Crime-scene investigators train at Nellis

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Chris Stagner
  • Air Warfare Center Public Affairs
NELLIS AIR FORCE BASE, Nev. (AFPN) --  Two vehicles were destroyed during a staged explosion here March 29 helping crime-scene investigators hone their skills.

FBI officials detonated more than 550 pounds of explosives to provide a more realistic environment for a large-vehicle bomb post-blast investigation class.

The five-day class, which offers instruction on bombing techniques and post-blast investigations, included students from the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department bomb squad, 99th Civil Engineer Squadron explosive ordnance disposal flight and the Greek military.

“The advanced class is the only one of its kind in the world and focuses on post-blast investigation procedures following a car-bomb explosion,” said FBI Special Agent Kevin Miles. “It used to focus more on pipe bombs, but a request was made in 1998 by a student to have a graduate-level course to accommodate changing-world situations.”

The first two days include case studies that range from the World Trade Center bombing in 1993 and Oklahoma City bombing in 1995 to the attack on the USS Cole in Yemen in 2000.

“We’re trying to duplicate what terrorists have done when attacking the U.S. and its interests,” said retired Special Agent Bob Heckman.

The course also has students reconstruct a post-blast scene and determine the detonation device, types of explosives and the quantities used.

“They’ll go out and sort through the crime scene,” Agent Miles said. “By the end of the class, they have to present the case to a U.S. attorney.”

The benefits of the class affect its students on more than one level.

“This course lets a technician know (his or her) role in relation to the crime-scene investigators and police detectives who may be in charge of the overall investigation,” said Ben Hoge, chief of the bomb squad for Carson , Nev. “Bombings are not something that happen every day. [In this training] we get to go through to processes and do everything in real time.”

The bureau holds 12 to 14 classes per year, one of which takes place here. The military benefits by sending its specialists to the class.

“The military is the first (responders) overseas right now,” said Tech. Sgt. James Walter, 99th CES noncommissioned officer in charge of EOD operations. “Our EOD specialists benefit by getting the experience of a large-vehicle, post-blast crime scene. Attacks like these are something that’s happening everyday in Iraq.”

To create the bomb for the class, the instructors detonated 50 pounds of ammonium-nitrate fuel in a small vehicle. The first blast was followed about 20 minutes later by more than 500 pounds of the same explosive; destroying a tractor trailer.

“The second device is designed to kill the first responders,” Agent Miles said. “Secondary devices are going off all over the world.”

In the four years the class has existed, almost 1,500 bomb technicians have been trained, and a waiting list continues to grow.

“More than 400 people all over the world are trying to get into the class,” Agent Miles said.

Training classes also take place on Vandenberg and Edwards Air Force bases in California.