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EOD demonstrates demolition

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Jonathan Bass
  • 20th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
SHAW AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. --  A crowd of eager onlookers gaze as two men walk down a stretch of road sweeping from side to side with metal detectors. As the pings from the detectors go off, the crowd holds their breath. An Airman lies on the ground, slowly pulling up dirt from the spot.

For many Airmen, this might be the only chance they have to see the 20th Civil Engineer Squadron explosive ordnance disposal flight in action. Because of the sensitive nature of their mission, EOD doesn't allow many visitors to watch their operations. That changed Dec. 4, when the EOD flight invited Airmen from the 20th Fighter Wing staff agencies and 20th Comptroller Squadron to an afternoon of hands-on learning.

The EOD flight held this event to educate their guests on the importance of their job and how they protect others, said Airman 1st Class Alex Reese, 20th CES EOD apprentice.

The demonstration gave Airmen a chance to see and attempt some of what EOD Airmen do every day. Airmen took the opportunity to try on a bomb suit and even watch a controlled detonation.

"I've never felt a blast of that nature," said Chief Master Sgt. Richard Skrabak, 20th CPTS superintendent. "They say it was a small one. I can't even imagine what an extra 60 pounds from those jugs would feel like."

Skrabak was referring to an improvised explosive device scenario where EOD searched and dug up a 60 pound jug full of simulated explosives.

While Hollywood has shown EOD as modern day cowboys, the reality of the situation is different.

"We're not out there running and gunning around the place," said Reese. "We can use experiences like today to show our wingmen the truth of what we do and what our explosive operations are like."

EOD does explosive operations at least once a month to ensure proficiency when protecting both the installation and surrounding community. They routinely fields calls from the city and county of Sumter about unexploded ordnance. For the Airmen who watched the demo being a part of the work gives new life to the age old proverb, seeing is believing.

"I think we got an appreciation for those who actually go out there and put their lives at risk," said Skrabak. "A lot of the folks in the wing staff tend to sit in the comfort of our offices. These folks are training day in and day out for potential life risking activities. We typically don't do that. Our training isn't as intensive as, 'Hey somebody might die if we don't get this job right.', so there's a new and deeper appreciation of their attention to and level of detail that goes into their job."

As the Airman digs up dirt, he feels around for the corner of a pressure plate. Feeling the plate, he calls out to his teammate, letting him know what's happening. A cable is attached to the connecting wires and is manually towed out of the dirt, revealing a 60 pound jug full of simulated explosives. The crowd breathes again, knowing full well how valuable the EOD Airmen are.