Barksdale EOD team assists local community

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Alexandra M. Longfellow
  • 2nd Bomb Wing Public Affairs
BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La. (AFNS) --  Barksdale AFB's explosive ordnance disposal team responded to a real-world scenario in Robline, La., Jan. 16.

Natchitoches Parish Fire Department Number 7 requested the EOD team's assistance in disposing of a 12-inch by 5-inch mortar found at a local residence.

Barksdale AFB EOD Airmen are responsible for a region extending a 100-mile from East Texas to South Arkansas, and the majority of Louisiana.

"The military shares responsibility for disposing of hazardous military ordnance discovered," said Tech. Sgt. James Martin, a 2nd Civil Engineer Squadron EOD technician.

"We were requested to respond by local emergency responders," he said. "The 2nd CES EOD is the closest unit in the area for ensuring the safety of our civilian populace when this occurs in the region."

The unit's main mission is to detect, identify, recover and dispose of American and foreign conventional, incendiary, chemical, biological and nuclear ordnance. EOD technicians also diffuse and dispose of criminal and terrorist explosive devices and support U.S. Secret Service members with the protection of the president, vice-president and other dignitaries.

On occasion, EOD Airmen coordinate local training with Shreveport and Bossier City Fire departments and local bomb squad units through support agreements.

"On occasion we conduct joint training in accordance with current Homeland Security directives," Sergeant Martin said.

Officials request EOD Airmen support for a range of calls from Civil War and World War II-era munitions to present day discoveries. The most popular ordnance is the 25-pound fragmentary bomb that is sometimes found in remote parts of the base's East Reservation. Every day is different with responses ranging from live military ordnance to harmless inert items.

Ordnance disposal outside of the war zone is a rare occurrence, said Staff Sgt. Bernard Sabatini, a 2nd CES technician. 

However, the Barksdale EOD team stands at the ready, as "ordnance and improvised explosive devices are our primary areas of training and response during peace and war," he said.