Georgia State Defense Force

Georgia State Defense Force
Georgia SDF Shoulder Sleeve Insignia
Country	United States
Allegiance	Georgia
Branch	Army
Type	State Defense Force
Size	800+
Part of	Georgia Department of Defense
Garrison/HQ	Marietta, Georgia
Website	http://www.gasdf.com/
Commanders
Commander in Chief	Gov. Nathan Deal
Adjutant General	BG Joe Jarrard
Commander	BG Thomas Danielson

The Georgia State Defense Force (GSDF, GASDF, or SDF) is an unpaid, volunteer component of the Georgia Department of Defense, serving in support of the national and state constitutions under direction of the governor and the adjutant general of Georgia. As a State Defense Force, members serve alongside the Georgia Army National Guard and the Georgia Air National Guard.

The mission of the Georgia State Defense Force is to provide an organized, trained, disciplined, rapid response volunteer force to assist state and local government agencies and civil relief organizations during emergencies to ensure the welfare and safety of Georgia citizens.

The SDF's members help, support, and augment the Georgia National Guard, provide professional skills to the Georgia Department of Defense, and assist Georgia communities. Volunteers are trained to assist the National Guard, provide search and rescue, medical support, and disaster relief.

The Georgia State Defense Force is currently organized with a headquarters based at the Clay National Guard Center in Marietta; three brigades with geographic areas of responsibility throughout the state; medical companies; a support brigade providing special skills augmentation; a Chaplain Corps (based on Army special branches religious support) with a Command Chaplain, Brigade Chaplain, Battalion Chaplain (UMT) Unit Ministry Team and a Chaplain Training Center; and a military band (based on the Army Band - Large, Music Support Team (MST) concept). Each brigade and equivalent unit is commanded by a field grade officer (usually a colonel). The current chain of command for the State Defense Force at the state level is organized under three positions: The commander-in-chief (Governor Nathan Deal), the adjutant general (Brigadier General Joseph Jarrard), and the Georgia State Defense Force commander (Brigadier General Thomas Danielson).