New Leadership for the Volunteer Brigade
Story by: Capt. Bryant Wine | Public Affairs Office | Georgia Army National Guard The Georgia Army National Guard’s 48th Infantry Brigade Combat Team held a change of command ceremony Oct. 17, 2021, at Volunteer Headquarters in Macon, Georgia. U.S. Army Brig. Gen. Dwyane Wilson, commanding general of the Georgia Army National Guard, presided over the ceremony where Col. Anthony Fournier relinquished command to Col. Jason Baker. Baker becomes the 29th commander of the 48th IBCT, an organization of more than 4,000 Soldiers nicknamed the Macon Volunteers. “Tony made a very challenging and complex mission look easy,” said Wilson. “The Volunteers have certainly benefited from your leadership, your professionalism and dedication, and most importantly, you ensured that the 48th remained ready, lethal and relevant.” Fournier assumed command in
12 | The Georgia Guardsman
December 2019 in what was expected to be a period of reset and refit. The 48th IBCT had just returned from Afghanistan, it’s fourth deployment during the Global War on Terrorism. Beginning in March 2020, the 48th IBCT Volunteers were among thousands of G eorgia National Guardsmen activated in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Months later, Soldiers under Fournier’s command performed security tasks during protests in Atlanta in June and Stone Mountain in August following civil unrest stemming from the death of George Floyd. Experience responding to protests paid dividends when the brigade deployed two task forces to Washington D. C . i n Ja nu a r y 2 0 2 1 for the 59th presidential inauguration. Georgia was one of the largest contributors of the more t h a n 2 5 , 0 0 0 Nat i o n a l Guardsmen representing all 54 states and territories supporting the mission. Fournier ensured the 48th IBCT maintained mission essential readiness during this time of frequent domestic operations. The 48th IBCT also completed a rotation to the southwest border mission under the command of Joint Task Force-North and U.S. Customs and Border Protection during Fournier’s tenure.
The brigade’s 2nd Battalion, 121st Infantry Regiment, deployed to Morocco in June 2021 for exercise African Lion 21. African Lion was the largest
“Soldiers of the 48th Brigade, I couldn’t be more proud of all you have accomplished.”
Photos by: Capt. Bryant Wine | Public Affairs Office | Georgia Army National Guard
