EOD Airmen help keep community safe

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Gloria Wilson
  • 27th Special Operations Wing Public Affairs
CANNON AIR FORCE BASE, N.M. (AFNS) --  Airmen from the Cannon Air Force Base Explosive Ordnance Disposal Flight responded to a bomb scare in July in Clovis, N.M., and they used their training and skills to defuse the situation. 

The suspected bomb turned out to be a training aid once owned by a now-deceased Albuquerque, N.M., arson investigator, but it took EOD Airmen to make that determination. 

The EOD Airmen partnered with New Mexico law enforcement officials to handle the situation, in accordance with an agreement in place since 1986.

"We have a memorandum of understanding with local counties sheriff's departments and we are part of their improvised explosive device response teams," said Master Sgt. Warren Downing, the EOD Flight chief. "There are procedures in place for off-base agencies to request our assistance."

EOD flight members respond to both on- and off-base calls, and respond to situations throughout  New Mexico and parts of the Texas Panhandle. 

"The ability to call on Cannon's EOD makes a big difference and we are fortunate enough to have them," said Curry County Sheriff Matt Murray. "The response time is cut drastically since the State of New Mexico's bomb unit is not in the local area. With Cannon's EOD unit here, man-hours and potentially lives are saved."

Although the latest incident wasn't a real bomb, it provided EOD Airmen an opportunity to hone their skills and work with local law enforcement officials.

"We received outstanding support from the sheriff's department downtown," said Staff Sgt. Joshua Barry, the EOD team chief for the incident. "This great working relationship makes our job easier."

Sherriff Murray said if an incident requires EOD response, they turn over control of the scene to the Airmen, then assist the Air Force officials as necessary.

Other situations Cannon AFB EOD Flight members have responded to off-base include a bank robbery and a house that was feared to be booby trapped. But EOD Flight Airmen's interaction with civilian law enforcement officials isn't limited to real-world events.

"We've conducted IED awareness training with law enforcement officials, given capability briefings and have even brought the SWAT team on base to train in a simulated methamphetamine lab scenario," said Tech. Sgt. Matthew Kredell, an EOD Flight member.

"When we responded last week, (local law enforcement officials) were ready to let us do what we are trained to do," said Staff Sgt. David Olson, an EOD Flight member. "We got there, gathered info, discussed possibilities and implemented our plan of action."

While Cannon EOD Flight members agreed that responding to local incidents is important because it's within their area of responsibility, they also agreed that it's not the only reason.

"We have friends and family in the community and we live and work here; there's a ripple effect to that," Sergeant Kredell said. "Also, we've worked with the schools here and there's an obligation we feel to make them safe. But mainly, whether it's here within our community or elsewhere like the counties in Texas also in our (area of responsibility), we care because our job is to protect personnel and property and it's an undertaking we do well."