State Defense Force Plays Keep Part
In Anti-Terrorism Exercise

Story and photos by
SPC Curtis Porter III
124 MPAD

Related Story: 178th MPs Work With Civilian Counterparts

James Moody, a Georgia State Defense Force member is held at bay by Forsyth County Sheriff's Deputies during the recent anti-terrorist exercise Operation Castle Keep.

Georgia State Defense Force member James H. Moore was one of more than 70 of the organization’s members who participated in a state anti-terrorism exercise at Georgia ’s Buford Dam on March 5. The Doraville pastor, who is also a fantasy writer, amateur astronomy buff and former law enforcement officer, added the role of terrorist to his resume during the exercise named Operation Castle Keep.

Moore and fellow SDF members role-played as terrorists to assist several government agencies in Castle Keep, designed to help prepare “first responders” for a possible terrorist threat.

SDF members worked in conjunction with the Georgia Army National Guard’s 178th Military Police Company, out of Kennesaw, along with personnel from the Gwinnett County and Forsyth County Police Departments, Forsyth County Fire Department, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, the Georgia State Police, the United States Corps of Engineers and the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary.

“I always had a desire to be in the military since I was young, but my bad eyes kept me out. Now that I’m in the SDF as a chaplain, I’m realizing my dream,” said Moore.

Moore’s role in Operation Castle Keep was to attempt to breach a roadblock setup by law enforcement officials. He portrayed his role convincingly enough that Forsyth County Sheriff’s deputies had the minister handcuffed with weapons pointed at him on the dusty ground just below the summit of Buford Dam on the Gwinnett-Forsyth County line.

The SDF was a major component of Castle Keep. The volunteer members of the SDF contribute their time and service without benefit of pay. They provided almost all of the role-playing assets during the day-long interagency exercise.

“We were asked to be the opposing force for this exercise and provide medical support, both real-world and scenario," said Col. Noel R. Bambrough, the commander for SDF members participating in the exercise. "We’re proud of our ability to come in as a disciplined force and follow the orders and directions given to us by higher authority.”

SDF member William Tello, a staff sergeant in the organization, was actually part of the team which stormed a control room at the Buford Dam, taking hostages along the way and holding law enforcement members at bay until Special Weapons And Tactical teams from Gwinnett and Forsyth County Sheriff’s Departments retook the facility in a show of force reminiscent of a big-budget action movie.

“The SWAT guys and the hostage negotiators were really good,” Tello said. “I was talking to one guy on the phone and decided to throw them for a loop by talking in Spanish. The guy on the other end acted like he didn’t hear my question and asked me to repeat it. I did and the reply I got back was in Spanish.”

Brambrough said it’s this type of realistic scenario that makes SDF membership worthwhile.  “The exposure we receive from training with the Guard and law enforcement is invaluable. This proves we are ready to serve.”