A Look Back at the Tenure of the Ga. DoD’s 42nd Adjutant General: Maj. Gen. Joe Jarrard

Maj. Gen. Joe Jarrard, Georgia's 42nd Adjutant
General. Georgia Guard Archives

by Maj. William Carraway

Historian, Georgia Army National Guard

Introduction

The tenure of an adjutant general of a National Guard state is like a chapter in an organization’s history. Thus, we may liken the history of the Georgia Guard to a book with 42 chapters, the last of which concluding with the tenure of Maj. Gen. Joe Jarrard. As we prepare to welcome Maj. Gen. Tom Carden as the 43rd Adjutant General of Georgia it is appropriate to take a look back over the four-year tenure of our 42nd Adjutant General.

Background

Jarrard graduated from the North Georgia College and State University in 1988 and was commissioned a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army. He served in numerous duty assignments and in 2003 deployed as the executive officer of the 3rd Battalion, 27th Field Artillery Regiment in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom during which his unit supported the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force. Jarrard again deployed to Iraq in 2005 as the deputy commander of the 18th Field Artillery Brigade (airborne). During this deployment, Jarrard served as the deputy effects coordinator and chief of assessments for the 101st Airborne Division. 

Governor Nathan Deal presides over the promotion of Maj. Gen. 

Joe Jarrard, during a ceremony at the state capitol March 13,
 2017. Jarrard receives his new rank from Deal and Susan Jarrard.

Ga. National Guard photo by Capt. William Carraway 

Jarrard retired from the U.S. Army in April 2009 as a Lieutenant Colonel. From August 2009 to September 2011 he worked in Afghanistan with the Counterinsurgency Advisory and Assistance Team. On Sept. 23, 2011 he was appointed by Governor Nathan Deal to serve as the Assistant Adjutant General-Army with the rank of brigadier general. Jarrard was appointed Georgia’s 42nd Adjutant General January 11, 2015. On March 13, 2017 at the state capitol Jarrard was promoted to major general during a ceremony presided over by Governor Nathan Deal.

Force Structure

Cumming, Ga. Sept. 14, 2013 – Brigadier Gen. Joe
Jarrard,  speaks at the dedication of  the Cumming
Regional Readiness Center, home of the 560th Battlefield
Surveillance Brigade. Georgia National Guard
photo by Capt. William Carraway

When Jarrard assumed the office of TAG-Ga., the Ga. DoD was comprised of approximately 15,000 Guardsmen, State Defense Force volunteers and state and federal employees. This number remained largely consistent throughout Jarrard’s term despite a whirlwind of force structure changes that had been mandated by the Department of Defense before he took office. Nine Georgia Army National Guard units were inactivated from 2015 through fiscal year 2018. Among these were the historic 265th Regional Support Group, the 560th Battlefield Surveillance Brigade and many of its subordinate units. These losses were balanced by the addition of new units and new capabilities. 

With the addition of the 3rd Battalion, the 121st Infantry Regiment was returned to its World War I strength for the first time since 1968. Georgia became one of the first guard states to field a cyber protection team and specialty units such as the 560th Battlefield Coordination Detachment, 3rd ID Main Command Post Operational Detachment and 648th Military Engagement Team increased the Georgia Guard’s interoperability with active forces. In the coming year, Georgia Guardsmen will fill the ranks of the new 1st Battalion, 54th Security Force Assistance Brigade and the 201st Regional Support Group will welcome the addition of a chemical, biological, radiation and nuclear response unit.

MACON, Ga., December 3, 2016 - Senior leaders of the Ga. Army National Guard
inspect the assembled Soldiers of the 48th Infantry Brigade Combat Team during the
brigade's change of command ceremony at the Macon Readiness Center.
Ga. National Guard photo by Capt. William Carraway 

In 2016, The 48th Infantry Brigade Combat Team was selected to participate in the US Army strategic pilot program associating Guard and active units.  Under the pilot program, the 48th IBCT entered into an associated unit relationship with the 3rd Infantry Division, culminating in the brigade’s deployment to Afghanistan in December 2018 and January 2019.

The Ga. Air National Guard’s 165th Airlift Wing received four of its 12 Outstanding Unit Awards from 2015 to 2018. During that time frame, the 116th Air Control Wing added four Outstanding Unit Awards bringing its total to 21, more than any other unit in the United States Air Force.

MIHAESTI ROMANIA, July 15, 2017 – Major General Joe Jarrard, and Staff Sgt. Kris Hubbock of the 150th Provost Company, 1st Regiment, Royal Military
Police share a laugh at the tactical operations center of the 648th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade during Exercise Saber Guardian in Valcea, Romania.
Georgia Army National Guard photo by Capt. William Carraway 

Overseas Service

Nearly 3,000 Georgia Army National Guard Soldiers representing all five brigades deployed from 2015 to January 2019 culminating with the 48th Infantry Brigade Combat Team’s five overseas deployment of the modern era. More than 2,060 Airmen of the Ga. Air National Guard deployed in support of overseas contingency operations to every geographic command during Maj. Gen. Jarrard’s tenure as TAG. Airmen of the 116th Air Control Wing and 165th Airlift Wing remained in constant demand providing aircraft and personnel to combatant commanders on five continents. In 2015, the 116th Air Control Wing surpassed 100,000 combat mission hours flying the unique Joint Surveillance Target Attack Radar System. 

In 2015, the 116th Air Control Wing surpassed 100,000
combat mission hours. Georgia Air National Guard photo by
Senior Master Sgt. Tom McKenzie

Georgia Guardsmen spanned the globe conducting overseas development training in Jordan, Germany, Korea, Romania, and the Country of Georgia among other destinations. The Ga. DoD’s successful 22-year state partnership with the Country of Georgia was instrumental in the Department of Defense’s decision to award Georgia with a second state partner in 2016. The Ga. DoD entered into a partnership program with Argentina which has proven mutually beneficial.

Serving Georgia

The Ga. National Guard Youth ChalleNGE program graduated nearly 3,500 students from 2015 to 2018 and added a third campus in Milledgeville, Ga. Units of the Georgia Guard provided capabilities and personnel in support of domestic operations such as Patriot Bandoleer and supported South Carolina following heavy rains in 2015. The Ga. Air National Guard’s Air Dominance Center hosted several iterations of Exercise Sentry Savannah, a premier training event for fourth and fifth generation fighter aircraft training and integration

In October 2016, the Ga. Guard responded following Hurricane Matthew. More than 2,000 Georgia Guardsmen and 200 State Defense Force Volunteers responded from Savannah to St. Marys Georgia. The following year, more than 9,000 Guardsmen and agency partners participated in Vigilant Guard 2017, a hurricane readiness exercise hosted by the Ga. Guard in March. Just months later, the Georgia Guard responded in the wake of Hurricane Irma.

BRUNSWICK, Ga. Sept. 12, 2017 – Georgia Army National Guard Sgt. Caitlin Taylor of the 179th Military Police Company provides a mission report to
Maj. Gen. Joe Jarrard, Georgia’s Adjutant General. The 179th MP Company is working with first responders in Glynn County, Ga. following Hurricane Irma.
Georgia National Guard photo by Capt. William Carraway 

In 2018, nearly 1,000 Soldiers, Airmen and State Defense Force volunteers mobilized to Georgia’s southwest counties following Hurricane Michael. For fifteen days, Georgia Guardsmen from nearly 40 units supported operations at points of distribution for relief supplies, conducted route clearance and supported local agencies and first responders in recovery efforts. Ga. SDF Volunteers provided crucial support to points of distribution and augmented emergency operation centers from the Clay National Guard Center to the southern-most counties of Georgia.

 Jarrard traveled constantly as Adjutant General whether meeting with senior Army leaders at the pentagon or visiting Soldiers at annual training as seen here
Sept 29, 2015 at Fort Stewart speaking with Soldiers of Battery C, 1st Battalion, 118th Field Artillery Regiment.
Georgia National Guard photo by Capt. William Carraway.

As Maj. Gen. Tom Carden prepares to accept the responsibility as Georgia’s 43rd Adjutant General, he is receiving a Ga. DoD with more local impact, more state economic impact and more international impact than previous TAGs. This is due in no small part to the leadership and vision of Georgia’s 42nd Adjutant General. 

Major General Joe Jarrard  congratulates Charlie Westrip on his first-place finish in the male 7-10 year category in the sixth annual Assault on Kennesaw
Mountain 5K Sept. 30, 2017.  Photo by Capt. Charles Emmons

To view and download images from Maj. Gen. Jarrard's tenure as TAG visit the Ga. DoD Flickr album at https://www.flickr.com/photos/ganatlguard/albums/72157627658770637