SR 82: National Guard Day; recognize February 6, 2025

Senate Resolution 82

By: Senators Payne of the 54th, Still of the 48th, Anderson of the 24th, Burns of the 23rd, Dolezal of the 27th and others

A RESOLUTION

Recognizing February 6, 2025, 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 to defend our nation and to the governor 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 it 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 11,000 army national guard soldiers; 2,800 air national guard airmen; 450 state defense force volunteers; and 500 state employees; and

WHEREAS, the Georgia Army National Guard is the sixth largest in the nation, trains in nearly 70 hometown armories and regional facilities in almost 60 counties across the state, and includes combat, combat support, and combat service support units; and

WHEREAS, the Georgia Army National Guard is organized into five major subordinate commands, which are the Macon-based 48th Infantry Brigade Combat Team; the 648th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade at Fort Moore; 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 geographically separated units throughout Georgia, playing an active role in supporting combatant commanders and Georgia's homeland defense and emergency response; and

WHEREAS, the Georgia State Defense Force is a wholly volunteer 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, notably during hurricane response operations in 2024; and

WHEREAS, the Georgia National Guard has deployed more than 33,000 soldiers and airmen throughout all geographic combatant commands since September 11, 2001; maintained a steady overseas presence in support of contingency operations; maintained state partnerships with the Country of Georgia and Republic of Argentina; and supported homeland response missions within the State of Georgia due to winter storms, hurricanes, COVID-19, and civil unrest; and

WHEREAS, in 2024, more than 2,000 Georgia guard soldiers, airmen, and state defense force personnel responded in the wake of hurricanes Debbie, Milton, and Helene, the last of which was the Georgia National Guard's largest domestic storm response in more than 30 years, encompassing more than 100 missions in 35 counties ranging from debris clearance to humanitarian support; and

WHEREAS, the selfless actions of the Georgia Department of Defense and its components at home and abroad in 2024 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 6, 2025, 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.