Base Defense Group Specialties

Defenders: The backbone of the BDG, these proficient warfighters provide the firepower and tactical expertise needed to perform each of the Group’s mission sets. These Airmen are completely battlefield and readiness focused. They intentionally do not have a home-station mission to focus solely on the deployed requirement of providing first-in airborne and air assault-capable combat forces to secure air bases and ensure air forces have the airfields and landing zones needed to project airpower throughout an area of operations. 

Medical: Physician Assistant’s, Independent Duty Medical Technicians, and certified paramedics ensure BDG Airmen are fit to fight by providing enhanced Tactical Combat Casualty Care, Combat Life Saver capabilities, prolonged field care, and Tactical Evacuation of wounded troops. These medical professionals ensure the Base Defense Group is supported from life sustainment of water supplies, latrine placement, food inspection, and sanitation all the way to expert medical care for battlefield injuries and evacuations. 

Intelligence: Battlefield intelligence begins before the fight and drives tactical decisions throughout the fight. These members provide the expertise needed to comprehend enemy courses of action, terrain advantages, weather impacts, and numerous other factors that contribute to combat success. These members provide the backbone of information collection and reconnaissance. These Airmen are essential in gaining decision advantage for deployed leaders over adversarial forces. 

Engineering: These Airmen are masters in airfield operational analysis and conducting bare base establishment in support of resilient forward basing initiatives. BDG engineers provide rapid access to airfields and initiate sustainment basing work for follow-on forces. Each unit retains Explosive Ordnance Disposal teams capable of disarming and removing unexploded ordnances and improvised explosive devices.  

Vehicle Maintenance: The BDG utilizes an array of tactical vehicles to accomplish their missions. These Airmen ensure every vehicle is combat ready throughout combat operations. Austere combat environments are hard on vehicles, but these vehicle experts are proficient in identifying and fixing part failures. Mobility is key for these Airmen, so they support the airlift and transportation of these tactical vehicles to the fight. 

Communications: Enhancing situational awareness and coordinating battlefield maneuvers is essential, these Airmen make that possible. Network Specialists, Cyber Systems Specialists, and On Radio Frequency Technicians rapidly establish connectivity for beyond line-of-sight communications and secure transmission for deployed units far from established bases. 

Personnel and Material Management: These Airmen ensure accountability and effective management of forces and equipment. Knowing what resources and Airmen are available for missions enhances battlefield decision-making and sustainment.