Global Guardian 2012, an Air National Guard sponsored training exercise emphasizing full spectrum operations, began February 13, 2012 at the Savannah Combat Readiness Center, Garden City, Georgia. The joint exercise between U.S. Air Force and U.S. Army Active Duty, Guard and Reserve units, prepares personnel for deployment to conduct direct and in-direct combat operations, and redeploy safely to home base.

“I am proud that the Georgia Air National Guard is hosting Global Guardian 2012. I want to welcome the members of the U.S. Army and U.S. Air Force Active Duty, Guard and Reserves, along with the members of the Royal Canadian and Royal Netherlands Air Forces to the Savannah Combat Readiness Center,” said Major General Jim Butterworth, Adjutant General, Georgia National Guard. “The Savannah Combat Readiness Center is a unique environment for joint forces training. Joint training, conducted in realistic 2 environments, under realistic circumstances, ensuring our forces maintains the highest levels of proficiency and readiness for worldwide deployment.”

The exercise features the coordination of air and land units in a simulated wartime environment. The Savannah Combat Readiness Center was chosen due to its distinctive location and central access to air space and field training conditions.

Over 1,300 personnel are taking part of this joint exercise. The diverse grouping includes flying units, medical units, support units and ground forces from twenty states. Additionally, members of the Royal Netherland Air Force and the Royal Canadian Air Force have medical units participating side by side with U.S. Air Force Medical Units during the exercise.

Local Georgia units include the 165th Airlift Wing (Air National Guard), Garden City, Georgia, the 116th Air Control Wing (Air National Guard), Robins AFB, Georgia, the 165th Quartermaster Company, 560th Battlefield Surveillance Brigade (Army National Guard), Atlanta, Georgia, and the 117th Air Control Squadron (Air National Guard), Savannah, Georgia.

CONTACT:

Master Sgt. Bucky Burnsed

(912) 963-3648

(912) 704-4621 (cell)

-OR-

Major Nancie Margetis

(912) 963-3892