ATLANTA, GA – The Georgia National Guard can now assist members seeking benefits for same-sex spouses due to changes made in their policy Monday.

Lt. Col. Thomas Lesnieski with the Georgia National Guard says applications for military ID cards that allow health care and benefits will be processed at Fort Benning and Clay National Guard Center in Marietta. The process was on hold after the state objected the Federal policy, citing Georgia’s constitutional amendment defining marriage as between a man and a woman.

U.S. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel has recently chastised states not issuing the ID cards, saying it was causing division among troops.

Georgia has about 12,000 soldiers in the Army National Guard and 2,300 in the Air National Guard.

Source: AP