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1st BDE Soldier of the Year Corporal Jeffrey Wilson has been named “Soldier of the Year” for the 1st Brigade of the Georgia State Defense Force, an all volunteer, unpaid military force authorized by Title 38-2-3 OCGA. The GSDF, is responsible to Gov. Nathan Deal and Maj. Gen. Terry Nesbitt, Georgia’s Adjutant General, and is one of three components of the Georgia Department of Defense. The title “Soldier of the Year is the most coveted peer recognized award in the Defense Force and is awarded annually to the soldier who demonstrates the highest degree of professionalism of the volunteer soldier” said Major J. Michael Hayden, 3rd Battalion Commander for the Georgia State Defense Force.
and risk management firm where he served managing executive protection insurance programs for the museum and foundation communities. In 1999, Corporal Wilson went to work as the Director of Business Development for a small Internet application development company providing new business sales as the accounting manager, charged with the responsibility of administering the daily functions of accounting and benefit programs. In 2001, he began working in dual capacities as an accounting manager for a national architectural firm and for a net worth family office.
CPL Wilson, age 36, was born in Fort Polk, Louisiana, the son of CPT Elmer I. Wilson (Ret.) U.S. Army Rangers- Airborne and Betsi W. Wilson. His wife is Charlene Wilson, a swim coach for Swim Atlanta and several local clubs in Gwinnett County. Jeff and Charlene are the proud parents of two sons, Wyatt, age 7 and Eli, age 5.
In 2001, Corporal Wilson’s office was located a mere two blocks from the White House where on September 11th, he watched from his office as events unfolded that day and during the weeks that followed. As a result of those experiences, his office began to design and implement a disaster response plan in order to deal with extreme events such as those that occurred on 9/11 while preserving the company’s operational integrity. Corporal Wilson was instrumental in the design of that plan.
Corporal Wilson attended Parkview High School in Lilburn where he was very active in soccer and cross country. He was the Gwinnett County Cross Country Champion Runner-up in 1989 in the State Team Championship and his team later became the State Champions in 1990. Following high school, CPL Wilson attended the University of South Carolina and graduated with a BS degree in Finance.
While in the DC metro area, Corporal Wilson married his wife Charlene in 2000. They became engaged in Anchorage, Alaska following the completion of their first marathon together. As an active runner, he went on to complete two additional marathons at the Marine Corps marathon in Washington, DC.
Following graduation from USC, he relocated to Washington DC where he began a professional degree with Aon, an insurance
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INSIDE THIS ISSUE:
CRP Training
Band Update
Cold JAN Weekend
New CSM
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In 2006, Corporal Jeffrey Wilson moved back to Georgia and took up residence in Suwanee, Georgia where he began a financial planning practice. In 2007, he successfully completed the education and experience requirement to earn the Certified Financial Planner ™ designation, thereby helping his practice continue to grow. Corporal Wilson regretted the choice to not join a military branch as a youth so he set forth upon a journey to serve his community in response to state or national events. He joined the Georgia State De(L-R) Cpl. Bill Weeks, Sgt. Eric Horne, fense Force and graduated from Initial Entry Training in April of 2009 because he Sgt. Doug Ford, Cpl. Jeff Wilson wanted to serve the citizens of Georgia and respond to calls of duty when required. He stated that “while many non-profit and charitable organizations serve the community, most serve a very specific niche that deal with a specific within the social network of the community. The GSDF fills my desire to serve the state in a much broader capacity in events that affect the state.” Corporal Wilson concluded by saying “My father once said to me, ‘step forward and be seen, be relevant.’ The GSDF gives me the chance to step forward and be relevant in my State.” Major Hayden stated that CPL Wilson had been nominated by his peers along with several other soldiers who then appeared before a selection board at the Battalion level. Wilson was recognized as the top contender before appearing before another selection board this time at the Brigade or top level. The 1st Brigade Commander, Colonel Edward Hightower announced in mid-December that Corporal Wilson was the top selection at this final level. Brigade Soldier of the Year for the Georgia State Defense Force recognizes the “absolutely best of the best in today’s professional volunteer soldier” said Hayden. Story by SFC Ron Cosgrove Photos by PV2 Lisa Kennedy HQ Co/3rd Battalion/1st Brigade
Georgia State Defense Force helps recertify 48th Brigade medics in CPR GEORGIA PUBLIC SAFETY TRAINING CENTER, Forsyth, GA, February, 12, 2011 – The Georgia State Defense Force (GSDF) – using trained CPR instructors from their ranks – helped certify more than 100 National Guard medics from Company C, 148th Brigade Support Battalion, 48th Infantry Brigade Combat Team. “Our ability to help the Georgia Guard with our volunteers is just one of the key assets we bring to the overall war ight,” said Cpt. Andrew Creed, a public affairs of icer with the GSDF. To keep Company C’s medics’ certi ication from expiring in April, the unit conducted an intensive training and testing program using instructors from the GSDF’s 5th Brigade and 5th Medical Company who have been nationally certi ied through their civilian occupations. Cpt. Bob Surrusco, XO of the 5th Brigade, teaching National Guard Soldiers how to use AED device and CPR
“The National Guard didn’t have suf icient internal resources in either manpower or equipment to perform this mission,” said Maj. David Liebl, XO, 5th MEDCO. “By utilizing the assets we have in the State Defense Force, they were able to save valuable training dollars.”
All Guard Soldiers tested by the GSDF passed CPR and skills station testing, permitting each Soldier to renew their national registry recerti ication. If a given Soldier had not successfully completed the training, by standards, he or she would have lost their Military Occupation Skill classi ication as a 68W, medic. Major David Liebl, executive of icer of the GSDF’s 5th Medical Company, said, “We have been invited to continue to train and drill with the Guard . It’s an honor to know that we made a difference and a positive and lasting impact with these medics." Story and photo by Sgt. Leonard Goodelman Public Affairs Representative, Medical Battalion Georgia State Defense Force HEADS-UP | March 2011 2
105TH GSDF Band Prepares for March Performance GSDF Headquarters, Atlanta, GA, February. 12, 2011– PVT Nick Van Wagner and other members of the 105th Georgia State Defense Force Band practice at GSDF Headquarters in Atlanta, GA, in preparation for an upcoming performance honoring the nation’s military. PVT Van Wagner, playing the mellophone, is the band’s newest member. His primary unit is the 2nd Battalion, 1st Brigade, where he and his fellow soldiers perform search and rescue duties. But being an accomplished musician (as well as an Eagle Scout), PVT Van Wagner volunteered to play in the band as well. “I enjoy search and rescue,” said PVT Van Wagner, who lives in Johns Creek and is a fulltime student at Georgia Perimeter College. “But I have a passion for music, and I’m glad GSDF has an outlet for that interest.” The band is preparing for a performance March 10 at the Strand Theater in Marietta. The 105th will provide musical entertainment for the Hearts for Heroes tribute to the U.S. military, “Wounded Warriors” and their families.
(L-R) PVT Nick Van Wagner, SFC Larry Carey
Story and Photos by Cpl. Diane Hawkins-Cox Unit Public Affairs Representative, 105th GSDF Band Georgia State Defense Force
What’s a UPAR? No, it’s not a golf term. UPAR stands for Unit Public Affairs Representative. The Unit Public Affairs Representative serves as the commander’s Public Affairs Subject Matter Expert (SME) to facilitate media and command information at the unit level on a regular basis in order to support strategic communications and to tell the stories and accomplishments of the soldiers in their unit.
(L-R) Cpt. Cheranichit, Cpt. Howard, CW2 de Carvalho
The key tasks include learning how to shoot photos, write stories, write hometown news releases and facilitate media engagements during steady-state operations as well as emergencies.” It is essential that all units have and support a UPAR in order to best maintain and enhance our good will with the citizens and legislators of Georgia.
Each unit down to the Battalion level needs to have a designated UPAR. Georgia DoD Public Affairs will be conducting training for these personnel in conjunction with the National Guard and Air Guard UPARs. Training includes: discussions on photography, writing stories, press releases, general public affairs information and more. There is also continuing education provided to aid in continuous improvement of knowledge and skills. GSDF HQ Public Affairs will be coordinating between the UPARs and consolidating information. It is critical to have functioning UPARs communicating within the organization to recognize the accomplishments and activities of each and every unit both within the force and with the public at large (where appropriate). They also facilitate communication back down to their units. GSDF HQ Public Affairs wants to share and publicize your accomplishments in Heads Up and elsewhere, but we need your help. If you have an interest in becoming the UPAR for your unit, contact your Commander. If you are the UPAR for your unit, please contact Sgt Jim Zegers, Unit Public Affairs Representative Coordinator, HHC, GSDF PAO at zegersgsdf@gmail.com. HEADS-UP | March 2011
HEADS-UP | December 2010
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A Cold January Night in the Woods FORT GILLEM, Forest Park, GA., January 8, 2011 - GSDF Public Affairs Staff spent their January drill weekend with their counterparts in the 124th MPAD of the Georgia Na onal Guard performing day and night land naviga on training exercises at the Fort Gillem Land Naviga on Course just south of Atlanta. Sgt. Steve Smith, Sgt. Jim Zegers, Cpl. Mike Carey, and PV2 Allan Hayes par cipated in refresher briefings on basic land naviga on given by the GaNG officers and NCOs. Teams were then sent off to navigate the land nav course using topographical maps, lensa c compass and protractors. During the daylight, exercise teams were required to complete at least four tasks beginning with determining the 8-digit grid coordinate of the star ng stake on the course. Soldiers were first required to get their accurate pace count on the pre-measured scale at the start of the course. A er a quick dinner and another short briefing in the command tent, teams were sent out at night to navigate the course without the assistance of light or night vision devices. Teams were required to find at least two stakes before making their way back to camp. A er a long day of traversing the heavily wooded and overgrown course, soldiers went to sleep in the Army tents they had erected upon arrival at the camp that morning. While a emp ng to sleep, temperatures plummeted to 19◦ F and winds gusted to 23 mph. “It was the coldest night of my life, you could only fall asleep for about 20 minutes at a me. But a great experience to train with the 124th,” said Sgt. Zegers. Daylight came as a welcome relief to these soldiers and they were eager to begin work breaking camp and packing the humvees if only to get the blood flowing to their frozen extremi es. Story by PV2 Allan Hayes Public Affairs Representa ve, HCC PAO Georgia State Defense Force
Congratulations to the graduates of the 1BDE SLC 1101 Class cpl cpl cpl cpl cpl cpl cpl pfc cpl cpl cpl cpl cpl 4
d. adams d. dowdy d. howell e. rusca m. burnett m. campbell j. gilmore d. jefferson r. kepley s. lapp l. simmons b. hoag c. scott
cpl cpl cpl cpl pfc cpl cpl pfc cpl cpl pfc cpl pfc
d. story n. tapley g. mcmillan w. weeks g. hancock s. maloney b. smith c. dunlap c. lindquist r. slocumb, jr. c. alasa r. pavlu a. rollins HEADS-UP | March 2011
1SG Harrell promoted to Command Sergeant Major Georgia State Defense Force 1st Ba alion 1st Brigade, Rome, Ga. February 13, 2011- Armurchee’s own 1SG Marion Harrell was promoted to E9/ Command Sergeant Major. He was pinned by both his daughters, Tabitha Dowdy and Kelsey Harrell when they showed up in a surprise pinning ceremony. “I was thrilled to be pinned by my daughters. The only thing that could have made the day be er, was for my two sons to have been here too, ” said CSM Harrell. The men were unable to a end the impromptu ceremony. CSM Marion Harrell has been a volunteer with the Georgia State Defense Force for nine years. He served as Sergeant /E5 in the United States Marine Corps and is a Vietnam Veteran, with many accomplishments including the Combat Ac on Ribbon. In his civilian life, he works as the Assistant Service Manager for the Rome office of the RJ Young Company. “My job is to help the Commander coordinate and develop the units, Mission Essen al Task List, and Individual Training Task to create a team approach” said CSM Harrell. He also said he enjoys mentoring soldiers to advancement within the Ba alion. Story by PFC Ruthie Parrish Photo by Sgt. Mike Baxter 1st Ba alion/1st Brigade
Don't see your mission here? Want to see you mission here? Then be a UPAR! Let us know about your unit’s missions and promotions. Contact Sgt Jim Zegers UPAR Coordinator at zegersgsdf@gmail.com TODAY!
2011 Drill and Event Schedule Drill Dates: March 5,6 April 2,3 May 14,15 June 4,5 July 9,10
August 6,7 September 10,11 October 1,2 November AT 4-6 December 3,4
HEADS official newsletter of HEADSUP UPisisthe the offi cal newsletter of the Georgia State Force The Georgia StateDefense Defense Force GSDF PUBLIC AFFAIRS HQ PAO
CPT Andrew Creed HISTO RIAN / J O URNAL IST P H OTO G R A P H E R / V I D E O
Event Dates:
PAO NCO IC / WEB SITE UPAR CO O RD INATO R / HEAD S UP
- OCS 2012 Boarding September 2011, Class Begins January 2012 - Command Group, HQs Staff and MSC /DRU Commanders Disaster Response Rehearsal of Concept Drill May 14th GPSTC - Annual Training 4-6 November HEADS-UP | March 2011
ED ITO R / J O URNAL IST ASSISTANT HISTO RIAN / J O URNAL IST J O U R N A L I S T / P H OTO G R A P H E R
DEPUT Y PAO
CPT Clark Howard MAJ Rich Elwell CW2 Mario de Carvalho SGT Stephen Smith SGT Jim Zegers CPL Mike Carey CPL Eric Tedder PV2 Allan Hayes
Submit articles & photos to Cpt Andy Creed at andrew_creed_jr@hotmail.com or Sgt Jim Zegers at zegersgsdf@gmail.com. Articles are intended for publicizing unit missions, activities and events and to highlight GSDF members. Provide details: date, time, location and a brief description. Photos are encouraged. Photos with GSDF personnel should include the rank and full name of the person(s). Provide a point-of-contact and phone number or email address with any submissions
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