386th Airmen clear hazards, keep locals safe

Published Nov. 26, 2008
By Capt. Suzanne VanderWeyst
386th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs

SOUTHWEST ASIA -- Beyond the wire of the 386th Air Expeditionary Wing spans an area covered not only in sand but potential explosive hazards, aging from as far back as the Gulf War fighting that took place here in the early 90s . This time of year, the same area is inhabited by host-nation locals who follow a tradition of setting up camps, often with their families and livestock, during the winter months.

Airmen of the 386th Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron Explosive Ordinance Disposal flight are clearing the way for these local campers to enjoy the area in safety. Working closely with the 386th Security Forces Squadron Viper teams, who patrol the expansive perimeter areas night and day and find hazards such as unexploded ordnance devices, 386th EOD flight members have safely destroyed almost 1,000 UXOs during their six-month rotation here.

The number of found UXOs has gone up significantly. Changes in Viper teams and the rapport they have built with EOD, as well as shifting weather conditions helping to uncover buried UXOs, have all contributed in the rise.

"There has been a good increase in the number of response calls since the last EOD rotation," said Tech. Sgt. Pete McNally, 386th EOD craftsman deployed from Tyndall Air Force Base, Fla. "Most rotations do about 300 to 400 [UXO clearings], and we are up almost three times that between June and today."

In response to Viper teams finding a concentrated amount of UXOs within certain perimeter areas, EOD members set up two major outside-the-wire sweeps in October with the Royal Australian Army Explosive Ordnance Disposal members and Viper teams. They were able to clear six million square meters of land surrounding the base, finding sub-munitions identified as being out in the terrain for awhile.

"That is not a common act," said Master Sgt. Stephen Davis, 386th EOD flight chief. "But the fact that we were finding so much stuff in that area, we thought it was beneficial. There are a lot of [herders] in that area too, and this is the time of year that they move in.

"Our requirement is to make sure nothing is out there that is harmful to the locals and to our [base] populace," said Sergeant Davis, a native of Fort Walton Beach, Fla. "There's nobody's life here that is less important than that item out there."

To do what they can to fulfill that requirement, Sergeants Davis and McNally have offered localized UXO detection training not only to their EOD flight Airmen, but to Security Forces personnel as well. In September, they gave Viper teams a UXO class on what to look for and how to handle the situation when an item of interest is found. Since then, EOD members have seen an increase in the number of UXO responses outside the base.

"A lot of [the training] they get at home station is on new items, and we're showing them how it looks after 20 years of sitting in this environment," said Sergeant McNally. "[Training] that they get back at home station is very general. What we're giving them is what it looks like here."

The UXO recognition training, combined with what Viper team flight chief, Tech. Sgt. Raymond Marsh, describes as "young Airmen with good eyes," has paid off.

During a recent night patrol, when darkness is so thick that one could miss a mountain if not careful, one Viper member, Airman 1st Class Michael Middleton, spotted a UXO before the truck his team was in almost ran it over. He followed training procedures and EOD was able to respond and destroy it.

Responding quickly to a call is something the EOD flight members take seriously. They've cut the 30 minute response time from the last rotation down to 15 minutes or less out the door.

"We're usually ready to go once we get approval, 24/7, 365 days a year ... we'll respond whatever the circumstances are," said Sergeant Davis.

Other than drawing down call response time, the EOD flight has worked to improve its relationship with Security Forces personnel. As a benefit to the Viper teams' hard work in detecting UXOs, one of EOD's current standard operation procedures is to allow Viper team members an opportunity to "push the button" for the UXO clearing detonation once EOD gets them set up and in a safe position.

"The EOD group we have here and our rapport with them is phenomenal," said Sergeant Marsh. "They go out of their way to help us out. It's not like back home. You couldn't ask for a better bunch of people that work EOD."

Both Sergeant Davis and Sergeant McNally said they wouldn't want to do anything else in the Air Force than work in EOD, even after almost 20 years of service. And it shows. In a week, Sergeant Davis will be re-enlisting in the Air Force and continuing to clear hazards such as the hundreds of UXOs his team has cleared while deployed here.

"Our business is the protection of personnel and property; that's what we do," said Sergeant McNally. "We protect the people so that they don't die ... it's the best job in the Air Force.

"I've been doing [explosive ordnance disposal] for almost 18 years now, and when I still wake up after 18 years and cannot wait to get to my job, you know you've got a good job."