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 an exceptionally trained force protection unit of 12 Air Force Specialty Codes with an airborne capability. At a moment's notice, the group provides the expeditionary Air Force's only worldwide deployable, "first-in", fully integrated, multidisciplined, highly qualified, self-sustaining force protection capability.
The Group has the following subordinate units:
- 820th Combat Operations Squadron
- 822d Base Defense Squadron
- 823d Base Defense Squadron
- 824th Base Defense Squadron
820 BDG is composed of the 822, 823, 824 BDS. The 820th 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. Falling under the 820th is the combat operations squadron. Medics, engineers, and communication specialists all fall under the 820th COS.
There are many different Army and non-Army schools 820th airmen may attend, to include: Airborne, Pathfinder, Special Reaction Team, the Close Precision Engagement Course (CPEC), Ranger, Air Assault, Raven, Raven B UAV, Army Sniper, and EMT. Since its activation in 1997, the 820 BDG has deployed in support of Operations Desert Safeside, Southern Watch, Iraqi Freedom, Enduring Freedom, and Bright Star. It has deployed to locations such as Iraq, Djibouti, Cairo, Jordan, Kuwait, Oman, Afghanistan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Hurricane Katrina (New Orleans), Haiti, and Pakistan.
It was a subordinate unit of the 23d Wing, but in January 2008, the 820 BDG moved under the 93d Air Ground Operations Wing when the latter activated on 29 January 2008.
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 will support the 820th 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.
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