IQT molds BDG Airmen

  • Published
  • By Airman Eugene Oliver and Airman 1st Class Erick Requadt
  • 23d Wing Public Affairs

Approximately 35 Airmen from the 820th Base Defense Group (BDG) participated in Initial Qualification Training (IQT), March 26-28, here.

The training is given to all new Airman coming into the BDG as an opportunity to learn a baseline of basic combat skills that would be needed to successfully operate as a cohesive unit while in a deployed environment.

“So much more goes into being a part of the BDG then what I had imagined,” said Airman 1st Class Loren Steed, 824th Base Defense Squadron fireteam member. “All the responsibilities and duties that go into being a defender are very exciting.”

BDG Airmen are trained in the security forces career field during tech school, but once they arrive to the BDG their mission and training capabilities differ from a SFS squadron.

“The 820th BDG’s home station mission is to train on a daily basis which allows us even more time to fine tune our tactics,” said Staff Sgt. Ulysses Ortiz, 820th Combat Operations Squadron unit trainer “We put more emphasis into being combat ready and being able to perform in more austere situations than what a regular SFS squadron would.”

Ortiz said that the training was geared towards instilling good communication skills, teamwork and making the new Airmen learn to rely on the other Airmen within their unit.

“Our instructors teach based on their previous deployment experiences that are in direct relation to the training that they are giving,” said Ortiz. “This allows for a level of realism, since our Instructors have applied the same tactics they are providing to the new Airman in real world scenarios.”

While in the BDG, Airmen are offered opportunities to sharpen their combat readiness skills through specialized trainings such as: U.S. Army Airborne, Air Assault, and Ranger school.

“We give our Airmen the opportunity to broaden their scope of ability and be able to train with some of the best combat instructors in the military,” said Ortiz.

 Ortiz said IQT also focuses on unit pride, especially with educating the new Airmen on the heritage of the 820th from the first day of training.

“At the 820th, we strive to establish a sense of leadership from day one that our Airmen will be able to build on,” said Ortiz. “The most important aspect of that leadership gained while at the 820th is the ability to pass it on to the other Airmen you encounter throughout your Air Force career.”

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