GSDF Supports Hurricane Relief Efforts

Georgia Army National Guard and Georgia State Defense Force Soldiers work together to fill and load sandbags as part of hurricane relief efforts near Augusta, Georgia. (Georgia State Defense Force photo by Chief Warrant Officer 2 W. Kevin Ward, 1BDE, AS3.)

Fort Gordon, Augusta, Georgia, October 4, 2015 – The Georgia State Defense Force (GSDF) was recently activated to support hurricane relief efforts near Augusta, Georgia. Hurricane Joaquin has been relentlessly pounding the eastern United States for the past several days; as a result, numerous areas have experienced severe flooding.

Georgia Army National Guard and Georgia State Defense Force Soldiers work together to load sandbags onto a flatbed truck as part of hurricane relief efforts near Augusta, Georgia. (Georgia State Defense Force photo by Chief Warrant Officer 2 W. Kevin Ward, 1BDE, AS3.)

GSDF Soldiers, working alongside Georgia Army National Guard (GAARNG) Soldiers, filled 8,000 sandbags and loaded them onto eight flatbed trailers. The sandbags will be used to create a water buffer to control flooding in Georgia, North Carolina, and South Carolina. Over 100 GSDF and GAARNG Soldiers supported the relief activities.

Georgia Army National Guard and Georgia State Defense Force Soldiers work together to load sandbags onto a flatbed truck as part of hurricane relief efforts near Augusta, Georgia. (Georgia State Defense Force photo by Chief Warrant Officer 2 W. Kevin Ward, 1BDE, AS3.)

Col. William Bryant, Commander of 1st Brigade, GSDF, said, “It’s great to see our Soldiers work hand-in-hand with the Guard to support the citizens of Georgia and South Carolina.”

Georgia Army National Guard and Georgia State Defense Force Soldiers work together to load sandbags onto a flatbed truck as part of hurricane relief efforts near Augusta, Georgia. (Georgia State Defense Force photo by Chief Warrant Officer 2 W. Kevin Ward, 1BDE, AS3.)