Explosive ordnance disposal chosen Air Force Team of Year

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Rey Ramon
  • 18th Wing Public Affairs
KADENA AIR BASE, Japan --  The Explosive Ordnance Disposal career field was named Air Force Team of the year for 2009 for placing their lives on the line each day to protect others.

The honor was bestowed on them by the Air Force Association, on recommendation from the Air Force's most senior enlisted leaders. Airmen from the EOD flight here are part of the great effort this specialty puts forth to save lives.

"EOD is a demanding lifestyle," said Staff Sgt. Molly Whitehurst, 18th Civil Engineer Squadron EOD journeyman. "The job requires a specific type of person who is capable of taking charge, leading the way, and sacrificing in order to ensure the safety of the personnel entrusted to them."

According to Senior Master Sgt. Gary Underwood, 18th CES EOD flight chief, current EOD technicians have skills to accomplish the mission and adjust to enemy tactics and are constantly in high demand in Afghanistan and Iraq area of responsibility. When deployed, they train bomb squads on tactics and techniques to safely neutralize Improvised Explosive Devices and provide training on Iraqi/Coalition Forces' robotic platforms.

Also, they provide support to route clearance packages for found or suspected IEDs which opens routes for supply and troop movements. The Airmen have also partnered with Weapons Intelligence Teams to conduct Post Blast Analysis and recover forensic evidence from recovered IEDs, helping to identify and capture members of terrorist cells.

"The impact that the EOD career field is making in the fight against the Improvised Explosive Device has directly affected the safety of U.S. and coalition forces," said Sergeant Underwood. "Thus garnering the recent recognition."

EOD provides a wide variety of missions to numerous agencies. It adapts to circumstances that are constantly changing. An EOD technician can range from supporting combat operations in the area of responsibility, supporting daily operations at their home duty station, recovering remains of fallen warriors or providing foreign dignitary security, all within a relatively short time span.

"Department of Defense EOD technicians are operating in virtually the same environment under the same rules of engagement," said Master Sgt. Doug Moore, 18th CES EOD superintendent. "We often find ourselves working with sister service EOD technicians in both garrison and deployed environments. The services bring specific skills to the fight to aid in the overall mission accomplishment."

Adaptability is the main quality that sets this career field apart from others, said Senior Airman Jesse Mercado, 18th CES EOD journeyman.

EOD members do not separate themselves regardless of service, but work as a team in every facet the career has to offer. For them, it is not a job, but a way of life.

"We've fought and bled together on the battlefield and we've buried many who sacrificed themselves to save others," said Sergeant Moore. "We're not just a team, we're a family and I'm honored to be part of it."