An official website of the United States government
A .mil website belongs to an official U.S. Department of Defense organization in the United States.
A lock (lock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .mil website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Home : News : Article View
NEWS | Aug. 26, 2025

Georgia Guard Trains to Bolster Domestic Response Capabilities

By Charles Emmons, Georgia National Guard

MARIETTA, Ga. – The Georgia Department of Defense hosted a mobile training team from U.S. Northern Command, or NORTHCOM, and North American Aerospace Defense Command, or NORAD, to deliver a five-day Joint Forces Headquarters/Joint Task Force Staff Training Course.

The course, conducted Aug. 17-22 at the Clay National Guard Center, focused on enhancing Georgia’s homeland defense capabilities and strengthening interagency collaboration.

More than 30 members of the Georgia National Guard’s joint staff participated in the course, bringing decades of combined experience to the event. The Joint Forces Headquarters/Joint Task Force Staff Training Course provided classroom instruction and practical exercises to equip the staff to respond to both sudden and planned natural disasters, threats and emergencies. The course also provided an opportunity for the Georgia Department of Defense, or DOD, to validate its “All Hazards Plan” and develop concept plans to respond to those events.

“This training is crucial to forming a new adaptive battle staff and providing refresher training for staff members,” said Stephen Tucker, the Homeland Support and Defense coordinator for the Georgia National Guard.

The Joint Forces Headquarters/Joint Task Force Staff Training Course curriculum centers on the doctrinal model known as the Joint Planning Process as described in the Department of Defense’s recently updated Joint Publication 5-0.

Classroom exercises challenged the staff to react to notional scenarios and plan military response operations. The students analyzed the scenarios, provided important data, and developed courses of response action using the Joint Planning Process framework.

“It is satisfying to see a staff, especially one as experienced as Ga. DOD, come together to dust off the joint planning process,” said Major Jeremy Bouillion, the NORTHCOM/NORAD mobile training team chief who typically teaches more than 60 courses per year. “Sending your primary staff to a NORTHCOM course shows Ga. DOD’s commitment to improving internal process and procedures.”

With hurricane season in full swing and an upcoming “Vigilant Guard” exercise planned for later this year, the Joint Forces Headquarters/Joint Task Force Staff Training Course has strengthened the Georgia Department of Defense’s ability to prepare for domestic response exercises and real-world events.

“Our mission is to support Georgia citizens in their time of need, such as hurricanes, winter weather or a man-made disaster,” Tucker said. “Building ‘sets and reps’ through this training course provides familiarity working with adjacent service members within the Georgia National Guard.”

 

 

Related Articles
Photo of medical training during a Port Subject Matter Expert Exchange at the Port of Laem Chabang, Thailand, August 20, 2025. (Courtesy Photo)
Washington Guard Continues Strengthening Relationship at Thailand’s Port of Laem Chabang
By Joseph Siemandel, | Sept. 30, 2025
CAMP MURRAY, Wash. - Four members of the Washington National Guard partnered recently with more than 170 employees from the Port of Laem Chabang, Thailand, to continue improving the port’s all-hazard response as part of the...

Leaders and attendees from the Hawai‘i National Guard, Guam National Guard and Armed Forces of the Philippines gather for a group photo during the 25th anniversary celebration of the State Partnership Program between the Hawai‘i National Guard and the AFP at Clark Air Base, Philippines, Sept. 25, 2025. The Hawai‘i Guard and AFP launched the Indo-Pacific’s first State Partnership in 2000, marking 25 years of cooperation in training, disaster response and regional security.
25 Years Strong: Hawai‘i Guard and Philippines Celebrate Enduring Partnership
By Master Sgt. Mysti Bicoy, | Sept. 30, 2025
CLARK AIR BASE, Philippines — Cheers, handshakes and shared stories filled the air Sept. 23–25 as the Hawai‘i National Guard and Armed Forces of the Philippines celebrated 25 years of partnership — a bond that has endured...

Oklahoma National Guard leaders and Italian representatives unveil a plaque at the former headquarters of the 45th Infantry Division during WWII in Venafro, Italy, Sept. 8, 2025. A delegation of Oklahoma National Guard members and veterans toured key locations from the 45th Infantry Division’s campaign in Italy against German forces during World War II, continuing the development of the Thunderbird Trail. The initiative is aimed at preserving the Division's role in World War II through a memorial trail tracing its footsteps through Italy, France and Germany, ensuring their sacrifices are never forgotten. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Danielle Rayon)
Thunderbird Trail: Preserving Sacrifice, Strengthening Connection for Oklahoma Guard
By Sgt. Danielle Rayon, | Sept. 29, 2025
ITALY – Standing among rows of white marble headstones at the Sicily-Rome American Cemetery and Memorial, Soldiers of the Oklahoma National Guard bent to place sand from the beaches of Anzio into the carved names of...