Southern RTI - GFAB South - GSDF

02/27/2026

𝗘𝘅𝗰𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗛𝗶𝗴𝗵𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗟𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹!
The Georgia State Defense Force (GSDF) Noncommissioned Officers (NCO) of the Year, Ellenwood Readiness Center, Ellenwood Ga., Feb. 7, 2026.
An NCO is a high-ranking, experienced enlisted service member—typically a Sergeant (E-5) or higher - who acts as a direct leader, trainer, and mentor to junior soldiers. Known as the "backbone" of the military, NCOs are responsible for daily operations, upholding standards, and enforcing discipline, bridging the gap between enlisted personnel and officers.
The GSDF NCO of the Year title is earned through sustained performance, leadership, and mastery of the mission. Following selection, each NCO serves one year at Headquarters as Enlisted Aide to the Commanding General, operating at the center of force-level leadership and ex*****on.
This historic photo captures the first three consecutive NCOYs to serve in that role:
𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗳𝗳 𝗦𝗲𝗿𝗴𝗲𝗮𝗻𝘁 (𝗦𝗦𝗚) 𝗟𝗮𝘂𝗿𝗲𝗻 𝗕𝗼𝘆𝗹𝗲-𝗘𝘀𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗶𝗺𝗲𝗿 (2023–2024)
𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗳𝗳 𝗦𝗲𝗿𝗴𝗲𝗮𝗻𝘁 (𝗦𝗦𝗚) 𝗠𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘄 𝗖𝗶𝗽𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗮 (2024–2025)
𝗦𝗲𝗿𝗴𝗲𝗮𝗻𝘁 (𝗦𝗚𝗧) 𝗝𝗼𝗿𝗱𝗮𝗻 𝗡𝗼𝗲𝗹 (2025–2026)
Three Soldiers. One standard: Excellence.
The GSDF is a component of the Georgia Department of Defense, along with the Georgia Air National Guard and Georgia Army National Guard.
Interested in competing for the 2026 NCO of the Year Boards? Coordinate through your Chain of Command.
(Georgia State Defense Force photo by Chief Warrant Officer 3 Alexander Davidson)
RTI - GFAB South - GSDF

𝗘𝘅𝗰𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗛𝗶𝗴𝗵𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗟𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹!

The Georgia State Defense Force (GSDF) Noncommissioned Officers (NCO) of the Year, Ellenwood Readiness Center, Ellenwood Ga., Feb. 7, 2026.

An NCO is a high-ranking, experienced enlisted service member—typically a Sergeant (E-5) or higher - who acts as a direct leader, trainer, and mentor to junior soldiers. Known as the "backbone" of the military, NCOs are responsible for daily operations, upholding standards, and enforcing discipline, bridging the gap between enlisted personnel and officers.

The GSDF NCO of the Year title is earned through sustained performance, leadership, and mastery of the mission. Following selection, each NCO serves one year at Headquarters as Enlisted Aide to the Commanding General, operating at the center of force-level leadership and ex*****on.

This historic photo captures the first three consecutive NCOYs to serve in that role:
𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗳𝗳 𝗦𝗲𝗿𝗴𝗲𝗮𝗻𝘁 (𝗦𝗦𝗚) 𝗟𝗮𝘂𝗿𝗲𝗻 𝗕𝗼𝘆𝗹𝗲-𝗘𝘀𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗶𝗺𝗲𝗿 (2023–2024)
𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗳𝗳 𝗦𝗲𝗿𝗴𝗲𝗮𝗻𝘁 (𝗦𝗦𝗚) 𝗠𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘄 𝗖𝗶𝗽𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗮 (2024–2025)
𝗦𝗲𝗿𝗴𝗲𝗮𝗻𝘁 (𝗦𝗚𝗧) 𝗝𝗼𝗿𝗱𝗮𝗻 𝗡𝗼𝗲𝗹 (2025–2026)

Three Soldiers. One standard: Excellence.

The GSDF is a component of the Georgia Department of Defense, along with the Georgia Air National Guard and Georgia Army National Guard.
Interested in competing for the 2026 NCO of the Year Boards? Coordinate through your Chain of Command.

(Georgia State Defense Force photo by Chief Warrant Officer 3 Alexander Davidson)

02/27/2026

Members of the Georgia General Assembly and senior leaders of the Georgia Department of Defense stand in the Capitol rotunda following passage of resolutions in both chambers officially recognizing Feb. 11, 2026 as National Guard Day. The ceremonial observance honored the service, leadership, and contributions of the Georgia National Guard and the Georgia State Defense Force (GSDF) in support of homeland defense and emergency response missions across the state.

Pictured left to right: Senator Chuck Payne; Lt. Col. Bob Burgess, Georgia State Defense Force (GSDF); Command Sgt. Maj. Ramos, GSDF; Senator (Maj., GSDF) Kay Kirkpatrick; Col. Tony Dill, GSDF; Representative (Col., U.S. Army Reserve) Josh Bonner; Brig. Gen. Jason Fryman, Assistant to the Adjutant General–Army; Maj. Gen. Dwayne Wilson, The Adjutant General of Georgia; and Col. Barry Simmons, Georgia Army National Guard, Chief of the Joint Staff.

The GSDF is a component of the Georgia Department of Defense, along with the Georgia Air National Guard and Georgia Army National Guard.

(Photo courtesy of Georgia State Defense Force Maj. Kay Kirkpatrick)

02/25/2026

The Southern RTI of the GFAB South is looking for instructors. If you have teaching or instructing skills and/or experience (military or civilian) and you'd like to serve as a Soldier in the GASDF, please PM us or call/text us at: 330-933-7620.

01/27/2026

Working hand in hand with our military partners.

01/26/2026

01/20/2026

Great Christmas party at GFAB South. So much extra food that we were able to donate Christmas meals to the base MPs. 🎄

01/20/2026

CSM Jones knows how to display “Selfless Service”. 😊

01/20/2026

Intersted in serving? Call or text 330-933-7620.

11/10/2025

Happy 250th birthday Marines! Semper Fi!

10/14/2025

Georgia State Defense Force (GSDF) Soldiers conduct Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) operations field training exercise, Ellenwood Readiness Center, Ellenwood Ga., Oct. 4, 2025.

The GSDF has established a special unit to educate, train, and conduct UAS operations. UAS, or drones, are used across many sectors, including military, man-made and natural disaster response, search and rescue operations. They provide an aerial perspective, enabling tasks that are too dangerous, difficult, or time-consuming for human-operated aircraft, including intelligence gathering and emergency support.

The GSDF is a component of the Georgia Department of Defense, along with the Georgia Air National Guard and Georgia Army National Guard.

(Georgia State Defense Force photo by Chief Warrant Officer 3 Alexander Davidson)

10/13/2025