Helping At Vaccination

Story by Capt. Bryant Wine | Public Affairs Office | Georgia Army National Guard

The Georgia National Guard began a new assignment on Feb. 22, 2021, as the COVID-19 response effort continues.

The Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency (GEMA) and Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH) opened four mass vaccination sites in Albany, Clarkesville, Hapeville and Macon.

Over 130 Georgia National Guard Soldiers and Airmen are providing support to these sites under GEMA and DPH supervision.

“Georgia Guardsmen are assisting GEMA in every way we can,” said U.S. Air Force 1st Lt. Wes Borre, an officer in charge of Georgia National Guard personnel at one of the four vaccination sites. “If a task makes the process more efficient for the medical staff, then Guardsmen are lending a hand.”

Assigned tasks at these vaccination sites include security, traffic support, on-site logistics, command post operations and administrative support. These tasks could expand or contract throughout the duration of the mission.

The vaccination sites currently operate Monday through Friday. The duration of the Georgia National Guard’s support to these sites remains indefinite.

“We are absolutely prepared to continue this support as long as there is demand for the vaccine,” said Borre. “The Guardsmen here are in good spirits.”

The partnership between GEMA, DPH and the Georgia National Guard exemplifies the continued whole-of-state approach the agencies have pursued in combatting COVID-19 since March 2020.

The Georgia National Guard is capable of accomplishing tasks, like traffic and administrative support, on behalf of civilian healthcare professionals. This way, the civilian healthcare professionals can focus on treating patients, not maintaining paperwork. The Georgia National Guard is no stranger in partnering with state and federal agencies. Along with the proven relationship with GEMA and DPH since

the onset of COVID-19, the Georgia National Guard most recently supported the Secret Service and U.S. Capitol Police during the inauguration of President Joe Biden.

“Our GEMA coordinator and the other GEMA staff here have been terrific,” said Borre. “We are working as one team to serve Georgians and put an end to this pandemic.”

COVID-19 vaccines are only available to Georgia citizens eligible in Phase 1A. This includes people over 65 years old and their caregivers, healthcare workers, law enforcement and residents and staff of long-term care facilities.

Eligible patrons must register ahead of time and have an appointment any of the four vaccination sites. The vaccine portal can be accessed at myvaccinegeorgia. com or call 1-844-275-3428.

Story & Photos by Cpl. Isaiah Matthews | Public Affairs Office | Georgia Army National Guard

The Georgia National Guard observed Black History month with a “Black History: An American History” presentation, Feb. 10, 2021, at Clay National Guard Center in Marietta, Georgia. A small gathering of spectators attended while the Georgia National Guard livestreamed the event due to COVID-19 considerations.

U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Tom Carden, The Adjutant General of the Georgia National Guard presided over the ceremony and gave the opening speech.

“We have to be intentional that the playing field is level, so every young man or young woman has a path to the top,” said Carden.

The ceremony began with a reading of President Joe Biden’s Black History Month proclamation. The proclamation called for harmony and unity between races and incorporated a declaration mandating February as Black History Month.

“We must change. It will take time. But I firmly believe the nation is ready to make racial justice and equity part of what we do today, tomorrow, and every day,” Biden said in the proclamation. “I urge my fellow Americans to honor the history made by Black Americans and to continue the good and necessary work to perfect our union for every American.”

Following the proclamation reading, the ceremony presented a video comprised of African American Georgia National Guardsmen sharing their military experiences and how Black history impacted their careers.

The guest of honor was U.S. Air Force Brig. Gen. Konata Crumbly, the director of the joint staff for the Georgia National Guard. Crumbly delivered a speech addressing members of the armed services on recent events that impacted the African American community.

The Georgia National Guard has promoted many African Americans to higher ranks within the organization, such as Crumbly. Crumbly, who was promoted last year to brigadier general, was the first African American to serve as the 116th Air Control Wing commander.

The Georgia National Guard remains committed to equal and fair treatment of all personnel despite race, gender, religion, sexuality and all other demographics.

“No matter where you stand on your view of the world, if you are in this uniform, there is one thing you must identify with above all else,” said Crumbly. “That is supporting and defending the Constitution of the United States of America.”

Keep up with all the action by following us on social media and be sure to @ reply us and use the following hashtags during all of your social media posting:

Have some coverage you’d like us to share along our social media platforms? Email your photos along with a paragraph caption to: gaguardpao@gmail.com

Story & Photos by Tech. Sgt. Caila Arahood | 165th Airlift Wing | Georgia Air National Guard

“If you go, I go.” This is the mentality required by the U.S. security forces Airmen who went through the initial assessment on Mar. 12, 2021 that they must complete to join the 165th Security Forces Squadron’s newest undertaking, a Strategic Response Team.

The team, led by Tech. Sgt. Joseph Overholt, a noncommissioned officer in-charge at the 165 SFS, Georgia Air National Guard, located at the Savannah Air Guard Base, Ga, will be a group of security forces Airmen who are highly trained and equipped to respond to emergencies requiring advanced police tactics.

Overholt served eight years as an active-duty Air Force security forces specialist, three years as civilian police officer and SWAT operator for the city of Savannah and now is a full-time security forces Guardsmen at the 165th Airlift Wing.

“This assessment is supposed to seem impossible,” said Overholt, “I want to see these Airmen pushed to their absolute limit and observe how they respond under this kind of pressure, and ultimately see them push each other and keep going even when they want to quit.”

The assessment requires each defender to complete an official Air Force Physical Fitness Test, a timed obstacle course individually and again as a team, a ¼ mile team ruck march while carrying a telephone pole as a team while wearing full combat gear and a gas mask, shooting box drills with a rifle and a pistol and lastly, an interview and feedback session, said Overholt.

“This “You go, I go” mentality I have is originally from the latin phrase “Ecce ego, mitte me” which translates to “Here I am, send me,” Overholt said, “ I am excited to have a group of people who understand this concept and are volunteering to put themselves in greater harm and take on greater risk together for a greater cause.”

“The assessment was very challenging,” said Airman First Class Colin Ricco, a security forces specialist at the 165 SFS, “I continued to think about my “why” for doing what I am doing, which is my family and my

teammates, and that helped me push through and finish the obstacle course strong.”

The main goal in starting this SRT would be to provide our base with a first-line of defense with outstanding Airmen from the 165 SFS who are subject-matter experts in responding to situations requiring a specific strategy and specialized training, Overholt said.

“For example, say we have a situation on base that we decide we need additional support from an outside agency,” Overholt said, “Our team is going to have in-depth knowledge on the blueprints of the base including first and secondary breach points and a strategic response plan in place so that we can easily communicate and direct those who come to assist us when needed.”

Overholt said everything they will train on is an extension of their security forces training and knowledge and is intended to challenge them to think in a more strategic way alongside other highly-trained law enforcement agencies.

“This initial assessment went very well and they knocked it out of the park,” Overholt said, “They showed me exactly what I want to see, which is true grit and the ability to put their minds over matter to complete the course together as a team.”

The 165 SFS will hold another assessment later this Spring for any other defenders who are up for the challenge and want to join this special team.