EOD Airmen train for current operations
By Senior Airman Christopher Maldonado, 20th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
/ Published December 18, 2017
SHAW AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. -- Airmen assigned to the 20th Civil Engineer Squadron explosive ordnance disposal flight performed improvised explosive device training Dec. 14.
The Airmen executed the procedures needed to properly clear a stateside IED site, eliminate threats and recover the remaining debris for investigation.
This training, which is intended to safely prepare the Airmen for stateside and overseas scenarios, lasted more than two hours from start to finish.
To ensure mission success and safety, EOD team members use the Air Force Medium-Sized Robot for indirect contact with explosives and a bomb suit for any close contact with explosives.
“My job is to do everything from hooking up and operating the robot, to setting up demo shots or any explosive tools we may need,” said Senior Airman Jake Day, 20th CES EOD journeyman.
To perfect their skills, the scenario provided them with an opportunity to construct a water charge, which serves as a water blade to destroy packages upon detonation, investigate a site utilizing an AFMSR, and collect IED debris for forensic purposes.
“Our main mission here is the protection of personnel and property,” said Staff Sgt. Vincent Irr, 20th CES EOD craftsman. “We’re the bomb disposal experts that are called out to investigate or eliminate any explosive threat in your way.”
The tactics, techniques and procedures vary wherever they go, said Irr. Being able to train against this threat in a stateside environment will better equip them for when their teams go downrange.
The Airmen execute daily training on various scenarios intended to hone their explosive handling skills and ensure the safety of their wingmen along the way.