820th Base Defense Group

The 820th Base Defense Group is the United States Air Force's first-in base defense capability currently based at Moody Air Force Base, Georgia. The group of approximately 800 personnel was reactivated in 1997 and is composed of three rapidly-deployable Base Defense Squadrons (822nd "Safeside", 823rd "Jesters", 824th "Ghostwalkers"), and the 820th Combat Operations Squadron ("Reapers"). Each multi-functional squadron contains security forces, intelligence, explosive ordinance disposal technicians, engineering, communications, medical, logistics, and administration personnel able to operate with limited support from other deployed forces, as part of the Department of Defense's Immediate Response Force. Currently, the 820th is assigned to Air Combat Command. The unit is trained and equipped to perform joint forcible entry (airborne insertion, air assault operations), ranger, jungle, arctic, mountain, pathfinder, SAPPR, FRIES/SPIES, sniper support, airfield security assessments, base defense, area defense, mobile defense, and C2 of defense forces for one large base or several small sites. Additionally, the squadrons can link with other integrated defense or initial entry/base seizure forces and provide a secure and smooth transition to airfield opening forces.