ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) - As tensions escalate between the United States and Iran, military units based in Georgia may be preparing to take on critical missions, overseas and at home.

Georgia is home to several major military installations and more than 120,000 active-duty service members, National Guard personnel, reservists, and civilian defense workers.

According to retired Lt. Gen. William Caldwell, these troops are among the nation’s best.

“They’re going to be asked to do different things from force protection on key facilities to perhaps going forward into countries like those in the Middle East, where American forces are already positioned,” Caldwell said.

Caldwell, who now serves as president of Georgia Military College in Milledgeville, reacts as reports emerge of a U.S.-led military operation targeting Iranian nuclear facilities.

U.S. officials say the plan was characterized by a “precision strike” that “devastated the Iranian nuclear program,” even as they acknowledged an assessment was ongoing. For its part, Iran denied that any significant damage had been done, and the Islamic Republic pledged to retaliate.

U.S. pilots dropped 30,000-pound bombs early Sunday on two key underground uranium enrichment plants in Iran, delivering what American military leaders believe is a knockout blow to a nuclear program that Israel views as an existential threat and has been pummeling for more than a week. American sailors bolstered the surprise mission by firing dozens of cruise missiles from a submarine toward at least one other site.

Caldwell said he believes Georgia-based troops likely played a part in the planning and coordination of the mission. Installations such as Fort Gordon’s Cyber Center, which trains cyber warfare officers, and Fort Benning’s 75th Ranger Regiment, which specializes in high-value target missions, have unique capabilities that are essential in modern conflict.

Other strategic bases in Georgia include Moody Air Force Base, which executes global missions, and Kings Bay Naval Submarine Base, home to the Atlantic fleet’s guided and ballistic missile submarines.

For Caldwell, the current situation is deeply personal. All three of his children are connected to the military: his son is an Army captain, his daughter serves as an Air Force intelligence officer, and his youngest is set to enlist in the coming weeks.

He hopes that no further action needs to be taken.

“A lot of men and women—and their families—have made enormous sacrifices for very little show today,” he said.

On Monday, Iran launched missile strikes against a U.S. military base in Qatar, escalating fears of further retaliation.

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem acknowledged the rising threat during a visit to Virginia, saying she planned to receive additional intelligence briefings.

“We have not seen any [domestic threats] currently, but I do know that I’m going to leave here and get some intelligence briefings,” Noem said.

Georgia Governor Brian Kemp also weighed in, confirming a call with Secretary Noem and writing on X (formerly Twitter) that the state is monitoring for any potential threats.

“We’re working closely with federal partners,” Kemp wrote in the post.

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