The Media learns how complacency kills

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Jared Duhon
  • 436th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
DOVER AIR FORCE BASE, Del. --  Members of the local media were invited to the Explosive Ordnance Disposal Media Day April 16, 2013, on Dover Air Force Base, Del..

The invitation was extended to help inform community members about the loud booms that emanated from Dover AFB earlier this year. After a few media requests, the 436th Airlift Wing Public Affairs and 436th Civil Engineer Squadron EOD flight collaborated to provide an opportunity for the media to get a closer look and better understanding of DAFB's EOD Airmen and mission.

"The explosion in January was a part of scheduled training we do once a month," said Staff Sgt. Benjamin McGovern,436th Civil Engineer Squadron EOD Flight. "Each blast helps us better understand bomb operation."

The training McGovern is referring to helps ensure each member of the team knows how to make a bomb and the properties of each type of explosive.

"The enemy is coming up with deadlier ways of killing our military members," said Lt. Col. Charles Kelm, 436th Civil Engineer Squadron commander. "It's not a normal instinct to run into harm's way. These guys are willing to make a sacrifice so others can survive,"

Actions from the recent bombing at the Boston Marathon highlights the important work that EOD does for the military and local community.

"We have worked with the local police department's bomb squad unit to lend our expertise and help train them on some of the information we have," said McGovern. "We also travel to locations that find military grade ordnances."

EOD uses a host of equipment like their EOD 9 Bomb Suit, which weighs 85 pounds and is used as a last resort. The hook and line kit is used in conjunction with the suit to move smaller ordnances to be safely detonated. The F6A remote robot is another valued tool.

"The robots are used to defuse bombs and investigate suspicious packages," said Tech. Sgt. Christopher Adjoodani, 436th Civil Engineer Squadron Explosive Ordnance Disposal Flight. "We use the robots to the fullest extent until we have enough information about the situation to make a decision because it is much cheaper to replace equipment then replace a fallen Airman."

Teams are always training and keeping current on new information.

"The suit, the robot, or any of our equipment is useless if we are not familiar with them, not well trained and mentally prepared to do the job," said McGovern. "We ensure we are always keeping up-to-date with new information from other EOD members about any roadside bomb ensuring we keep up with the enemy's tactics."

EOD school has a high washout rate because of all the technical training and mental stress.

"I started with a class of 30," said McGovern. "We ended with a class of four."

The day ended with a bang as members of the press got to experience the effects of four blocks of C4.

"It was interesting seeing how casual they were when talking about the dangers of ordnances and explosions," said Dave Chambers, Delaware State News photographer. "It takes a special type of person to do a dangerous task like EOD."