EOD disarms, disposes UXOs

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Matt McGovern
  • 60th AMW Public Affairs
TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. --  A lead Army sergeant brings his convoy to a halt after spotting a suspicious sand-colored box with partially exposed wires on the side of the road. 

The sergeant makes a call to the Air Force Explosive Ordnance Disposal unit.
Travis EOD, winners of the Air Mobility Command Stryzak Award [best EOD flight], handle these calls while deployed as well as locally to render ordnance safe. 

“We have one of the highest ops tempos in AMC and only 13 people to do it. We responded to 51 hazardous ordnance items in the local community; double that of the next closest base in 2005,” said Capt. Dennis Phillips, 60th Civil Engineer Squadron EOD flight commander. 

To meet this challenge, every EOD technician has the foundation of a rigorous eight-month technical training school. 

“The Naval School Explosive Ordnance Disposal is one of the most difficult training schools in the whole [Department of Defense]. With a 40 to 50 percent washout rate, prospective EOD technicians must be highly motivated, technically proficient and able to work under intense pressure. Those characteristics carry over with those who are fortunate enough to graduate and make our EOD technicians some of the most outstanding Airmen in the Air Force,” said Captain Phillips. 

The training doesn’t stop after the graduation of technical school. Each month, EOD technicians conduct a specific area of training such as demolition, tools and techniques, ground ordnance, air ordnance, improvised explosive devices and weapons of mass destruction. Typically, the first three weeks of every month consist of hands-on formal training. The last week is the practical portion where EOD technicians perform field training scenarios based on what they’ve learned for that month. 

“Headquarters gives us ‘intel’ on what the most current threat is and we train accordingly. At the end of the practical we have a hot wash, where we come up with ideas to improve upon what we trained on. Regardless of rank, the best idea wins,” said Tech. Sgt. Kyle Toporek, EOD craftsman. 

During this training, team members get familiar with tools such as the Remotec F6A Remote Control Transport robot. The $200,000 robot is the tool of choice when dealing with highly sensitive explosives because it’s disposable, taking the place of a real EOD technician. 

According to the EOD team, it’s a proven tool, detonating bombs while being controlled hundreds of feet from the explosion. 

“In Iraq we used to paint a purple heart on the body of our [robot] to let everyone know it had been in an explosion,” said Senior Airman Ruben Chavez, 60th CES, EOD journeyman. 

This experience with tools and precise training comes into play when their skills are needed to assist federal and civil authorities. 

“In 2005 we provided 89 days of support to the U.S. Secret Service for protection of the president, vice president, first lady and various heads of states/foreign governments,” said Captain Phillips. 

“Whether it’s picking up an old military ordnance item in Benicia, protecting the president in Argentina or saving lives by rendering safe deadly improvised explosive devices in Iraq – the 60th [CES] EOD is making a difference and continuing our history of excellence at home and abroad,” said Captain Phillips.