Airmen train Kyrgyz officials on EOD mission

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Olufemi Owolabi
  • 376th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs
TRANSIT CENTER AT MANAS, Kyrgyzstan (AFNS) --  A team of Airmen from the 376th Air Expeditionary Wing hosted a team of Kyrgyz officials during a five-day visit to learn about the explosive ordnance disposal operations at the Transit Center at Manas recently.

The training, called Theater Security Cooperation, encompassed bringing security forces, immigration department and national defense team from Kyrgyzstan to the Transit Center to learn about the American EOD methodologies and emergency response procedures.

The team of Kyrgyz officials also learned from the 376th Expeditionary Civil Engineer EOD Airmen how to build their nation's EOD team.

"This training contains information exchange between the U.S. EOD and Kyrgyz team," said Lt. Col. Frank Davis, EOD staff officer. "It is a very important training because it builds capabilities within the Kyrgyz military."

During the visit, the team received the wing mission brief from Col. Mike Mahon, 376th AEW vice commander, and Lt. Col. Michael Mendoza, 376th ECES commander, gave a briefing about the EOD capabilities and mission here.

Each day, the training starts in a class setting. The team gets PowerPoint presentations from the Airmen, after which they would proceed to the field to observe first-hand the way the mission is conducted.

"We showed them (the Kyrgyz team) physical and practical exercises instead of using just PowerPoints," said Tech. Sgt. Michael Yates, 376th ECES EOD technician. "They got to see what we briefed them on the screen actually being performed on the practical field."

Part of the classroom sessions and field trips allowed both teams to ask questions and share more information about improvised-explosive ordnance, counterterrorism and EOD mission.

Counter IED and terrorism training is very important for both countries because IED and terrorism is something we can both encounter, Colonel Davis said.

"Terrorism has no boundaries," the colonel said. "We are all fighting a common enemy. It is crucial that we build up the skills of our partners with the intention of having them to develop a possible EOD force capable of deploying."

In addition, Col. Nurlan Alymkylov, the leader of the Kyrgyz team, who had a previous training conducted in the United States, said the information exchange was very beneficial to both nations because it allows for open communications and both teams were able to learn from each other.

"You (the American team members) know some things that we do not know, and we know some things that you do not know," the Kyrgyz army colonel added. "This is a good opportunity for us to share and learn information with you."

Most of the Kyrgyz officials also said they were amazed by the sophistication of the Air Force EOD equipment and team.

"A very good thing about this training is the way the instructions were carried out," Colonel Alymkylov said. "I know all my colleagues and young officers found a lot of useful information to be used in their various agencies."