Some 386 Georgia State Defense Force members attended the unit's three-day annual training held at Fort Stewart the  in November. The troopers, from all over the State of Georgia, participated in a variety of training and field exercises, including dealing with urban HAZMAT protocols, Search and Rescue (including downed aircraft and survivors), shelter operations, running tactical and emergency operations centers, and setting up medical evacuation and field hospitals. Troopers also trained on sexual harassment policies, workman compensation, and other related issues. 

While at AT, the GSDF Medical Staff under Col. James Harvey also assisted the National Guard in medically processing members of the 48th Brigade preparing to mobilize.

Much of the activities of the weekend were documented by WSB TV's Ross Cavitt and photographer Tony Light. The segment was broadcast over Thanksgiving weekend on WSB during a two-part story called "Citizen Soldiers."

Colonel Ed Radford, GSDF Deputy Commander, said the three-day exercise better prepared troopers of the Georgia State Defense Force to "meet the needs of the State of Georgia given homeland security priorities and the increasing responsibilities placed on GSDF due to National Guard mobilization."  Colonel Vernon Scott, G3 was the overall mission commander for the AT. 

During the AT there was a change of Command Ceremony installing Col. Dick Lockert as 5th Brigade Commander based at Fort Benning, Georgia. Lockert was the former commander of the GSDF HDQ Support Group.