Airfield Defence Guards

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Royal Australian Air Force

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Airfield Defence Guards
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The Airfield Defence Guards (ADG), commonly called "ADGies", are the Royal Australian Air Force's airfield security force. The Airfield Defence Guards' prime responsibility is the protection of the equipment, personnel, assets and facilities of the RAAF. They also have a counter-special forces role. Other duties include training other RAAF personnel in weapons handling and infantry tactics. Commissioned officers of the ADG, known as Ground Defence Officers, receive training at the Australian Army's Royal Military College, Duntroon and receive very little RAAF-specific training.

The ADGs do not operate anti-aircraft weapons, which are the responsibility of the Army's Royal Regiment of Australian Artillery.

They are comparable to the British RAF Regiment, or the United States Air Force Security Forces.

ADGs regularly trains against special forces units tasked with the capture of airfields, such as 4th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment (a commando unit) and U.S. Army Rangers.

Two of the three ADG squadrons are deployable tactical units, which can perform security commitments either for the RAAF or other formations. These squadrons operate the Bushmaster troop carrier.

1 Current structure
2 History
3 Selection, training and conditions
4 Duties and Mission Roles
5 Tasks performed by the ADG
6 Equipment
7 References
8 See also
9 External links

[edit] Current structure

The ADGs are currently grouped as No. 1 Airfield Defence Wing (1AFDW). 1AFDW currently commands two operational squadrons:

No. 1 Airfield Defence Squadron (1AFDS) - RAAF Edinburgh
No. 2 Airfield Defence Squadron (2AFDS) - RAAF Amberley

[edit] History

Two Australian Airfield Defence Guards (at left and second from the right) with members of the USAF 447th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron at Baghdad International Airport

During World War II, the Australian government realised, after the bombing of Darwin and ground attacks on Allied air bases, that they needed a unit in the RAAF to handle airfield defence. In 1942, the Aerodrome Defence Unit was formed and was recruited from RAAF ground crew and officers who were mostly grounded aviators.^[1] They underwent training provided by the Australian Army. The recruits were trained in anti-aircraft guns, ground patrolling, scouting and hand to hand combat.

At first the unit comprised around 150 personnel, but grew to a peak of 300. The Aerodrome Defence Unit was first designated a home defence unit and was based at RAAF Tindal in the Northern Territory. However by 1943, parts of the Aerodrome Defence Unit were posted to New Guinea where they saw only light combat duties such as patrolling and scouting for enemy positions. In 1945, the unit was sent to Borneo where they served out the war. The unit suffered one recorded casualty during the war and it was non-combat related. After the war, the unit was disbanded.

After the outbreak of the Vietnam War, Australia was asked to increase its level of commitment. To comply with these new demands, the RAAF deployed a number aircraft to Phan Rang Airbase, Thailand in 1966. The USAF Security Force unit assigned to the base, asked that the RAAF to help contribute to the base's defense. To meet this new challenge the RAAF re-enstated the Airfield Defense Guard mustering (ADGs) and the mustering swelled with volunteers.

ADG Flights were deployed to various locations though out Vietnam and Thailand. They conducted security patrols outside the base perimeter, thus distrupting the Viet Cong ability to conduct stand-off attacks against the bases. When the government of South Vietnam's collapsed in 1975, Australia ordered the evacuation of its embassy in Saigon. As their final mission in Vietnam, ADGs were deployed to secure the airfield being used by RAAF C-130's, to evacuate Australian embassy personnel. The "last" evacuation aircraft was severely overloaded and four ADGs remained behind. When the rescue aircraft returned, it found NVA troops at the gates and the ADGs still holding out. These four "adgies" were the last Australian troops to leave Vietnam. Airfield Defence Guards also served as door gunners on helicopters on No. 9 Squadron helicopters during the war. By the end of the Vietnam war, the Airfield Defence Guards were some of the most respected airmen in the RAAF and had gained the respect of their rival the Australian Army Infantry.

After Vietnam, the Australian Air Force deployed Airfield Defence Guards to a number of peacekeeping operations around the world such as the Sinai, Papua New Guinea, Bougainville, The Gulf War, Cambodia, Somalia, East Timor, Afghanistan, Iraq and the Solomon Islands.

[edit] Selection, training and conditions

Once a candidate has successfully completed RAAF basic training they then attend the 15 week ADG Basic course. This is held at the RAAF Security and Fire School (RAAFSFS) RAAF Base, Amberley, Queensland. Upon completion of their training ADGs may wear the blue beret of the Airfield Defence Guards.

Promotion for airmen are quite slow in ADG units compared to other RAAF units. On receiving their blue beret, all graduates are given the rank of Aircraftman and due to placements in the units it could take as long as 2-4 years to make it to Leading Aircraftman. Postings for ADGs are limited to RAAF Amberley in Queensland and RAAF Edinburgh in South Australia. ADGs are some of the highest paid airmen in the Air Force, however.^{[citation needed]}

[edit] Duties and Mission Roles

Airfield Defence Guards (ADG) are non-commissioned Air Force members who provide the specialist ground defence force required to protect air power assets from the effects of hostile ground action in and around Air Force Bases and Installations, both in Australia and overseas. They form the basis of the Air Force's ground combat force, protecting Base assets, infrastructure and personnel against attack by enemy ground forces for up to five kilometres from the airfield perimeter fence. They also instruct other Air Force personnel in relevant ground defence techniques. ^[2]

[edit] Tasks performed by the ADG

Patrolling over extended periods over arduous terrain and in extreme climatic conditions carrying a specified load necessary to accomplish the mission;
foot and vehicle patrolling by day and by night in and around both established and bare base airfields and through vegetated or urban environments in all extremities of weather conditions and locations within or outside of Australia;
Aircraft Security Operations providing protection to both aircraft and infrastructure;
construction of field defences and obstacles such as weapon pits and bunkers, fences and road blocks;
searches and clearance operations;
manning of crew served weapons such us machine guns and anti-armour weapons; and
instruction on small arms such as rifle, shotguns and machine guns. ^[3]

[edit] Equipment

The weapons and equipment issued to the ADG are fairly similar to standard Australian infantry equipment, with the addition of the MP5 submachine gun and the R870 shotgun. ^[4]^[5]