Joint EOD training benefits 2 nations

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Carolyn Viss
  • 376th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs
TRANSIT CENTER AT MANAS, Kyrgyzstan (AFNS) --  Kyrgyz army explosive ordnance disposal technicians visited the Transit Center at Manas March 15 through 19 for a subject matter information exchange with American EOD Airmen and Soldiers.

The Airmen here regularly bring Kyrgyz soldiers to the installation and the EOD range to train together, increasing the capabilities of both militaries.

U.S. Army Central EOD staff, who assisted with the visit, regularly tour countries in the area of responsibility from their home station at Fort McPherson, Ga., to improve partnerships and increase international security.

"This exchange incorporated improvised explosive device response theory and practical application of core EOD tool sets," said Tech. Sgt. Michael Yates, the 376th Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron EOD Flight chief deployed from Hickam Air Force Base, Hawaii. "The event concluded with Kyrgyz soldiers running independent operations on the EOD range here with scenarios provided by the American EOD flight. Despite all of the advanced technology we have available to us, the most effective and best tool we have as EOD is our training and teamwork."

Every bit of information passed between the Kyrgyz and American servicemembers has the potential to save lives if applied correctly, he said.

One huge reason cooperation between the U.S. and Kyrgyz EOD units is so necessary is that both militaries have humanitarian de-mining missions, said Army Lt. Col. Frank Davis, a current operations EOD staff officer.

The Kyrgyz soldiers, just like American Airmen, are willing to sacrifice their own safety, security and well-being so citizens can live with peace of mind and avoid injury or death caused by improvised explosive devices and land mines.

"A lot of their borders and valleys are mined ... and civilians find them," Colonel Davis said. "Our goal is to help our partners increase and develop their capacity and abilities to handle situations with IEDs and unexploded ordnance internally."

Additionally, the Kyrgyz army is able to develop their contingency force so they can deploy as part of the coalition team, Colonel Davis said.

"Kyrgyzstan is developing their professional NCO corps, that was very evident during this event with many of the teams being lead by Kyrgyz NCOs," Sergeant Yates said. "This provided everyone with a great situation to mentor fellow EOD NCOs and provide positive, direct feedback to them with our enlisted members. This helps tremendously with one of their goals: to become a self sufficient unit capable of accomplishing their mission on a national and international level."