Training for perfection: for EOD it's initial success or total failure

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Elizabeth Van Patten
  • 94th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
DOBBINS AIR RESERVE BASE, Ga. --  "If at first you don't succeed, try, try, try again," said William E. Hickson, 19th century British writer.

Hickson is credited with this old proverb, which many across the world apply to just about any obstacle in life. Many Airmen live by this creed, which offers the promise of a second chance.

For the Airmen of the 94th Civil Engineering Squadron Explosive Ordnance Disposal Flight, this is not the case. For EOD, there is never a second chance. EOD Airmen go by a different motto: "Initial Success or Total Failure."

"We have a two-fold mission here," said Senior Master Sgt. Bradley McKinney, 94th EOD flight chief. "We prepare our traditional Reservists to deploy, back-fill other EOD units and support contingency operations. We also have a staff of six full-time personnel with the responsibility of homeland defense - ensuring the safety of the base from explosive hazards."

Additionally, the EOD team is regularly called out to off base locations within the Southeast to dispose of military explosive devices, according to Tech. Sgt. Matthew Halstead, 94th EOD training noncommissioned officer in charge. Recently, the EOD flight received a call regarding a civil war era unexploded shell in a local civilian's home.

EOD responds wherever and whenever the need arises, in this case, it was on New Year's Eve.

"Civil War and World War II ordinance is the most common live ordnance you will find," said Halstead. "Ordnance from those eras are usually solid metal and have deteriorated explosives inside."

Often people don't know that what they have could be a live round. The EOD flight has responded to dispose of hand grenades, World War II - American and Japanese - bombs and mortar rounds.

"Because of the movie 'The Hurt Locker, we've had people call about the stuff they have in their home," said McKinney. "In regards to military ordnance, the military is required by law to respond, render it safe and ensure the general public's safety."

Since EOD Airmen only get one chance to disarm ordnance they encounter, they rely a great deal on the training they receive, and the training has gotten tougher. This is on top of already stringent requirements that far exceed other career fields.

To be considered for EOD technical school, an Airman must attain Air Force Vocational Aptitude Battery scores of 64 and 60 in the general and mechanical subject areas, have good color vision and depth perception, have no record of emotional instability and have the ability to complete physical ability and stamina test (PAST).

The PAST evaluates an EOD candidate's ability to handle the rigorous demands they will face in the field. Its similar to the test Air Force pararescue and combat controllers are required to pass in order to enter into those career fields.

As for the classroom curriculum, EOD candidates must also pass a four-week preliminary course before they attend the 180-day EOD school.

The school is one of the top five toughest technical schools in the Air Force, with a 45 percent attrition rate.

These ever-increasing standards ensure that only the best make it through a program that many people don't want to do, nor can do.

Being near a major metropolitan area, where people live in close proximity to one another, not having the best on the job could be catastrophic.

As in the case of the civil war round, which was found inside Atlanta's perimeter in a densely populated area, according to McKinney and Halstead. Once they determined what exactly the round was, EOD had to transport it within a specially outfitted truck to a safe site.

"There are a lot of Environmental Protection Agency regulations involved in destroying ordnance," said Halstead. "Military ordnance, for the most part gets destroyed on-site if possible, if it's been out of military control. Military ordnance is property of the military, so we must dispose of it."

All in all, the 94th EOD flight has been called out to dispose of military ordnance an average of 15 times a year, having already responded twice as of Jan. 24. While they respond to calls all over the region, usually the closest military EOD unit will respond - regardless of branch of service.

All military EOD technicians attend technical school at the Naval School of Explosive Ordnance Disposal, Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. Training together sets them up for success, since they often deploy together.

"When we deploy, we may not deploy only with Air Force personnel," said McKinney. "I was the only Air Force EOD tech in my region while I was deployed. We deploy with the Army, Marines and Navy as well. That is the biggest difference between stateside missions and deployments. We still have improvised explosive devices, pipe bombs and other ordnances. While deployed, you have more austere environments. Wherever the mission is, that's where we go. We are always in need of good, hard-charging Airmen who want a challenge."