Officer candidate Tim Petty, a volunteer Soldier assigned to the 2nd Battalion Georgia Force Assistance Brigade North, Georgia State Defense Force, discusses his experience working with the Georgia National Guard to aid communities recovering from a natural disaster in Columbia County, Georgia, Sept. 29, 2024. Nearly 1,600 Georgia National Guardsmen have been actively responding across Southern Georgia after Hurricane Helene swept through the state Sept. 26, 2024. Collaborating with local, state, and federal agencies, the National Guard plays an important role in coordinating disaster relief efforts and uniting resources to ensure effective recovery operations. (U.S. Air National Guard video by Senior Airman Christa Ross) More