Homeland Defense Exercise Tests Georgia Guard Readiness

VIGILANT GUARD – Georgia took place from 4–6 December 2025 at the Georgia National Guard Joint Force Headquarters at Dobbins Air Reserve Base in Marietta, Georgia. The no-notice Homeland Defense exercise assessed the Georgia National Guard’s ability to rapidly activate and employ a Dual-Status Commander-led Joint Task Force in response to a complex domestic incident.

The exercise marked the first execution of the Georgia National Guard’s Homeland Defense Response Plan and provided an opportunity to evaluate command, control, coordination, and information-sharing processes between state and federal partners.

Applied Training Solutions supported the exercise by simulating tactical and information environments using ATSsim Training and ATSsim Media. ATSsim Training was used as a constructive simulation to model the movement, employment, and sustainment of military assets across the operational area. ATSsim Media replicated traditional and social media activity, enabling participants to respond to information-related challenges during the exercise.

The exercise objectives included activating and employing a Dual-Status Commander-led Joint Task Force, validating the Homeland Defense Response Plan, and identifying strengths and gaps in command and control, logistics, intelligence, and public affairs. Lessons identified during the exercise will be used to inform future Homeland Defense planning and execution by the Georgia National Guard.

Participating organizations included the Georgia National Guard, Georgia Emergency Management Agency, US Northern Command, US Army North, and Joint Task Force–Civil Support.