EOD Airmen sharpen skill sets

Published April 15, 2015
By Tech. Sgt. Barbara Plante
944th Fighter Wing Public Affairs

Luke Air Force Base, Ariz. -- On a warm spring afternoon during the April Unit Training Assembly members of the Explosive Ordnance Disposal flight stepped out of their building at Luke Air Force Base right into a drab desert setting simulating an Air Field in Afghanistan.

The exercise was on. EOD flight members were briefed that locals had found a unexploded ordnance in one of the villages located near the base. Their mission was to neutralize the situation and remove the hazard without causing significant damage to the surrounding environment.

Background information the Airmen received was the village had been hostile in the past but had since eradicated all known Taliban forces, there was no sign of enemy activity in the last nine months, and the village was now receiving Coalition assistance in building a school.

This type of training benefits Airmen in keeping their skill sets up. "We want to ensure when we send members down range they are prepared and know what they are doing," said Maj. Orren Squires, 944th Civil Engineer Squadron commander.

After being briefed on the situation EOD members cautiously went out and found the site. They then carefully evaluated the situation and eventually made the decision to detonate the hazard and remove the remaining debris from the site thus neutralizing the situation.

Successful accomplishment of the simulated mission, with no equipment or technical data deficiencies that preclude completion of the operation, was the desired goal of the exercise. The training was a success.

"They met all of the objectives today and did a very good job," said Senior Master Sgt. Stephen Hunter, EOD program manager.