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Sather EOD keeps locals, U.S. forces safe

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Sanjay Allen
  • U.S. Air Forces Central Command Public Affairs
SATHER AIR BASE, Iraq --  The 447th Explosive Ordnance Disposal team disposed of more than 200, 40 mm grenades in five explosions June 12 at their demolition range here to minimize the number of hazards on the Victory Base Complex.

"There's a lot of dangerous stuff out there (like) improvised devices, old ordnance from past wars and we remove those hazards," said Chief Master Sgt. Steve Zeppi, 447th EOD superintendent. "We create an environment that's safe to live and safe to travel for both local nationals and U.S. forces visiting here."

Although they may be in a deployed environment, their responsibilities are similar to what they do at home. EOD technicians make sure hazardous ordnance is safe and they dispose of it whether they are in the area of responsibility or at home.

However, when EOD is needed here, they are a little more precautious than at home to be safe outside the wire. When called on, they meet up with a quick response force from one of the U.S. Army battalions from Victory Base Complex and travel out to the location in their Joint EOD Rapid Response Vehicle, or JERRV -- an EOD version of the Mine Resistant Ambush Protected vehicle, which can house their specialized equipment.

"Whether it be a post blast, an (improvised explosive device), a (unexploded ordnance) or explosive remnant of war, we establish security with our security folks and then attack the problem, whatever it is," said Chief Zeppi. "If it's an IED, from our safe area, we have different techniques to determine what the status of it is, render it safe, and then dispose of it."

There are a lot of factors that determine whether EOD will dispose of the hazard on site or take it back to a demolition range to destroy it. Factors like where it is located -- is the area populated or sparse -- or how volatile the device is determines where it is disposed of.

"At the beginning of the war a lot of the disposals were accomplished right on site wherever the ordnance was discovered," said the Vermont Air National Guardsman. "As time has gone on and the country has become more stable and peaceful, we have done our best to destroy ordnance in more remote locations to minimize the impact on the populace."

Going outside the wire has given this EOD team, and previous teams, the opportunity to train with and advise and assist the Iraqi army on responses.

Senior Airman David Leventhal, 447th EOD -- a New Jersey Reservist deployed from Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, says most of the time the Iraqi army are already there taking care of the device. Usually they end up advising and assisting the Iraqis because they have been trained for two years now.

"We work with the Iraqis quite a bit," Chief Zeppi said. "We perform key leader engagements, joint training and joint responses with the Iraqi army bomb disposal company which is located just across the street from victory base complex. We do a lot of responses with them, a lot of training with them and we've gotten to know them quite well."

When they go outside the friendly confines of VBC, EOD not only works with the Iraqi army, they also team up with the U.S. Army.

Although it may be surprising to see Air Force units travel outside the wire with the Army, they have become more and more familiar with the experience and expertise the Air Force teams are bringing to the fight.

Airman Leventhal, a former Soldier, says there is a perception of, "'what are you doing here?' But they soon realize that we have a good sized platter that we bring to the table."

"Since the Air Force joined in the ground war back in '04-'05, Air Force EOD has become more and more of a ground element as opposed to just staying on the airfield," said Chief Zeppi. "I think we're quite comfortable operating outside the wire now. Maybe more than we were in the first gulf war or at the beginning of the second gulf war. We've developed our ground combat skills and we're good at what we do. We interoperate with the Army very well going outside the wire everyday performing the mission."