A decade of service
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The Georgia National Guard has been actively deployed in support of operations since 9/11, sending over 12,300 soldiers and 2,618 airmen overseas, more than the current force strength. The first Army Guard unit deployed in January 2002 and Army and Air units have been continuously deployed since in support of operations in Southwest Asia and Afghanistan. The 48th Infantry Brigade Combat Team completed two major deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan and nearly 40 Georgia Guardsmen have died during these operations. Currently around 900 Georgia Guardsmen remain deployed overseas with more deployments scheduled in the next two years.
A decade of service
- 1. A Decade of Service Consistent with Department of Defense trends and policy, the Georgia National Guard continues to serve the nation as an operational force in the War on Terror – going well beyond the legacy role of a strategic reserve. Since 9/11, the Georgia National Guard has deployed more than 12,300 Soldiers and 2,618 Airmen overseas, representing 107% of the Georgia Guard’s current force strength. The first Army Guard unit to mobilize in the aftermath of 9/11 was the 190th Military Police Company. The 190th departed on Jan. 16, 2002 and returned Feb. 27, 2003, beginning an unabated series of deployments that continues still today. November 2001 through April 2002, the 116th Air Control Wing deployed in response to the September 11th terrorist attacks against the United States in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. Since that time, the 116th has been continuously deployed in Southwest Asia for almost a decade. The 165th Airlift Wing has deployed to Iraq or Afghanistan in support of the War on Terror nine times. The Georgia Army National Guard’s 48th Infantry Brigade Combat Team has completed two major deployments – the first in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2005-2006, the second in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in 2009-2010, respectively. Indeed, the vast majority of the nearly 40 Georgia Guardsmen who have died in the line of duty since 9/11 were in the 48th Brigade during one of these two deployments. In addition to unit deployments, hundreds of Georgia Guardsmen have deployed individually as Individual Mobilization Augmentees to fill critical roles and shortages for various units throughout the Department of Defense. Currently, approximately 900 Georgia Guardsmen are deployed verseas today with several significant deployments scheduled during the next two years. The 15,000 men and women of the Georgia National Guard are proud to have played an instrumental role in our nation’s defense, and remain ever indebted to the sacrifices made by fellow Guardsmen who have fallen in the line of duty protecting freedom. (Word Count 320)