State of Georgia Department of Defense OFFICE OF THE ADJUTANT GENERAL P.O. BOX 1970 MARIETTA, GA 30061
My fellow Georgians, It is with great pride that I present you with this Annual Report outlining the accomplishments of the Georgia Department of Defense for 2012. This report reflects the duty and achievements of the more than 15,000 men and women that comprise the Georgia Department of Defense. The year 2012 saw multiple global deployments for both the Georgia Army and Air National Guard. From combat operations in Afghanistan to training exercises in Malaysia, these missions were executed professionally and successfully by our Soldiers and Airmen. Within our own borders, our Guardsmen have supported natural disaster relief efforts from tornadoes in our own State to Hurricane Sandy relief operations in the Northeast. Our Civil Support Team, Explosive Ordnance Disposal Units, and Counterdrug Task Force assisted Federal, State, and Local law enforcement operations on a regular basis. The Georgia National Guard also supported Southwest Border Protection operations in Texas. In these tough economic times and as our overseas combat operations are winding down, our Guardsmen are coming home to the challenge of finding and maintaining employment. The National Guard is defined by its “Citizen-Soldier� heritage. Our Guardsmen have served and earned the opportunity for civilian employment. As you can see in the Annual Report, the job and leadership skills our Guardsmen possess make them a marketable workforce. They just need an opportunity to illustrate these skills through employment. My challenge to employers and communities is to recruit our troops into your ranks. Please join us in encouraging local businesses to hire a Georgia National Guardsman. The Soldiers, Airmen, Volunteers, and State Employees of the Georgia Department of Defense are a trained and relevant force for our State and Nation. I sincerely hope that this Annual Report will serve not only to chronicle, but to educate our communities on the achievements of this outstanding organization. The citizens of Georgia can take pride in knowing that your Georgia National Guard is Always Ready, Always There, and Always On Target! Sincerely,
MAJ. GEN. JIM BUTTERWORTH The Adjutant General of Georgia
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