Georgia 2025 2025-2026 Regular Session

Georgia House Bill HR138 Introduced / Bill

Filed 02/04/2025

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House Resolution 138
By: Representatives Bonner of the 73
rd
, Ballard of the 147
th
, Cannon of the 172
nd
, Thomas
of the 21
st
, and Clark of the 100
th
 
A RESOLUTION
Recognizing February 6, 2025, as National Guard Day at the state capitol; and for other
1
purposes.2
WHEREAS, the Georgia Department of Defense provides ready and relevant military forces3
to combatant commanders to defend our nation and to the governor to support homeland4
defense and defense support to civil authorities; and5
WHEREAS, the Georgia Department of Defense is headquartered at the Clay National Guard6
Center in Marietta, Georgia, and it includes the Georgia Army National Guard, the Georgia7
Air National Guard, and the Georgia State Defense Force; and8
WHEREAS, the Georgia Department of Defense consists of more than 11,000 army national9
guard soldiers; 2,800 air national guard airmen; 450 state defense force volunteers; and 50010
state employees; and11
WHEREAS, the Georgia Army National Guard is the sixth largest in the nation, trains in12
nearly 70 hometown armories and regional facilities in almost 60 counties across the state,13
and includes combat, combat support, and combat service support units; and14
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WHEREAS, the Georgia Army National Guard is organized into five major subordinate
15
commands, which are the Macon-based 48th Infantry Brigade Combat Team; the 648th16
Maneuver Enhancement Brigade at Fort Moore; and the 78th Troop Command, 78th17
Aviation Troop Command, and 201st Regional Support Group at the Clay National Guard18
Center in Marietta; and19
WHEREAS, the Georgia Air National Guard is the air power component of the State of20
Georgia with airmen and officers assigned to the 116th Air Control Wing in Warner Robins,21
the 165th Airlift Wing in Savannah, and geographically separated units throughout Georgia,22
playing an active role in supporting combatant commanders and Georgia's homeland defense23
and emergency response; and24
WHEREAS, the Georgia State Defense Force is a wholly volunteer unit of the Georgia25
Department of Defense, serving in support of the national and state constitutions under26
direction of the governor and the adjutant general, notably during hurricane response27
operations in 2024; and28
WHEREAS, the Georgia National Guard has deployed more than 33,000 soldiers and airmen29
throughout all geographic combatant commands since September 11, 2001; maintained a30
steady overseas presence in support of contingency operations; maintained state partnerships31
with the Country of Georgia and Republic of Argentina; and supported homeland response32
missions within the State of Georgia due to winter storms, hurricanes, COVID-19, and civil33
unrest; and34
WHEREAS, in 2024, more than 2,000 Georgia guard soldiers, airmen, and state defense35
force personnel responded in the wake of hurricanes Debbie, Milton, and Helene, the last of36
which was the Georgia National Guard's largest domestic storm response in more than 3037
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years, encompassing more than 100 missions in 35 counties ranging from debris clearance
38
to humanitarian support; and39
WHEREAS, the selfless actions of the Georgia Department of Defense and its components40
at home and abroad in 2024 stands as an example of putting service before self, and it is41
abundantly fitting and proper that the outstanding accomplishments of these remarkable and42
distinguished Georgians be appropriately recognized.43
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES that44
the members of this body recognize February 6, 2025, as National Guard Day at the state45
capitol and commend the men and women of the Georgia National Guard for their strength,46
leadership, courage, and selfless service.47
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Clerk of the House of Representatives is authorized48
and directed to make appropriate copies of this resolution available for distribution to the49
public and the press.50
H. R. 138
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