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Real-time information crucial to EOD mission

  • Published
  • By Teresa Walker
  • 56th Range Management Office
LUKE AIR FORCE BASE, Ariz. --  Real-time information is crucial in clearing improvised explosive devices in Iraq. Tactics, techniques and technology constantly change in that "fluid" environment.

The primary mission for the explosive ordnance disposal specialists assigned here is to clear the Barry M. Goldwater Range of training munitions.

In addition to that, according to Master Sgt. Scott Jones, EOD program manager for Air Force Reserve Command's 944th Fighter Wing, an estimated 80 percent of the 42 active duty and 16 reservists assigned here have been deployed to Iraq so far. Each of them had new information to bring back to the EOD community about how the enemy operated and new IED methods being used against coalition members.

"Here in the United States, we follow a certain procedure when encountering an explosive device," Sergeant Jones said. "We work with the Phoenix Police Department for example, and they secure the area and nobody comes in. We've got that control. But over there (Iraq), you can go into a town, and there's people standing around with cameras in their hands, using cell phones. You don't know who the bomber is. We don't have the ability to control that scenario like we do here in the States."

A-T Solutions, Inc. provides anti-terrorism training based on real-time information about the IEDs being used in Iraq. A team of instructors spent a week at Luke AFB educating EOD specialists from the wing, Phoenix Police Department, Maricopa County Sheriff's Department, and the Arizona Army National Guard.

The company is based in Virginia and has three other offices nationwide. Its instructors are mostly retired military with backgrounds in explosive ordnance.

"Most of us are retired Navy; I'm the only Air Force guy," said Art Foltz, a master training specialist with A-T Solutions. "The timing was right for us to establish the company. We get real-time updates on what's going on in Iraq. Everything changes so fast over there."

The course goes in depth about electronics and circuitry. It allows EOD specialists to understand an IED through X-ray set up and interpretation, which enhances their capability to disarm the IEDs and save lives. The course combines theoretical instruction with practical application of tools and techniques used against IEDs and other terrorist devices.

"What we're learning here are the most recent developments," said Army Sgt. 1st Class Bradley Murphy, assigned to Camp Navajo Army National Guard Depot. "Some of us have just gotten out of school, but some of us have been out of school for more than 10 years so what we learned then is hardly applicable today. Equipment, tactics, technology have all evolved tremendously."

EOD teams here work and train every three months with the local bomb squads to keep everyone up to date about any new techniques each has encountered. Because the burden of deployments has mandated the use of reservists, the EOD community has dual members. A member of the police department might also be a member of a reserve component unit as well so sharing information and training together has exponential benefits.

Also, the migration from active duty to reserve components has helped maintain a solid knowledge base about evolving techniques and methods.

Sergeant Jones said that although all four services attend the same school to be trained, when it comes to equipment, the Air Force leadership does a great job taking care of EOD by providing them with the most up-to-date, sophisticated equipment. He said some of the other services don't have that advantage.

"Additionally, the biggest and best feature of having the Goldwater Range available as a training area, is because of its size," he said. "There is no limit to the amount of explosives we can use and the type of training we can do."

The Barry M. Goldwater Range is about 1.7 million acres in southwestern Arizona. The Air Force manages some 1 million acres on the eastern portion, and the Marine Corps controls about 700,000 acres in the western portion.