughout the state of Georgia, with the Georgia Department of Defense
Georgia Department of Defense
The Georgia Department of Defense is a state agency charged with coordinating and supervising all agencies and functions of the Georgia National Guard...
having an entire unit dedicated to Counter-drug efforts.
The Joint Staff, through the JFHQ, provides a community-based response force that offers support in defense of the state, region, and country. the Joint Staff enhances mission performance and strengthens the care provided to Georgia Department of Defense members and their families by leveraging community presence, employer support, and family care programs.
Under the JFHQ umbrella, the Georgia Department of Defense maintains liaison with the Georgia Office of Homeland Security and the Georgia Emergency Management Agency, along with key emergency and law enforcement officials across the state.
The Guard's Quick Reaction Force
Quick reaction force
Quick Reaction Force or is a military unit, generally platoon-sized in the United States Marine Corps, that is capable of rapid response to developing situations. They are to have equipment ready, to respond to any type of emergency, typically within ten minutes or less, although this is based on...
(QRF) provides force protection and security for WMD Civil Support Teams and CBRNE Enhanced Response Force Package Teams. The QRF is comprised of 132 personnel who are capable of responding within eight hours, and 500 personnel who can respond within 24 hours.
Youth ChalleNGe Academy
The Georgia National GuardGeorgia National Guard
The Georgia National Guard is the National Guard of the U.S state of Georgia consists of the Georgia Army National Guard and the Georgia Air National Guard...
runs the state and federally funded Youth ChalleNGe Academy
Youth Challenge Program
The Youth Challenge Program is a program run by the National Guard of the United States whose stated mission is "to intervene in and reclaim the lives of at-risk youth to produce program graduates with the values, skills, education and self-discipline necessary to succeed as adults." The program...
(YCA) program. The stated purpose of the Youth ChalleNGe Academy is to provide "at-risk" youth with academic and life skills training aimed at improving employment potential and creating productive citizens. Each young person that enrolls is matched with a qualified mentor who follows the student during the residential phase and then formally assists and monitors their success during the 12 months following graduation.
The Georgia Department of Defense orchestrates two campuses, one at Fort Gordon in the Brems Barracks on Fort Gordon
Fort Gordon
Fort Gordon, formerly known as Camp Gordon, is a United States Army installation established in 1917. It is the current home of the United States Army Signal Corps and Signal Center and was once the home of "The Provost Marshal General School" . The fort is located in Richmond, Jefferson, McDuffie,...
, near Augusta
Augusta, Georgia
Augusta is a consolidated city in the U.S. state of Georgia, located along the Savannah River. As of the 2010 census, the Augusta–Richmond County population was 195,844 not counting the unconsolidated cities of Hephzibah and Blythe.Augusta is the principal city of the Augusta-Richmond County...
and one at Fort Stewart
Fort Stewart
Fort Stewart is a census-designated place and U.S. Army post primarily in Liberty County and Bryan County, but also extending into smaller portions of Evans, Long, and Tattnall Counties in Georgia, USA. The population was 11,205 at the 2000 census...
near Savannah
Savannah, Georgia
Savannah is the largest city and the county seat of Chatham County, in the U.S. state of Georgia. Established in 1733, the city of Savannah was the colonial capital of the Province of Georgia and later the first state capital of Georgia. Today Savannah is an industrial center and an important...
. They service students from around the State of Georgia and accept applications year round. Classes begin twice each year, in March and in September, and are continuous for 5 1/2 months. Following the residential phase of the program, the students must complete the 12 month post-residential phase in order to successfully complete the Youth ChalleNGe Program. The Fort Gordon Youth ChalleNGe Academy graduates approximately 425 students each year.
Students completing the program successfully can be awarded two separate diplomas, the Youth ChalleNGe Academy Diploma and the General Equivalency Diploma.
State Partnership Program With the Nation of GeorgiaGeorgia (country)Georgia is a sovereign state in the Caucasus region of Eurasia. Located at the crossroads of Western Asia and Eastern Europe, it is bounded to the west by the Black Sea, to the north by Russia, to the southwest by Turkey, to the south by Armenia, and to the southeast by Azerbaijan. The capital of...
The National Guard State Partnership ProgramState Partnership Program
The National Guard State Partnership Program was established in 1993 in response to the radically changed political-military situation following the collapse of Communism and the disintegration of the Soviet Union....
(SPP) was established in 1993 in response to the radically changed political-military situation following the collapse of communism and the dissolution of the Soviet Union
Dissolution of the Soviet Union
The dissolution of the Soviet Union was the disintegration of the federal political structures and central government of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , resulting in the independence of all fifteen republics of the Soviet Union between March 11, 1990 and December 25, 1991...
. The SPP began as a bilateral military-military contact program to engage the countries of central and eastern Europe, and is a direct growth of the United States European Command Join Contact Team Program. The Georgia National Guard has a state Partnership with the country of Georgia
Georgia (country)
Georgia is a sovereign state in the Caucasus region of Eurasia. Located at the crossroads of Western Asia and Eastern Europe, it is bounded to the west by the Black Sea, to the north by Russia, to the southwest by Turkey, to the south by Armenia, and to the southeast by Azerbaijan. The capital of...
, which began in 1995.
In 2010, the Georgia National Guard helped train over 2000 Georgian Soldiers. Embedded Georgia National Guard Soldiers have fought side-by-side with Georgian Soldiers in Iraq, with the country of Georgia being the 3rd largest contributor of coalition forces currently in Iraq.
The State of Georgia is the home of the second-largest diaspora of Georgians outside the Country of Georgia. Many National Guardsmen are active in the Atlanta-Tbilisi Sister City Committee, which contributes to building relationships within the state.
STARBASE
The Georgia Department of Defense's Science and Technology Academies Reinforcing Basic Aviation and Space EducationSTARBASE
STARBASE Youth Program is a nonresidential educational program for students that provides them with real-world applications of math and science. It was created in 1991 through a grant from the Kellogg Foundation. The first STARBASE program began at Selfridge Air National Guard Base in Michigan...
(STARBASE) program seeks to build interest in science, technology, engineering and math amongst Georgia's at-risk youth. The program exposes students and their teachers to real-world applications of math and science, through experiential learning, simulations and experiments in aviation and space-related fields.
Georgia's STARBASE serves approximately 800 fifth graders annually, with quantifiable improvement. Before participation in the program, students averaged 53% on a standardized science, technology, and math test. After participating in Georgia's STARBASE, average student scores improved by over 20 percentage points to 76.9%.
At STARBASE, students interact with military personnel to explore careers and make connections with the real world. The program provides students with 20–25 hours of experience, exposing youth to the technological environments found within the Georgia National Guard
Georgia National Guard
The Georgia National Guard is the National Guard of the U.S state of Georgia consists of the Georgia Army National Guard and the Georgia Air National Guard...
.
Financial Impact
Georgia continues to support its Department of Defense's growth, with the new $26 million Cumming regional armory and the $16 million Lorenzo-Benn facility.The Cumming armory is the first new armory in Georgia in many years. The Georgia Department of Defense also acquired Clay National Guard Center from the Navy, where a new $30 million JFHQ building is under construction, the Fort Benning joint use armory, AASF 2 being renovated to house its parachute rigger company, and a new Language Lab. There has been $300 Million in renovation and construction over the last ten years, after seeing virtually none over the course of the previous forty.
The State’s investments in its National Guard has had a significant positive impact on the State’s economy. Because most of the organization’s funds come from federal sources, Georgia actually sees more tax revenue from the income of its Citizen-Soldiers than it spends on the Georgia Guard as a whole. the Georgia National Guard
Georgia National Guard
The Georgia National Guard is the National Guard of the U.S state of Georgia consists of the Georgia Army National Guard and the Georgia Air National Guard...
is provided about $10 million in state funding annually. This $10 million pulls down another $30 million in federal matching funds into the state account. Its federal budget is about $500 million, allowing the initial $10 million investment to generate $500 million for the state's economy. On top of that, the guardsmen and women pay about $25 million in state income tax. This means the original $10 million is a loan the Georgia Department of Defense uses each year to then generate a half-billion dollars in revenue, and paying the loan back with 250% interest.
Georgia's Adjutant General Lineage
The Adjutant GeneralAdjutant general
An Adjutant General is a military chief administrative officer.-Imperial Russia:In Imperial Russia, the General-Adjutant was a Court officer, who was usually an army general. He served as a personal aide to the Tsar and hence was a member of the H. I. M. Retinue...
is the senior military officer and de facto commander of the Georgia National Guard. Also known as TAG, they are subordinated to the Governor, the Chief Executive. As of today, there have been 35 Adjutant Generals in Georgia and the position has changed hands 40 times.
| Rank | Name | Appointment | Date of Relief |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lt. Col. | Augustus C. G. Elholm | Dec. 19, 1792 | Jan. 15, 1795 |
| Lt. Col. | Jonas Fauche | Feb. 20, 1796 | Nov. 2, 1806 |
| Lt. Col. | Daniel Newman | Dec. 13, 1796 | Nov. 2, 1796 |
| Lt. Col. | John C. Easter | Nov. 13, 1817 | Nov. 11, 1835 |
| Brig. Gen. | Daniel Newman | Dec. 25, 1837 | Dec. 22, 1840 |
| Maj. Gen. | Henry C. Wayne | Dec. 12, 1860 | May 10, 1865 |
| Col. | John. B. Baird | Oct. 16, 1879 | Nov. 5, 1882 |
| Col. | Jon S. Stephens | Nov. 6, 1882 | Dec. 31, 1886 |
| Brig. Gen. | John M. Kell | Jan. 1, 1887 | Oct. 5, 1990 |
| Brig Gen. | Phil G. Byrd | Oct. 11, 1990 | Nov. 11, 1990 |
| Brig. Gen. | James W. Robertson | Nov. 12, 1990 | Nov. 30, 1903 |
| Brig. Gen. | Sampson W. Harris | Dec. 1, 1903 | July 1, 1907 |
| Brig. Gen. | Andrew J. Scott | July 2, 1907 | July 1, 1911 |
| Brig. Gen. | William G. Obear | Aug. 7, 1911 | Dec. 31, 1912 |
| Brig. Gen. | J. Van Holt Nash | Jan. 1, 1913 | Aug. 26, 1917 |
| Maj. | Arthur McCollum | Dec. 4, 1917 | March 1, 1919 |
| Brig. Gen. | J. Van Holt Nash | March 1, 1919 | Oct. 22, 1922 |
| Brig. Gen. | Lewis C. Pope | Oct. 28, 1922 | June 30, 1923 |
| Brig. Gen. | Charles M. Cox | July 2, 1923 | June 27, 1927 |
| Brig. Gen. | Homer C. Parker | June 28, 1927 | June 30, 1932 |
| Brig. Gen. | Charles M. Cox | July 1, 1932 | Jan. 8, 1933 |
| Brig. Gen. | Lindley W. Camp | Jan. 11, 1933 | Jan. 12, 1937 |
| Brig. Gen. | John E. Stoddard | Jan. 12, 1937 | Sept. 30, 1940 |
| Brig. Gen. | Marion Williamson | Oct. 1, 1940 | Jan. 14, 1941 |
| Brig. Gen. | Sion B. Hawkins | Jan. 14, 1941 | Jan. 12, 1943 |
| Brig. Gen. | Clark Howell | Jan. 12, 1943 | Sept. 28, 1944 |
| Brig. Gen. | Samuel M. Griffin | Sept. 28, 1944 | March 22, 1947 |
| Brig Gen. | Alpha A. Fowler, Jr. | March 22, 1947 | Nov. 16, 1948 |
| Brig. Gen. | Ernest Vandiver Ernest Vandiver Samuel Ernest Vandiver Jr. was an American politician who was the 73rd Governor of the US state of Georgia from 1959 to 1963.-Early life and career:... |
Nov. 17, 1948 | June 20, 1954 |
| Maj. Gen. | George J. Hearn | June 21, 1954 | July 9, 1957 |
| Maj. Gen. | Charlie F. Camp | July 10, 1957 | Jan. 12, 1959 |
| Maj. Gen. | George J. Hearn | Jan. 13, 1959 | Jan. 11, 1971 |
| Maj. Gen. | Ernest Vandiver | Jan 12, 1971 | Nov. 1, 1971 |
| Maj. Gen. | Joel B. Paris III | Nov. 2, 1971 | Jan. 13, 1975 |
| Maj. Gen. | Billy M. Jones | Jan. 14, 1975 | Oct. 31, 1983 |
| Maj. Gen. | Joseph W. Griffin | Nov. 1, 1983 | Jan. 14, 1991 |
| Col. | Jerry D. Sanders | Jan. 15, 1991 | March 15, 1991 |
| Maj. Gen. | William P. Bland | April 1, 1991 | Jan. 31, 1999 |
| Lt. Gen. | David B. Poythress | July 1, 1999 | Oct. 28, 2007 |
| Maj. Gen. | William T. Nesbitt | Oct. 28, 2007 | Sept. 30 2011 |
| Lt. Gen. | Jim Butterworth | Sept. 30, 2011 | Present |
External links
- Georgia Department of Defense Official website
- Georgia National Guard Facebook Page
- The Professional Guardsman Blog
- Official Flickr Page
- Georgia Guard Twitter Page
- Georgia Guard Youtube Channel
- Historical Society of the Georgia National Guard
- Georgia Department of Defense 2010 Annual Report
- Georgia Department of Defense About Us
- Fort Gordon Youth Challenge Academy
- Fort Stewart Youth Challenge Academy
- Georgia Guard works with Georgia nation
- Georgia becomes an unlikely U.S. ally in Iraq
- STARBASE
- Georgia State Defense Force
- Fort Stewart YCA Website
- Fort Gordon YCA Website