Heads Up August 2004

HEADS UP! E-NEWS FROM THE GEORGIA STATE DEFENSE FORCE Volume One, Issue Five

ON TARGET

Page one.

SDF TROOPERS TRAIN WITH RANGERS Thirty GSDF Support Group personnel attended a three-day training session at Camp Rogers, the Ranger Training Facility located at Fort Benning, Georgia.

Under the command of Colonel Richard Lockert, these GSDF troop were trained and housed at the facility.

Troopers did an extensive Land Navigation Class, search and rescue, compass course and other skills training while at the facility. All training was conducted by US Army Rangers.

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HEADS UP! E-NEWS FROM THE GEORGIA STATE DEFENSE FORCE Volume One, Issue Five

ON TARGET

Page two.

SDF TROOPS ASSIST HOMELESS VETERANS State Defense Force troops assisted in an annual statewide program to aid homeless veterans.

SDF troopers helped distribute food, boots and food for veterans who have fallen on hard times.

Major Daniel Rado, 1st Brigade, GSDF issues boots to Veteran Alvin Tench, who served in Vietnam from 1966-67.

MORE ON PAGE THREE...

WO1 Russell at his post at the recent Homeless Veterans Salute. Supported by the VA some 150 homeless soldiers were provided with clothing, food, health screening, dental referrals, and other services including referrals to social service providers. Some 20 GSDF volunteers assisted in all aspects of the event

HEADS UP! E-NEWS FROM THE GEORGIA STATE DEFENSE FORCE Volume One, Issue Five

ON TARGET

Page three.

G8 SUMMIT PROCEEDS WITHOUT A HITCH SDF TROOPERS PLAY VITAL SUPPORT ROLE

Georgians from all walks of life participated in the Georgia National Guard’s security mission this summer at the Global Eight Economic Summit.

Like the National Guard, the members of the Georgia State Defense Force (GSDF) left jobs and families to spend more than a week helping the Guardsmen. There was, however, one important difference…they were volunteers, participating at their own expense and without pay.

Over 170 GSDF troops served on State Active Duty in support of the G8 mission.

Many were in direct augmentation of task Forve 2-121 on St. Simons Island.

Others supported 78th Troop Command and STARC at Savannah and Ft. Stewart, and staffed the GaDOD Joint Ops (rear). GSDF troops also provided 24/7 security augmentation for a critical infrastucture facility impacted by G8 realted factors.

The GSDF's Air Medical Detachment provided medical support to National Guard troops temporarily housed in military facilities near Savannah.

Georgia State Defense Force member Bobby Anderson assists Chief Warrant Officer 2 Angela Belding during the in processing of troops at the Movement Control Center at Fort Stewart

CONTINUED ON PAGE FOUR

HEADS UP! E-NEWS FROM THE GEORGIA STATE DEFENSE FORCE Volume One, Issue Five

ON TARGET

Page four.

SDF TROOPERS PLAY VITAL G8 ROLE CONTINUED FROM PAGE THREE As the days of the summit progressed, SDF personnel didn’t just assist with transportation, they stood side by side in support of Guardsmen guarding security checkpoints and helping with battalion communications at the task force’s tactical operations center (TOC). This was important, MAJ Garlen explained, because the TOC occupied space at the intersection of Sea Island Road and Frederica Road, the main access point to Sea Island where dignitaries from around the world met.

Like the majority of Guardsmen attached to the 121st, 108th Armor and 48th Brigade Combat Team, the SDF volunteers lived, and sometimes worked out of, Epworth by the Sea, a scenic Christian retreat and resort on Saint Simons Island .

“Because of the SDF, I knew where all my guys were, at all times, in the area of operations,” said Maj. Jeff Dickerson, 2nd Battalion’s operations officer.

State Defense Force Maj. Bill Garlen, a real estate business owner, left his Jesup-based company to lead the 25 Defense Force volunteers who worked TF 2-121. The group of 25 on the island was in charge of operating the task force’s transportation center, manifesting buses used to get Guardsmen back and forth between their duty posts each day.

“We were came here because we want to serve,” MAJ Garlen said. “There were times when things slowed down, but operations never-ever came to a point where we had the time to just walk and fully take in the beauty.”

Participating in the the G8 Summit is something that his unit and all the other GSDF personnel attached will remember for quite a long time.

MORE HEADS UP ON PAGE FIVE...

HEADS UP! E-NEWS FROM THE GEORGIA STATE DEFENSE FORCE Volume One, Issue Five

ON TARGET

Page five.

SDF TROOPS SUPPORT MEMORIAL DAY CEREMONIES Troops assist at Marietta National Cemetery A strong contingent of 49 GaSDF troopers participated in the annual Memorial Day "Silent Moment" at Marietta National Cemetery.

Troops under the command of 1LT Amie Toole, assisted with crowd management, traffic control, security and first aid.

The featured speaker was Maj. Gen. Thomas A. Wessels, retired Commanding General of the US Army Reserve.

Wreath laying ceremony in front of the central cupola.

BG Seymour visits with a group of curious youngsters.

GSDF COL Garner and MAJ Rado observe operations at Marietta National Cemetary