2. Georgia Air threats. Members of Brunswick’s
224th Joint Communications
National Guard Support Squadron joined the Joint
Communications Support Element,
providing rapidly deployable tactical
High deployment tempo, communications to multiple locations
significant organizational changes throughout Southwest Asia. The
and new state leadership underscored 202nd Engineering Installation
2011 as a year of change for the 2,900 Squadron also deployed to Southwest
Airmen of the Georgia Air National Asia in 2011 for six months to support
Guard. Five of the Georgia Air Joint Task Force Expeditionary and
Guard’s 10 operational units deployed Air Expeditionary communication Maj. Gen. Thomas R. Moore
personnel and equipment throughout infrastructure taskings. Commander
the year in support of Operations The Georgia Air National Guard Ga. Air National Guard
New Dawn, Odyssey Dawn, Unified saw the end of the blended wing
Protector, and Enduring Freedom in concept in 2011. For a nine-year
addition to the units’Air Expeditionary span, the 116th ACW operated as
Force taskings. Although force draw- the only blended wing in the Air
downs appear imminent due to fiscal Force’s “Total Force Initiative.”
constraints and conflict resolutions, The wing accomplished its unique
the Georgia Air Guard’s core missions JSTARS mission with unparalleled
are still in high demand. We are results, realizing many organizational
committed to our vision of developing synergies; however, many challenges
top-tier Airmen and units to protect our remain. In the end, the time-tested
nation across the spectrum of conflict model of active association between
and to protect its citizens from natural Air National Guard and Active Duty Chief Master Sgt. Donald M. Camp
and man-made disasters with our joint Air Force personnel proved the best State Command Chief
services and interagency partners. solution. As a result, a new active duty Ga. Air National Guard
Our largest unit, the 116th Air associate wing called the 461st Air
Control Wing (ACW) based at Robins Control Wing was formed Sept. 30, Homeland Response Force, the 4th
AFB, flying the E-8C Joint Surveillance 2011. As an active associate wing, the Civil Support Team, the Chemical,
Target Attack Radar System (JSTARS) 116th has the principal responsibility Biological, Radiological/Nuclear, and
aircraft, has continuously deployed for the weapon system, but both wings Explosive enterprise, FEMA Region
aircraft and personnel in Southwest operate together as “Team JSTARS” IV, other FEMA regions, and with our
Asia for the last 10 years, amassing accomplishing the mission, integrating partners in the Georgia Emergency
more than 82,000 combat flying Guard and active duty personnel and Management Agency.
hours. The 165th Airlift Wing based in functioning as one team. Our dual status, with responsibilities
Savannah, flying the C-130H aircraft, All units of the Georgia Air to the state and federal government,
has deployed aircraft and personnel Guard continue to play an active makes our mission unique and
to Iraq and Afghanistan, on average, role in supporting Georgia’s provides the flexibility for both local
every 18 months. In 2011 alone, the homeland defense and defense and global response. In these times
165th airlifted over 5,600 tons of support to civil authorities missions. of fiscal constraint, we are expected
cargo and flew 1,500 combat sorties. By providing unique capabilities to do more with less. However, as we
Our geographically separated units – such as information awareness have done countless times in the past,
continued their support of the Global assessment, engineering, airlift we will continue to provide highly
War on Terror in 2011. The 165th Air and communications support – the motivated mission-ready forces for
Support Operations Squadron provided Georgia Air Guard is well positioned employment by the Governor and the
Joint Terminal Attack Controllers to meet the growing demands of United States Department of Defense.
to multiple Army Infantry Brigade civil authorities. Our Airmen train Your Georgia Air National Guard
Combat Teams, ensuring timely and regularly during exercises with is “Always Ready, Always There,
efficient air response to imminent the Georgia National Guard’s 78th Always on Target.”
2011 Annual Report | 20
