The Georgia State Defense Force Search & Rescue (SAR) Team recently worked with the Forsyth County Sheriff’s Department and the Lumpkin County Emergency Management Agency during a Search & Rescue mission in the Appalachian mountains.

Georgia State Defense Force (GSDF) Soldiers stand atop Blood Mountain during a search and rescue mission along the Appalachian Trail in Lumpkin County, Ga., October 26, 2021.

GSDF Soldiers trained in search and rescue techniques were among those who joined this mission. These Soldiers (center in the photo below) formed a search and rescue team with deputies from the Forsyth County Sheriff’s Department. This team trekked approximately 12 miles along harsh terrain for several hours.

Thirty GSDF Soldiers participated, including those serving on multiple teams that scoured various portions of the rugged trail. The Lumpkin County Emergency Management Agency led this mission, with assistance from the Georgia Department of Natural Resources and Forsyth County.

Georgia State Defense Force photos by Sgt. John Thomas