Swedish, USAF EOD forces strengthen NATO ties in combined exercise at Tyndall AFB

Published May 15, 2024
By Airman 1st Class Zeeshan Naeem
325th Fighter Wing Public Affairs

TYNDALL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. (AFNS) --

The commencement of Sweden joining NATO March 7, opened the door to new training opportunities between U.S. and Swedish armed forces. The Swedish army Explosive Ordnance Disposal and Demining Centre first company, sixth team, joined the 325th Civil Engineer Squadron EOD unit for a combined exercise at Tyndall Air Force Base’s Silver Flag training site, April 29-May 3.

The exercise aimed to test and improve the readiness and interoperability between the two countries by establishing camaraderie and providing a platform to exchange techniques, tactics and procedures.

Throughout the five-day exercise, the two teams performed a wide range of operations, including hostage scenarios and complex threat simulations.

military man digs with shovel — Staff Sgt. Dylan Beck, 325th Civil Engineer Squadron explosive ordnance disposal craftsman, digs for simulated buried explosives during a combined training exercise at Tyndall Air Force Base, Fla., April 30, 2024. Multiple elements of the exercise entailed training the Swedish army and U.S. Air Force teams on conducting operations in a simulated Middle Eastern area of operation, incorporating real-world experiences to enhance detection and removal of improvised explosive devices. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Zeeshan Naeem)

military man stands with remote device — Staff Sgt. Kelly Dishman, 325th Civil Engineer Squadron explosive ordnance disposal craftsman, prepares to scan a simulated explosive device during a combined training exercise at Tyndall Air Force Base, Fla., May 2, 2024. Multiple elements of the exercise entailed training the Swedish army and U.S. Air Force teams on conducting operations in a simulated Middle Eastern area of operation, incorporating real-world experiences to enhance detection and removal of improvised explosive devices. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Zeeshan Naeem)

two people talk — Senior Airman Haden Lester, 325th Civil Engineer Squadron explosive ordnance disposal journeyman, and Airman 1st Class Kiara Duarte, 325th CES emergency management lead casualty technician, discuss procedures during a combined training exercise at Tyndall Air Force Base, Fla., April 29, 2024. The first day of the exercise consisted of Swedish army and U.S. Air Force teams working on demolition proficiency and the effects of dynamic charges against improvised explosive devices. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Zeeshan Naeem)

“These exercises are important as new allies,” said Staff Sgt. Clayton Manning, 325th CES EOD journeyman. “Building chemistry and experiences are crucial to our relationships with partner nations. At Tyndall, we have the largest Silver Flag training site in the Department of Defense and it’s valuable to have access to all the assets we need to train in a [simulated and realistic] downrange environment.”

Cooperation among allied nations can not only validate and test solutions but helps facilitate rapid employment of future capabilities. This operation was another way to integrate and interoperate with partners, streamlining processes across each country’s procedures.

“If [either] of us [operates] differently we have the ability to experiment with them, in a controlled environment, and implement it in our training back home so we can increase our capabilities, with the significant shift in us becoming a partner nation,” said Swedish army Cpl. Filip Davidsson, an EOD and demining first company, sixth team member.

silhouette of man in front of window — Staff Sgt. Kelly Dishman, 325th Civil Engineer Squadron explosive ordnance disposal craftsman, observes a simulated hostage scenario during a combined training exercise at Tyndall Air Force Base, Fla., May 2, 2024. The exercise tested and improved the readiness and interoperability of U.S. and allied forces by establishing camaraderie and providing a platform to exchange techniques, tactics and procedures. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Zeeshan Naeem)

close up of military man wearing gear — Staff Sgt. Dylan Beck, 325th Civil Engineer Squadron explosive ordnance disposal craftsman, observes simulated buried explosives during a combined training exercise at Tyndall Air Force Base, Fla., April 30, 2024. Multiple elements of the exercise entailed training the Swedish army and U.S. Air Force teams on conducting operations in a simulated Middle Eastern area of operation, incorporating real-world experiences to enhance detection and removal of improvised explosive devices. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Zeeshan Naeem)

man recovers simulated hostage — Senior Airman John Taylor, 325th Civil Engineer Squadron explosive ordnance disposal craftsman, removes a simulated explosive device within a hostage scenario during a combined training exercise at Tyndall Air Force Base, Fla., May 2, 2024. Throughout the five-day exercise, the 325th CES and Swedish army EOD and demining team performed a wide range of operations, such as simulated hostage scenarios and complex threat simulations at the Silver Flag training site, enhancing allied cross-communication and interoperability. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Zeeshan Naeem)

building explodes with military men in foreground — U.S. Air Force and Swedish army explosive ordnance disposal technicians detonate an explosive during a combined training exercise at Tyndall Air Force Base, Fla., April 29, 2024. The first day of the exercise consisted of teams working on demolition proficiency and the effects of dynamic charges against improvised explosive devices. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Zeeshan Naeem)

military man crouched in field — Swedish army Översergeant Marcus Tufvesson, Explosive Ordnance Disposal and Demining Centre first company, sixth team, digs for a simulated buried explosive during a combined training exercise at Tyndall Air Force Base, Fla., April 30, 2024. With the commencement of the nation joining NATO, the Swedish army members joined the U.S. Air Force in an exercise at Tyndall AFB’s Silver Flag training site alongside the 325th Civil Engineer Squadron’s EOD unit. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Zeeshan Naeem)

The first day of the exercise focused on demolition proficiency and the effects of dynamic charges against improvised explosive devices. Subsequent training days challenged both teams to utilize a variety of techniques to render safety and dispose of explosive hazards in a simulated Middle Eastern area of operation, incorporating real-world experiences to enhance detection and removal of IEDs.

“I hope we can keep working with [Sweden] often,” Manning said. “This exercise, planned over multiple months, aimed to provide a foundation for strengthening the partnership between joint nations, and I would say it was a complete success.”

Featured News