820th Base Defense Group

820th Base Defense Group
820th Base Defense Group emblem
Active	1968 – 1969 1997 – present
Country	United States of America
Branch	United States Air Force
Type	Force Protection Air Force Infantry
Part of	Air Combat Command  93d Air-Ground Operations Wing
Garrison/HQ	Moody Air Force Base, Georgia
Engagements	War in Afghanistan Iraq War
Commanders
Current commander	Colonel Kevin Walker
Notable commanders	Colonel John Decknick, Colonel "TR" Derry, Colonel Paul Kasuda

A airman from the 823rd Base Defense Squadron receives his Ranger tab after completing Ranger school in 2011.

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.

Subordinate units

The Group has four subordinate units:

• 820th Combat Operations Squadron ^[1]
• 822d Base Defense Squadron ^[2]
• 823d Base Defense Squadron ^[3]
• 824th Base Defense Squadron ^[4]

The 820 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 (AEF). 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 (CPEC), Raven, Raven B UAV, and EMT.^[5]

Lineage

• Established as 82 Combat Security Police Wing, and activated, on 5 March 1968.

Organized on 8 March 1968.

Inactivated on 31 December 1969.

Disestablished on 15 June 1983.

• Reestablished, redesignated as 820 Security Forces Group, and activated, on 17 March 1997.
• Redesignated as 820 Base Defense Group on 30 September 2010.

Assignments

• Tactical Air Command, 8 March 1968 – 15 August 1969
• Ninth Air Force, 15 August – 31 December 1969
• Air Force Security Forces Center, 17 March 1997 – 14 March 2001
• Ninth Air Force, 14 March 2001 – 18 August 2006
• 347th Rescue Wing, 18 August 2006 – 1 October 2006
• 23rd Wing, 1 October 2006 – 25 January 2008
• 93rd Air Ground Operations Wing, 25 January 2008 – Present

Stations

• Fairchild AFB, WA, 8 March 1968 – 15 August 1968.
• Ft Campbell, KY, 15 August 1968 – 31 December 1969.
• Lackland AFB, TX, 17 March 1997 – 14 March 2001
• Moody AFB, GA, 14 March 2001 – Present

Unit awards

Award streamer	Award	Dates	Notes
	Air Force Outstanding Unit Award	8 March – 31 August 1968	[6]
	Air Force Outstanding Unit Award	17 March 1997 – 30 September 1998	[6]
	Air Force Outstanding Unit Award	1 October 1998 – 30 September 2000	[6]
	Air Force Outstanding Unit Award w/Combat "V" Device	1 June 2002 – 31 May 2003	[6]
	Air Force Outstanding Unit Award	1 June 2004 – 31 May 2006	[6]
	Air Force Outstanding Unit Award	25 January 2008 – 31 May 2009	[6]

History

Since its re-activation in 1997,^[7] 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, and Pakistan.

The unit also deployed in a humanitarian assistance role to New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina.^[8] 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.^[9][10]

In August 2009 it was announced^[11] 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.^[12]

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.^[13] The volunteers maintain the history of the unit, provide periodic newsletters and organize an annual reunion at Moody Air Force Base.

References

 This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency website http://www.afhra.af.mil/.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to 820th Base Defense Group.

• Fact Sheet

United States Air Force
Leadership	Secretary of the Air Force Under Secretary of the Air Force Chief of Staff Vice Chief of Staff Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force 4-star generals House Armed Services Committee House Subcommittee on Air and Land Forces Senate Committee on Armed Services Senate Subcommittee on Air and Land Forces
Structure	Commands Reserve Air National Guard Field Operating Agencies Installations Direct Reporting Units District of Washington Operational Test and Evaluation Center USAF Academy Major Commands Air Combat Air Education and Training Air Mobility Global Strike Materiel Reserve Space Special Operations Europe & Africa Pacific Numbered Air Forces First Second Third Fourth Fifth Seventh Eighth Ninth Tenth Eleventh Twelfth Fourteenth Seventeenth Eighteenth Nineteenth Twentieth Twenty-Second Twenty-Third Twenty-Fourth Twenty-Fifth Wings ANG Groups ANG Squadrons ANG Security forces Civilian auxiliary: Civil Air Patrol
Personnel and training	Airmen Rank Officers Enlisted Specialty Code Aeronautical ratings Judge Advocate General's Corps RED HORSE Medical Service Chief of Chaplains Chief Scientist Training: USAF Academy Officer Training School Reserve Officer Training Corps Basic Training Airman Leadership School SERE Fitness Assessment
Uniforms and equipment	Awards and decorations Badges Equipment Uniforms
History and traditions	History Army Air Service / Corps / Forces "The U.S. Air Force" Air Force Band The Airmen of Note Tops In Blue Airman's Creed Core Values Flag Symbol Memorial National Museum Air Force One Honor Guard Thunderbirds Service numbers
Category Portal