Explosive ordnance disposal, or EOD, technicians from nearby Hickam Air Force Base are attending FBI training here. The 79th large vehicle bomb post blast investigator’s course teaches attendees how to increase their ability to respond, investigate and collect evidence.

Four FBI instructors and a cadre of Army EOD technicians use a combination of classroom instruction and range work. There are classes on explosive physics, contamination issues, residue analysis, managing a bomb scene, equipment preparation and the importance of forensics.

With two days of classroom instruction and two days of practical scenarios, the students are kept busy. They practice their skills from the classroom out on the range.

The FBI set up four vehicles loaded with artillery shells and blew them up to bring realistic training to the scenarios learned from Afghanistan and Iraq.

But these scenarios could very well be played out in the Pacific Command region and involve EOD personnel from Hickam.

“Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Bangladesh -- they are having their own near insurgencies right now. The devices are just as dangerous and they’re killing just as many people. So it’s very important to have this training (in this area),” said Special Agent Kevin Miles, lead instructor from the FBI.

“They are teaching us a lot about preserving evidence. If you don’t know how to use your equipment how can you record it properly?” said Airman 1st Class Kent Perkins, an EOD technician from Hickam AFB.

“I can’t stress enough how important training is,” Airman Perkins said. “No two incidents are going to be alike. You have to be trained. You have to know what to look for.”