HEADS UP!HEADS UP!

ON TARGET

E-NEWS FROM THE GEORGIA STATE DEFENSE FORCE

Volume One, Issue Two

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FAMDET UNIT SHOWS THE COLORSFAMDET UNIT SHOWS THE COLORSThe 1st Brigade, 2nd Battalion, MEDDET Support Unit of GSDF, salute the GaARNG 190Th MP Company, en-routeto active duty assignment, 18 March 2003. Deploymentat McCollum Field, Kennesaw was supported by GSDFtroopers, who then moved to the overpass at I-75and Windy Hill Rd.,to salute the soldiers' convoy.

The reaction of motorists, particularly truckers, whoresponded with a cacaphony of horn blasts, was aclear message of support to Georgia's deploying National Guard troops.

The GSDF troops provided security, family assistance,traffic control, crowd control and first aid during thedeployment procedure and ceremony at KennesawArmory as well as the hanger at McCollum Field.

See more on page four...

WHAT IS METL?WHAT IS METL?See page six...

OPS IN THE FIELDOPS IN THE FIELDSee page two...

TROOPERS IN THE HOT LZTROOPERS IN THE HOT LZSee page three..

TROOPS DEPLOY FROMKENNESAW ARMORY

TROOPS DEPLOY FROMKENNESAW ARMORYSee page four...

Whadya meanit's over....

Hey, I needa Starbucks!

HEADS UP!HEADS UP!PAGE TWO

The four Southern Brigades of the Georgia State Defense Force heldannual training on April 12, 2003 in Cochran, Georgia. Over 100 Troopersparticipated in search and rescue, land navigation, medivac, and helicopterlanding operations along with radio communications and emergencymedical response sessions.

SDF Staff from the 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th Brigades attended the session,some troopers coming from as far away as the Georgia-Florida Border.

"Training like this serves two purposes," stated Colonel Willie Garnerwho commands two of the brigades attending. "It gives our people anopportunity to get out into the field, and to build esprit de corps as we train to prepare to meet any emergency situation."

Company C,171st Aviation Regiment from Dobbins Air Reserve Baseassisted by providing a Blackhawk helicopter and crew to assist.The flight crew consisting of Captain Brian Chesser, pilot, Chief Warrant Officer Donald Walker, pilot, and Crew Chief Staff Sergeant Darryl Faison.

The Blackhawk crew also transported personnel from the SDF Weapons of Mass Destruction Support Team to the site. The WMD team gave SDFbrigade troops instruction on helicopter landing site selection, flight operations and medevac proccedeures.

Colonel Mike McGuinn, SDF Chief of Staff, noted that training such asthis is even more critical now that half of the Georgia National Guard hasbeen deployed. "The State Defense Force has to look toward accepting far greater responsibility for homeland security issues. This kind of training is one way to build group cohesiveness, and to meet our mandate regardingmission essential tasks."

The committment to the State Defense force was demonstrated by manystaff, who took traveled great distances to attend this session. Some SDF staff, like Captain Ronald Back, went above and beyond the call of duty in serving. Captain Back is a Battalion Commander under ColonelWillie Garner, and he lost an eye and arm in combat operations with the25th Infantry Division in Vietnam. This hasn't prevented Captain Back from actively serving and leading his unit and continuing to serve to theextent of his abilities. "We are in the field, recruiting, training, and makingpeople ready for whatever situation might come up next."

Colonel Garner stated, "He is one of the most dedicated BattalionCommanders I have."

Brigadier General Seymour, Commander of he Georgia State Defense Forceused this training opporunity to meet with staffs of the participating brigadesand with local Beckley County Emergency management Agency representatives.

SDF OPS IN THE FIELD SDF OPS IN THE FIELD

Victim carried to triage.

Col. Lockert

UH60 Blackhawk landing.

HEADS UP!HEADS UP!PAGE THREE

The Adjutant General of the State of Georgia, Major General DavidPoythress, was briefed 9 April by the Georgia State Defense ForceWeapons of Mass Destruction Team.

Colonel John Harvey and Major William McShane of the GaSDFWMD Team presented the briefing and covered key SDF support issues for the National Guard.

Major Jeffrey Allen, GaArNG Commanding the 4th WMD CST was very complimentary of the contributions provided by the GaSDF team. Major Allen said the Guard used this 10-persongroup as a "brain trust and resource" because they includehigh-skill GaSDF personnel ranging from Senior Chemists throughMedical Doctors to First Responders."

The Adjutant General asked several questions about capabilities andresponse options. Other questions were raised centering on missionessential tasks for GaSDF in the WMD area. Training, and additional capabilities for GaSDF were also discussed.

AIR OPS TRAINING PUT TROOPERS IN THE HOT LZAIR OPS TRAINING PUT TROOPERS IN THE HOT LZSee the story on page five...

WO1 Garrard

WMD TEAM BRIEF ADJUTANT GENERAL

MORE NEXT PAGE...

Major General Poythress

HEADS UP!HEADS UP!PAGE FOUR

18 March Deployment McCollum Field

GaARNG 190Th MP Company

To the right and below are the faces of the GaARNG families and theirGaARNG soldiers who are leaving tobe part of the assignment to secure Iraq during the rebirth of that Nation. If these images seem diminishednow that hard combat has ended, keep in mindthe job for these troops is just beginning.

Cpl. Dennis Brock, 2BN GaSDFOne of many GSDF soldiers on callto assist families of deployingGaARNG soldiers

Cpl. Dennis Brock, 2BN GaSDFOne of many GSDF soldiers on callto assist families of deployingGaARNG soldiers

HEADS UP!HEADS UP!PAGE FIVE

AIR OPS TRAINING PUT TROOPERS IN THE HOT LZAIR OPS TRAINING PUT TROOPERS IN THE HOT LZFrom Page three...

The Georgia State Defense Force WMD TEAM conducted detailed and interactive helicopter landing-zone operation training at Dobbins ARB, 1 March 2003.

Classroom instruction was given by WO1 Lloyd Garrard, who employedvisual support materials and physical demonstration, presenting the largeclass a comprehensive course on aircraft and operational techiniques.

Company C,171st Aviation Regiment from Dobbins Air Reserve Baseassisted by providing a Blackhawk helicopter and crew to assist in the instruction, both in the classroom and during "hands-on" acitivities in theregiment's hangar. GSDF troops were afforded the opportunity to boardand evaluate the capabilities of the UH60 Blackhawk.

HEADS UP!HEADS UP!PAGE SIX

What is METL? No, its not an award which is pinned to your uniform. METL stands for Mission Essential Task List, and is the basic set ofelements required to accomplish tasks.

The State Defense Force recently revised its METL as follows:

GSDF MISSION

When ordered by the Adjutant General, provide an organized, trained,disciplined, rapid response volunteer force to assist state and localgovernment agencies, and civil relief organizations in impending oractual emergencies to assure the welfare and safety of the citizens ofGeorgia.

GSDFMISSION ESSENTIAL TASK LIST (METL)*1. Support and augment Georgia National Guard forces2. Provide professional skills to the Georgia Department of Defense3. Assist Georgia Communities.

METL DERIVED COMMON TASKS*

Disaster Reconnaissance Search and Rescue Operations

Traffic/Evacuation Control Guard Family Assistance Support Area Isolation/Area Security Base and Field Medical Support

Evacuee Shelter Augmentation Crowd Control/Event Security

EOC/SOC Augmentation Facilities Security

Special Skill Support to GADOD

Other Tasks as Authorized

* Reflects the GSDF peacetime METL and those Common Tasks derivedtherefrom that have been authorized for GSDF execution.

WHAT IS METL?WHAT IS METL?

We hope you have enjoyed this issue of "Heads Up."

Contributers were:1LT. J. Nosin,WO1 A. Katz, Dreamtime Systems, design and layout.