When

natural disasters strike, along with all of the

well-known community service oriented groups that

help out, the Georgia State Defense Force is

there.

The

group is a volunteer component of the state of

Georgia Department of Defense and under the

command of the Governor. In addition to opening

shelters for people affected by floods or

hurricanes, they assist in crowd control during

major events, help perform search and rescue

operations and also assist the Red Cross with CPR

classes.

Originating

in 1733 under the command of Gen. James

Oglethorpe, the Georgia State Defense Force had

troops to fight in both world wars, the Korean

War, Vietnam, and the Gulf War. In both World

Wars, the GSDF protected the coast of the state.

There are local assistance detachments all

throughout the state that can provide assistance

to a community in need. During the Olympics, most

of the detachments were used for crowd control

and transportation, but because of the numerous

possibilities in which they might have been

needed, they underwent intensive training to

prepare.

Like

the National Guard or the reserves for any branch

of the armed services, members of the GSDF meet

twice a month at armories across the state,

depending upon which detachment they are nearest

to.

They

also meet two weekends a year for intensive

training. The Fifth Brigade, the brigade nearest

here, is based out of Columbus, but members meet

at armories either in Newnan or Griffin. Members

participate in continuous training to prepare for

any type of emergency and learn a number of

skills that are useful in any facet of their

lives.

Much

like the Minutemen who fought during the

Revolutionary War, the GSDF is a well organized

state militia. It is open to any citizen 17 to 60

who wishes to assist the community. Officers,

non-commissioned officers and enlisted personnel

are drawn from three groups; those with prior

military service, Georgians with prior military

training, like Civil Air Patrol cadets, or

volunteers with no prior military training or

experience. They also recruit staff

professionals, like lawyers or doctors.

Recruits

do not have to meet the physical standards of the

armed services, but a police check is required to

make sure there are no prior convictions.

Currently,

the Fifth Brigade has approximately 110 members,

but the more volunteers they have, the more

missions there are that can be accomplished.

Volunteering with the GSDF can be enjoyable as

well as gratifying; one needs only the heart to

do something and a sense of patriotism.

If

you are committed to service, excellence and

continued improvement and are interested in

volunteering with the GSDF, call Lt. Col. John

Slapak at 770-461-6562 or LTC Folds at

770-403-9339 or 770-719-8276.