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820th Base Defense Group

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820th Base Defense Group
820th Base Defense Group emblem
Active1968–1969
1997–present
Country United States of America
Branch United States Air Force
TypeAir force infantry
Part of Air Combat Command
 93d Air-Ground Operations Wing
Garrison/HQMoody Air Force Base, Georgia
EngagementsWar in Afghanistan
Iraq War
Commanders
Current
commander		Colonel Derrick Weyand
Notable
commanders		Colonel John Decknick, Colonel "TR" Derry, Colonel Paul Kasuda

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, multi-disciplined, highly qualified, self-sustaining force protection capability. The 820th BDG is comprised of the 822nd BDS, 823rd BDS, 824th BDS and the 820th COS.

History

The group traces its lineage to the 82nd Combat Security Police Wing, active from 1968 at Fairchild Air Force Base, WA., and then Fort Campbell, Kentucky. The 82 CSPW was inactivated in 1983.

Since its re-activation in 1997,[1] 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 group also deployed in a humanitarian assistance role to New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina.[2] 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.[3][4]

In August 2009 it was announced[5] 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.[6]

The 820th Security Forces Group was redesignated the 820th Base Defense Group in October 2010.

Some veterans, current troops and family members of the unit maintain the Safeside Association.[7] The volunteers maintain the history of the unit, provide periodic newsletters and organize an annual reunion at Moody Air Force Base.

The group today

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. The 820th COS is composed of medics, engineers, and communication specialists.

Various Department of Defense schools are available to the group's personnel, and may include: Airborne, Pathfinder, Army Sniper, Ranger, Air Assault, Special Reaction Team, the Close Precision Engagement Course (CPEC), Raven B sUAS, and EMT.[8]

The Group has four subordinate squadrons:

An airman from the 823rd Base Defense Squadron receives his Ranger tab after completing Ranger school in 2011.
  • 820th Combat Operations Squadron [9]
  • 822nd Base Defense Squadron [10]
  • 823rd Base Defense Squadron [11]
  • 824th Base Defense Squadron [12]

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

Stations

Unit awards

Award streamer Award Dates Notes
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award 8 March – 31 August 1968 [13]
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award 17 March 1997 – 30 September 1998 [13]
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award 1 October 1998 – 30 September 2000 [13]
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award w/Combat "V" Device 1 June 2002 – 31 May 2003 [13]
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award 1 June 2004 – 31 May 2006 [13]
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award 25 January 2008 – 31 May 2009 [13]

References

Public Domain This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency

  1. ^ https://fas.org/irp/news/1997/n19970318_970310.html
  2. ^ http://valdostadailytimes.com/local/x1644185784/Moody-group-changes-name-not-mission
  3. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 28 September 2015. Retrieved 6 June 2013.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  4. ^ http://www.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123186660
  5. ^ "NY Governor announces partnership with 820th". Archived from the original on 13 March 2012. Retrieved 1 May 2011.
  6. ^ http://www.105aw.ang.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123171466
  7. ^ http://www.safesideassociation.org/
  8. ^ http://www.acc.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123045367[permanent dead link]
  9. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 15 September 2016. Retrieved 7 September 2016.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  10. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 15 September 2016. Retrieved 7 September 2016.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  11. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 15 September 2016. Retrieved 7 September 2016.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  12. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 15 September 2016. Retrieved 7 September 2016.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  13. ^ a b c d e f "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 24 February 2013. Retrieved 6 June 2013.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
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