State Representative Floyd Griffin (D-Milledgeville) has publicly criticized the recent deployment of Georgia National Guard troops to Washington, D.C. In a statement released from Atlanta, Griffin expressed concern over what he described as the misuse of the National Guard for political purposes.
“I served this nation for 23 years in uniform, including as a U.S. Army Colonel. During my services, I have commanded soldiers in Vietnam, commanded a combat engineer battalion at Fort Stewart, was responsible for evaluating the training of two National Guard units and also served at the Pentagon. I know the true cost of putting soldiers in harm’s way.
“The National Guard is not trained or intended to perform political missions in Washington. Their mission is clear: to protect Georgians during natural disasters, state emergencies and call up for active military combat mission.
“The president is misusing the Guard by turning them into a political prop in Washington. Soldiers are not trained to pick up people off the street, act as crowd control or sweep up after protests. They are trained to fight, to defend and to be ready for combat if our nation calls. Using them as street cleaners and political muscle is an insult to their service and a dangerous distortion of their mission.
“Every hour that our Guard spends standing in Washington is an hour lost in preparing for the real fight. Every National Guard unit has a mission to be deployed somewhere in the world when called upon. These soldiers should be in the field training for those combat missions, sharpening the skills they will need on a battlefield to protect our nation. Taking them away from training reduces their effectiveness and puts them—and our country—at greater risk when they are called to deploy overseas.
“Having commanded soldiers in combat, I know that readiness saves lives. When you take time from their training and preparation to send them into partisan political conflicts, you put their future combat effectiveness—and ultimately their lives—on the line. That is a risk no responsible leader should take.
“Our Guard members are citizen-soldiers with families, jobs and obligations here in Georgia. To uproot them for a political stunt in Washington is irresponsible, unnecessary and deeply disrespectful to their service and sacrifice.
“I am asking my legislative colleagues to join me in calling on the president and the governor to return the Guard back to Georgia where they can continue training for their mission and preparing to defend our nation when truly needed. Leaders should solve problems—not create them. Georgia deserves leadership that respects the service of our Guard members and refuses to misuse them for partisan politics.”
Griffin has also sent a letter requesting House Defense and Veterans Affairs Committee Chairman Josh Bonner (R-Fayetteville) convene a formal meeting regarding updates on this deployment.
Jon G. Burns currently represents Georgia’s 159th House District after being elected as a Republican legislator in 2005; he succeeded Ray Holland (https://www.house.ga.gov/representatives/en-US/member.aspx?Member=96&Session=27).
