SR 701: National Guard Day; recognize February 11, 2026

Senate Resolution 701

By: Senators Payne of the 54th, Kirkpatrick of the 32nd, Cowsert of the 46th, Watson of the 1st, Anderson of the 24th and others

A RESOLUTION

Recognizing February 11, 2026, as National Guard Day at the state capitol; and for other purposes.

WHEREAS, the Georgia Department of Defense provides ready and relevant military forces to combatant commanders and provides emergency response capabilities to support Homeland Defense and Defense Support to Civil Authorities; and

WHEREAS, the Georgia Department of Defense is headquartered at the Clay National Guard Center in Marietta, Georgia, and includes the Georgia Army National Guard, the Georgia Air National Guard, and the Georgia State Defense Force; and

WHEREAS, the Georgia Department of Defense consists of more than 11,600 Army National Guard Soldiers, 2,900 Air National Guard Airmen, 500 State Defense Force volunteers, and nearly 500 state employees; and

WHEREAS, The Georgia's Army National Guard is the sixth largest in the nation, training in nearly 67 hometown armories and regional facilities in nearly 60 counties across the state, and includes combat, combat support, and combat service support units; and

WHEREAS, Georgia's Army National Guard was recognized as the best National Guard Command by the Association of the United States Army in 2025, and is organized into five major subordinate commands, the Macon-based 48th Infantry Brigade Combat Team; the 648th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade at Fort Benning; and the 78th Troop Command, 78th Aviation Troop Command, and 201st Regional Support Group at the Clay National Guard Center in Marietta; and

WHEREAS, the Georgia Air National Guard is the air power component of the State of Georgia with airmen and officers assigned to the 116th Air Control Wing in Warner Robins, the 165th Airlift Wing in Savannah, and units throughout Georgia, playing an active role in supporting combatant commanders and Georgia's homeland defense posture, with 116th and 165th conversions to Remotely Piloted Aircraft - Integration and the new C-130J, respectively; and

WHEREAS, the Georgia State Defense Force is a volunteer unit of the Georgia Department of Defense, serving in support of the National Guard under direction of the Governor and Adjutant General, notably during Exercise Patriot South, Vigilant Guard, and memorial services for President Carter; and

WHEREAS, the Georgia National Guard has deployed more than 35,000 Soldiers and Airmen throughout all geographic combatant commands since September 11, 2001; maintained a steady overseas presence in support of contingency operations, and maintained state partnerships with the Country of Georgia and Republic of Argentina while training and preparing to support homeland response missions in the State of Georgia and southeast United States; and

WHEREAS, in 2025, the Georgia National Guard successfully supported missions in support of the Department of Homeland Security on the southern border, and in the nation's capital as part of Joint Task Force-DC; and

WHEREAS, the selfless actions of the men and women of the Georgia Department of Defense and its components at home and abroad in 2025 stands as an example of putting service before self, and it is abundantly fitting and proper that the outstanding accomplishments of these remarkable and distinguished Georgians be appropriately recognized.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE that the members of this body recognize February 11, 2026, as National Guard Day at the state capitol and commend the men and women of the Georgia National Guard for their strength, leadership, courage and selfless service.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Secretary of the Senate is authorized and directed to make appropriate copies of this resolution available for distribution to the public and the press.