820th Base Defense Group heads to Afghanistan

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Frances Kriss
  • 23rd Wing Public Affairs
MOODY AIR FORCE BASE, Ga. (AFNS) --  A group of Airmen from the 820th Base Defense Group recently deployed to Afghanistan for the first time under the new unit name.

The hand-selected group of Airmen will deploy to an air base in Afghanistan for about six months.

The 820th BDG is the first Air Force unit designed specifically to provide fully integrated force protection. The group staff and squadrons are composed of more than 700 people in 26 career fields including civil engineering, communications, intelligence, explosive ordnance disposal, transportation, personnel, supply disaster preparedness, biomedical services, logistics plans and security forces.

"Our mission will be to train the Afghan security forces members and provide base security," said Capt. Christopher Snell, the deployment flight commander.

This deployment tasking, which came down two weeks ago, is nothing new to the members of the 820th BDG, as they were the first on the ground when they took over the mission at Camp Bucca, Iraq, from the Army.

"Because of the 820th BDG's unique ability to deploy our different assets on a short notice and our experience in Iraq, we are more than ready to take on the mission in Afghanistan," said Senior Master Sgt. Brad Frantz, the deployment superintendent. "What's even more special about this deployment is the fact that we were able to hand-select the individuals going. They are the best of the best within the 820th BDG."

With a projected expansion of approximately 40 Afghan air force aircraft and 900 members by 2015, the air base they're going to will need more members to secure it, the captain said.

"Since it will become a bigger base, they need more people to provide security," Captain Snell said. "We would like to hopefully enhance the training for all the new Afghan security forces members arriving."

One of the individuals who will be providing security and helping to train the Afghan members is Staff Sgt. Nathan Carter, an 823rd Base Defense Squadron fire team leader.

"This is my first time in Afghanistan, but I'm ready to get the mission done," he said. "I've experienced working with the Iraqi people, and this will be my sixth deployment in eight years."

The group will be working with a completely different culture than what they're used to, but Captain Snell emphasized the importance of adaptability and getting the mission accomplished.

"Every culture is different, so it's all about learning how to adapt," he said. "It will be difficult, but I know we'll get used to it.'