Team cleans up unexploded ordnance

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Karen J. Tomasik
  • 386th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs
OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM (AFPN) --  While troops help Iraqis gain independence in the streets of Baghdad, Basra and Kirkuk, people from the 386th Explosive Ordnance Disposal team at one forward-deployed location are cleaning up remnants of the 1991 Gulf War.

"Unexploded ordnance poses a threat to both military members and the civilian population," said Master Sgt. David Hecimovich, superintendent of the EOD team. He said the team needs to watch for unexploded ordnance resurfacing munitions from Operation Desert Storm.

During a predetermined time each week, the EOD team takes items such as discovered unexploded ordnance -- commonly called UXOs -- unserviceable munitions and rockets that have sustained battle-damage and remove hazardous items like rocket propellant and disposes of these items.

"Before the war, UXOs and explosive items from the British aircraft were destroyed," said Hecimovich. "Now, we are seeing an increase in battle-damaged munitions and munitions carried by coalition forces that can not be put back into storage for reuse."

The EOD team also provides around-the-clock response capabilities and reduces hazards posed by surface and subsurface UXO clearance.

"One important part of being (on the EOD team) is providing explosive hazard training to first responders like the firefighters and medics," said Master Sgt. Roderick Baltazar, the flight chief.

The team also works with Royal Air Force EOD teams and coordinates with the host nation air force to work around their flying schedule for disposing UXOs and unserviceable munitions.

"Both the Marines and British EOD teams have helped us with UXO clearances in the area and our weekly disposal of unserviceable munitions," said Staff Sgt. Bridget Crudden, an EOD craftsman. "We also provide the other teams with training on base recovery procedures so we can all work as one team."

During the initial stages of Operation Iraqi Freedom, the base served as a transient stopover for several fighter aircraft in the region, including many armed with live munitions. The EOD team is needed to help take care of securing the ordnance.

"Since our base was used by transient fighters we had a unique situation where different crews are required to properly 'safe' each type aircraft," said Baltazar. "We provided trained personnel to 'safe' the ordnance."

Some EOD team members in Iraq will help dispose of possible weapons of mass destruction.

"EOD is part of the special teams assigned to help assess potential WMD sites," said Hecimovich. "Over the past several years, the Department of Defense has established guidelines for advanced training to assess and sample potential WMD sites.

The EOD team spends a lot of time training for its job in wartime situations and being deployed allows it to test those skills, he said.

"In our job, we have to know our jobs in and out or someone could die," said Staff Sgt. Edward Lockhart, an EOD craftsman. "(It's a case of) initial success or total failure."