Soldiers and officers from GSDF Headquarters Company par-ticipated in the required CTT (Common Task Testing) pro-gram on 2 May 2010 amidst drama and pathos when an unexpected Microburst flattened tents and sent CPT Clark Howard airborne with an unceremonious landing on his head.

The CTT testing, required for all active GSDF soldiers was de-signed to assure all personnel were capable of basic soldier skills

involving land navigation, voice communication, first aid and search and rescue.

The land navigation section required function use of a lensatic compass, shooting two azimuths using waist and eye-level viewing. Ad-ditionally the timed testing required identification of topographic land features on a map and determin-ing a map location using a protractor to a 6 digit grid coordinate in a 1:50000 scale map.

This task was particu-larly challenging after the aforementioned microburst as there were intense and unpredictable wind gusts across the now exposed testing area which provided the added challenge of “chase the map” which was quite disconcerting espe-cially during a timed test.

The first aid testing in-volved applying pressure dressings and then a tour-niquet to a simulated victim’s bleeding extremity. A verbal test was also performed regarding proper procedure for treating heat stroke conditions by level of severity.

The search and rescue portion of the test involved the correct tying of at least three knots, crucial to SAR activities. The second section of the test required correct use of FEMA marking for searching a structure during a disaster and documenting the conditions found during the search.

The challenging and unpredictable environmental circumstances provided an effective stress factor, which although possibly causing sections of the test to be failed also added a sense of realism, which most certainly would be encountered in a field operation.

All GSDF soldiers are required to pass all stations to be qualified for operational status in State defense Force or joint GSDF and National Guard missions.

Retesting will occur at the annual AT in November for any soldiers failing specific section of the test.

CTT TESTING AT CONFEDERATE HEADQUARTERSCommon Task Testing or Comedy, Tragedy and Trauma?- Story and Photos by CPT Arni Katz, HQ PAO

INSIDETHIS ISSUE:

WWIIHeritage Dayspage 2

Yellow Ribbon Programpage 4

Promotion featured on Newspage 2

VOL. 6 ISSUE 2 JULY 2010

The Dixie Wing and the Com-memorative Air Force brought World War II back to life on March 24th and 25th with the sounds of vintage war planes,

gunfire, and “big band” music at the Eighth Annual World War II Heritage Days at Falcon Field Regional Airport in Peachtree City. Crowds estimated around two thousand from throughout the South-east gathered at Falcon Field in Peachtree City to recall the significant mo-ments of the war, and to educate younger genera-tions on the lives lived and sacrifices made by many known as America’s “greatest generation”. World War II reenactors portraying American, German, Russian, Ital-ian, and Japanese soldiers were on hand for the

annual Heritage Day activities. With authentic uniforms, gear and equipment used in combat in the European and Pacific theatres of the War, the re-enactors offered curious guests a glimpse of life on the frontlines and at home. Actual battle reenactments between American and Axis forces were staged, and rides in legendary war-birds of the era were offered. Static displays and war memorabilia filled an airport hangar. On hand for the weekend event were members of the Georgia State Defense Force recruiting detachment. According to Private Chris Alasa, of the State Defense Force recruiting detachment, “The uniformed members of the Georgia State Defense Force generated significant interest among the visiting public which we believe could result in patriotic minded men and women volunteering for the State Defense Force.” The Georgia State Defense Force, strove to participate and capture the patriotic spirit of World War II Heritage Days, encouraging the volunteer spirit which forms the foundation of the Georgia State Defense Force.

The Spirit of World War II Comes to Peachtree City during WWII Heritage Days - Story and Photos by PVT Eric Tedder, HQ PAO

2 HEADS-UP | July 2010

Dr. Mike O’Rear became the oldest first lieutenant in the Georgia State Defense Force in March 2010.“Usually a first lieutenant is 22 years old, so I’m just a little over the age limit,” O’Rear said. It’s a good thing. I’m proud of my age; proud to have made it that far.Born in Chattanooga, TN in 1940, 1LT O’Rear has waited a long time to become an officer. He enlisted in the Army in 1959 and was based at Ft Jackson. After completing basic training, he qualified for OCS (Officer Candidate School) but was shipped off to Germany until 1962 when he retired from the military as a corporal. “Forty-eight years later, I finished OCS”, said Dr. O’Rear. However, 1LT O’Rear is no stranger to schools. He is a professor at Chatta-hoochee Technical College in Acworth where he is an instructor in Electronic & Computer Engineering Technology and has a Ph.D. in Biomedical Engineering. He also serves as the Vice-President of the Georgia Bio Medical Instrumentation Society. In addition, he is a Life Member of the Disabled American Veterans and serves on the honor guard for funerals in Pickens County. In 2005, 1LT O’Rear had the desire to serve again and wanted to re-enlist in the Army, but fortunately for the GSDF, he was over the age limit so he joined The Force. 1LT O’Rear serves in 1st MEDCO in the 1st Brigade. He has been married for 48 years, “to the same women” he pointed out. He has two children and three grandchildren. 1LT O’Rear’s promotion was featured on 11Alive News and can be viewed athttp://www.11alive.com/news/local/story.aspx?storyid=143216&catid=3.

GSDF 1LT Promotion Featured on 11 Alive News- Story and Photo by CPL Jim Zegers

ILT Mike O’Rear promotion being covered by Atlanta’s 11Alive News Team.

3HEADS-UP | July 2010

CW4 Gordon “John” Wilson has recently joined the HQ G2 Unit of GSDF in order to provide his extensive technical expertise to the intelligence section. Effective with the May drill weekend, the CG has decided to once again form a G2 (Intelligence Staff Office) separate from the com-bined G3/G2 office which has existed for the last couple of years. The new G2 is LTC Dirk Daube who is adding the G2 Staff func-tion to his existing Safety office duties. He will be assisted by MAJ Combs and CW4 Wilson, formerly members of the G3/G2 staff, and CPL Rainwater who was on the Safety Office staff. The new G2 staff will develop an SOP for G2 and S2 functions at all staff levels, with emphasis on operations security (OPSEC), communica-tions security (COMSEC), physical security, and personal security (PERSEC).Chief Wilson’s impressive background prepares him well for his new duties. In the US Army from 1967 – 1992 he held the post of Human Intelligence (HUMINT) Technician, specifically as an order of battle analyst and prisoner interrogator. During this time he was also trained the Vietnamese, Romanian and German languages, obtaining operational fluency in each of them. The highest level assignment in which he served was from 1987 – 1990 as the only warrant officer on the staff of the Assistant Deputy Chief of Staff for Intelligence, HQ, Department of the Army in the

Pentagon. He was the primary staff action officer responsible for the Army Foreign Language Program. In that role he represented the Army on vari-ous committees at the Department of Defense, National Security Agency, Defense Intelligence Agency, and Cen-tral Intelligence Agency.Chief Wilson’s military awards include: Legion of Merit, Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart, Meritorious Service Med-als (3), Joint Service Commendation Medal, Army Commendation Medals (2), Vietnam Service Medal.Since retiring from the Army, Chief Wilson has been active in various security-related and investigative endeavors, including the formation of his own company, Five Star Investigations and Train-ing in 1993 in Jonesboro, GA.In addition to his work, Chief Wilson enjoys small plot gardening, sport shooting and photography as well as sharing time with his wife, Janet, a former major in Military Intelligence, in their home near Jonesboro.Chief Wilson is glad to be a GSDF team member and is eager to get started on his new mission of “raising the security consciousness of the GSDF.

Chief Wilson Joins GSDF and G2 Gets a Boost- Story and Photo by PVT Mike Carey, HQ PAO

SGM Hardegree began his extensive military career after high school when he joined the United States Marine Corps in 1973 as a field wireman. After serving in this position for several years, Hardegree trained and later served as a “red eye” missile operator with the Marines until his discharge in 1979.

Following several years in the civilian workforce, SGM Hard-egree rejoined the military through the Marine Corps Reserve in 1987. He served in numerous positions including section leader, platoon leader and training chief for the Stinger missile, a short range defense missile system. He later served as career plan-ning non-commissioned officer (NCO), and the family readiness NCO. SGM Hardegree was activated in the early 1990s as part of the Second Marine Division and was deployed to Kuwait in support of Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm. While deployed, he was appointed as detachment commander of a Stinger missile sec-tion with responsibilities for safeguarding for forward headquarters positions.

SGM Hardegree retired from the United States Marine Corps in 2002 and settled in Carrollton with his wife, Deborah Hardegree. Joining the Georgia State Defense Force in 2002, he served as

the training NCO until 2004 and later moved up the ranks within the State Defense Force from Master Sergeant to Head-quarters First Sergeant and in January of 2010 was promoted to Sergeant Major.

SGM Hardegree works at Sony Music in Carrollton. He has three sons; Justin, a Corporal serving in the Marine Reserves, Scott, a Sergeant who was recently discharged from the Marines, and Jason, who currently works for the United States Department of Agricul-ture in Washington, D.C.

Timothy Hardegree promoted toHeadquarters Company Sergeant Major - Story and Photo by PVT Eric Tedder, HQ PAO

R E C E N T P R O M O T I O N S

Michael Worthington to LTCJames Siniard to MAJJames Hayden to MAJJohn Hinson to SSG

Eugene Ken Miller to SSGJarrard Doyle to SFC

Clarence Grear to 1LTDelbert Moorhead to SFCRichard Mattson to SFC

Anthony Bagdonis to CPTHugo Bryan-Porter to PFC

4 HEADS-UP | July 2010

Georgia State Defense Force soldiers volunteered 3860 hours in the Yellow Ribbon Program at Ft. Stewart in March.

The Yellow Ribbon Program is a fed-eral funded mandate designed to benefit National Guard and Reserve members and their families by helping to give them access to necessary support and guide them to the appro-priate information, services, benefits, proactive outreach,

and referrals to help Service members to “reintegrate” following an operational deployment. The Expectation Training is designed to assist family and friends to reconnect with returning soldiers. Family and friends are reimbursed for hotel and travel expenses to the base.

COL McDonald and COL Hightower acted as co-OICs for the Yellow Ribbon Program where 67 GSDF soldiers, colonials down to privates, worked 12 to 18 hours days tracking down thousands of family and friends of the returning 48th BDE from Afghanistan. The team spent 321 man days contacting family members and

friends of deployed soldiers to in-vite them to a two day Expectation Training a day prior to the soldiers’ return.

GSDF volunteers received a mani-fest of the returning soldiers and then would contact, leave mes-sages and take incoming calls that resulted in positive feedback from family members and friends. The GSDF soldiers had an astounding success rate of 95% of connecting with family and friends.

Georgia’s 48th Infantry Brigade began mobilizing for its yearlong deployment in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in March 2009. By June of that year, the brigade was in Southern Afghani-stan, carrying out its mission of mentoring and training the Afghan Army and Afghan National Security Force. Six months into the deployment, the basic mission hadn’t changed. Elements of the 48th found themselves living, working and fighting alongside the sol-diers and police they had trained. Eight members of the BDE were lost in the deployment.

Returning 48th BDE soldiers were trucked out of Afghanistan to an airbase in Uzbekistan, where most of them returned via chartered flight to Hunter Army Airfield in Savannah. It took a few hours to process the troops and get them back to Ft. Stewart to reunite with their families and friends. After reunion, soldiers receive a five day debriefing and return to civilian life.

Yellow Ribbon Program for 48th BDE at Ft Stewart- by Cpl Jim Zegers, HQ PAO

MAJ Peter Catlin, JAG HQ working the phones at Operation Yellow Ribbon 2010 at FT Stewart. - photo by COL McDonald

2LT Ritchie at FT Stewart Yellow Ribbon Mission 2010- photo by COL McDonald

I N M E M O R I A M

WO1 Ralph McGillWarrant Officer One Ralph Emerson McGill Jr., passed away 1 June 2010 after suffering a heart attack at home. He was 65.

Chief McGill was appointed acting GSDF Public Affairs Officer on 12 March 2005 by then COL Michael McGuinn. McGill was a vital asset to the PAO HQ unit prior to being appointed acting PAO. He received an Honorable Discharge from GSDF in 2006 after 4 years service.

A gifted writer and son of the late Pulitzer Prize winning pub-lisher and editor of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution Ralph McGill Sr., Chief McGill was a well-established and gifted writer with a legendary career in the Atlanta advertising community for over 40 years.

Chief McGill served honorably in the USMC Reserves from 1964-1970 and achieved the rank of E5 with the 4th MT BN 4th 105 mm Howitzer.

McGill is survived Mary Welch McGill, his wife of 21 years and his son Grady McGill of Atlanta.

HEADS UP is the official newsletter of The Georgia State Defense Force

Submit articles & photos to CPT Arni Katz at arnikatz@yahoo.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 numberor email address with any submissions.

HEADS UP CONTENT SUBMISSION

PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICE

HEADS UP LAYOUT & DESIGN

HISTORIAN / JOURNALIST

ASSISTANT HISTORIAN / JOURNALIST

WEBMASTER / JOURNALIST

REPORTER/LEGISLATIVE LIAISON

VIDEO CAMERAMAN

PHOTOGRAPHER

PHOTOGRAPHER / JOURNALISTS

PAO

CPT Arni KatzDEPUTY PAO

CPT Clark HowardPVT Will TaylorMAJ Rich ElwellPV2 Eric TedderCPT Andy CreedCPT Sandra KinneyCW2 Mario do CarvalhoCW2 Mario de CarvalhoCPL Jim ZegersPV2 Mike Carey