820th Base Defense Group


The 820th Base Defense Group is a force protection unit of the United States Air Force currently based at Moody Air Force Base, Georgia. The group was activated in 1997 as a trained force protection unit of 12 Air Force Specialty Codes with an airborne capability. The group provides the expeditionary Air Force's only worldwide deployable, "first-in", fully integrated, multidisciplined, highly qualified, self-sustaining force protection capability. The 820th BDG comprises the 822nd BDS, 823rd BDS, 824th BDS and the 820th COS.

Subordinate units

The Group has four subordinate units:
The 820th COS is composed of medics, engineers, and communication specialists. The 820 BDG is different from other Security Forces Groups in that it is not on a rotational schedule, also known as Air Expeditionary Force. The concept of the 820th BDG is to have a high operations tempo and be ready to deploy to any location at a moment's notice for extended periods of time.
The Base Defense Squadrons are made up of Security Forces airmen.

Training

Various Department of Defense schools are available to 820th airmen and may include: Airborne, Pathfinder, Army Sniper, Ranger, Air Assault, Special Reaction Team, the Close Precision Engagement Course, Raven B sUAS, and EMT.

Lineage

History

Since its re-activation in 1997, the 820th SFG has deployed in support of Operations Desert Safeside, Southern Watch, Iraqi Freedom, Enduring Freedom, Inherent Resolve, and Bright Star. It has deployed to locations such as Iraq, Djibouti, Egypt, Kuwait, Oman, Afghanistan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Pakistan, Niger, and Kenya.
The unit also deployed in a humanitarian assistance role to New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina. Fifty members of the 820th SFG deployed to Port-au-Prince in response to the 2010 Haiti earthquake to assist with security and humanitarian efforts.
In August 2009 it was announced that Airmen from the New York Air National Guard's 105th Security Forces Squadron from Stewart Air National Guard Base would support the 820th SFG with manpower for their deployments. Since then, Airmen from the 105th SFS have integrated with the 820th BDG for training and deployments.
The 820th was redesignated from the 820th Security Forces Group to the 820th Base Defense Group in October 2010.
Some veterans, current troops and family members of the unit maintain the Safeside Association. The volunteers maintain the history of the unit, provide periodic newsletters and organize an annual reunion at Moody Air Force Base.