From bunker busting duds to makeshift munitions, EOD neutralizes any explosive situation

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Nicholas Caceres
  • 482nd Fighter Wing Public Affairs
HOMESTEAD AIR RESERVE BASE, Fla. --  Dismantling explosives under high pressure in a combat zone might be something people have seen in movies, but for the Airmen of the 482nd Civil Engineering Squadron Explosive Ordinance Disposal flight, those almost surreal scenarios are their reality.

EOD neutralizes used and unused ordnance that remain after an incident, accident, or enemy attack which presents a threat to military operations, installations, personnel or material. They tackle a range of contingencies from neutralizing explosives and bombs, to recovering found ordnance, and supporting the secret service, aircraft crashes, incident response teams, and post attack base recovery operations.

"Basically, we blow up bombs that have yet to explode," said Senior Master Sgt. Derald Ortloff, 482nd CES EOD flight program manager. "When we recover or find ordnance in the field, it's up to us to transport that ordnance to a safe location and dispose of it in a safe and complete manner. If we don't, that ordnance may explode some other time, potentially having a deadly impact on bystanders."

According to Ortloff, most ordnance has a very long shelf life, if not an indefinite shelf life, and if the life of the bomb is not ended, the end result could be a human life ended.

The best way to deal with an improvised explosive device or an unexploded piece of ordnance is to blow it up in a controlled fashion on Air Force terms. That's a day in the life as an Explosive Ordnance Disposal technician. Whether it's a decommissioned missile on base or a roadside improvised explosive device in the field, EOD is a job that requires a vast amount of knowledge and careful attention to detail, all of which needs to be employed with exacting precision. EOD technicians also assist on the flight line during aircraft emergencies, on bombing ranges during range clearances, in munitions storage areas, in aircraft accident areas, and in any other area or climate where an explosive hazard exists.

Another core aspect of EOD is the handling of live explosives; explosives found on the battlefield or in a public space which need to be neutralized on the spot.

Typically working in three-man teams, the most experienced member confronts the unexploded ordnance face to face while the second team member provides safety backup and the third team member may be operating the robot or even analyzing technical orders to ensure the other team members are following the proper measures and procedures.

"Three pairs of eyes are better than one," said Tech. Sgt. Stephen Kaufman, 482nd CES EOD flight technician. "This is not a solitary job. It very much depends on working in concert with your team members."

While it's said that luck favors the prepared, the nature of explosives is that they're unpredictable, which raises the stakes, regardless of an EOD technician's expertise.

"There's always the fact that you can do everything right and it'll still explode on you," said Ortloff. "But that's why it's important for EOD techs to be the type of person who can make decisions under the most extreme pressure. We know that every day we could come to work and ultimately die. To be in EOD, you need to be able to know that and accept it."

So what type of person does it take to be an EOD technician? According to Kaufman, being decisive and confident in the face of chaos is paramount.

"Anyone can do a job, but to excel in this career field you have to be able to lead guys that are very driven and very focused, and to do that you have to have a strong mentality," he said. "A decision has to be made. You can't just sit there and say you don't know. Even if you make the wrong decision, a decision has to be made."

The obvious stresses of an EOD technician loom large when trying to accomplish their mission. But to your run-of-the-mill technician, dealing with the stresses is one of the basic aspects of the job.

"Dealing with stressful situations is basically our job, so to not be good in those situations is to not be good at the job," said Kaufman. "We are taught to manage and maintain a certain level of situational awareness in order to mitigate stress. Stepping back, understanding the situation, and not getting wrapped up in it makes the stress part of the job really insignificant.

"For the outsiders looking in, they may think that, yeah, EOD is a stressful job," added Kaufman. "To me, stress is the last thing on my mind when I'm in a bomb suit over an improvised explosive device or when I'm out on an aircraft dealing with a malfunctioning bomb or flare. At that point, I'm just out doing my job."

To accomplish their mission, EOD technicians employ a variety of tools and equipment as varied as the ordnance they encounter.

But the gear has changed a lot over the years. The famous bomb suit of old was sectional in nature which meant the body was exposed. It featured some Kevlar and what was basically a motorcycle helmet. Now, the suit is more seamless, exposing essentially zero percent of the body. It's mostly made of layers of woven Kevlar, weighing in at about 90 pounds. The suit has also become lighter, and the new helmet has more visibility through the shield. The suit even comes complete with a coolant system that pumps cold water around the torso and an ice pack in the chest area to keep the user's body from overheating.

Another famous tool used by EOD technicians is the Andros F6A robot. The robot features an extendable arm that rotates, grabs and can drag items as big as a small vehicle. The Andros F6A robot is rounded out by a mounted wireless camera.

Another weapon and staple in the EOD arsenal is the Base Support Emergency Response Vehicle. Known as the BSERV, The 36-foot long truck contains multiple storage compartments for EOD's robot, bomb suits, and various other gear and equipment. The truck is basically EOD's toolbox on wheels.

Given the nature of EOD, its stresses, and requirement for Airmen who are both mentally and technically sound, they are constantly on the lookout for future Airmen who might be able to make the cut. Technical School, which takes place at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., over nine months, includes study portions as well as hands on portions. Substituting the high-pressure scenario of a live bomb, instructors create chaotic environments for students to better understand the nature of their future job.

Naturally, EOD technical school has high washout rates. But this fact is necessary as an EOD Airman must be able to meet a myriad of challenges at a perfect success rate or else suffer the gravest of consequences.

"It's not easy to find the right kind of person for this job," said Ortloff. "We need people who can understand and deal with the fact that every day, their job is to put their life on the line to save someone else's."

Kaufman has deployed six times in his eight years as and EOD technician with the Air Force and he has received a Bronze Star for his meritorious service. He suggests the intrinsic benefits of the job help to get through the difficult aspects of the job.

"Like anything else, there are good times and bad times," he said. "There are times when you lose a friend, offset by times when you can do a lot of good work and see that what you're doing is making a difference."

In the end, Ortloff, who has lost count of his many deployments and assignments over the last 31 years, understands the stark reality of the EOD life.

"It's a job I like doing because it is exciting," he said. "If there's a bomb out there, you have to go and confront it; it doesn't care who you are. You either make it out alive, or you don't. That's every day."