• Military Menu                       

• Introduction
• Systems
• Facilities
• Agencies
• Industry
• Operations
• Countries
• Hot Documents
• News
• Reports
• Policy
• Budget
• Congress
• Links

• WMD
• Intelligence
• Homeland Security
• Space

EOD Mobile Unit 11 Det. 15 Trains with Hong Kong Police Explosives Experts

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS060619-02
Release Date: 6/19/2006 7:33:00 AM

By Chief Journalist (SW) Donnie Ryan, USS Ronald Reagan Public Affairs

HONG KONG (NNS) -- Members of Explosive Ordnance Disposal Mobile Unit (EODMU) 11, Detachment (Det.) 15 participated in joint training operations with members of the Hong Kong Police Department’s (HKPD) Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Bureau during a three-day field training exercise here, June 7-9.

Lt. Robert Lattu, officer in charge of EODMU 11, Det. 15, said the unique exercise was an excellent opportunity to strengthen ties with the HKPD and share knowledge, methods and training techniques for explosive ordnance disposal.

The three-day exercise included a full day of classroom training, a tour of the Hong Kong Police Department EOD facilities, observing a chemical agent response drill, training in the construction of improvised explosive devices (IED), crime scene post-blast analysis, and field training exercises in the detonation of IEDs at the HKPD demolition range located atop Mt. Butler in Hong Kong.

According to Lattu, field training exercises are critical in addition to classroom training.

“Field training is where you add a little more stress to the situation,” said Lattu. “Practical application is key. You have to turn ideas into results.”

While Sailors from EODMU 11, Det. 15 and the Hong Kong police share a similar mission, there are some differences between the two explosive ordnance disposal units and the types of missions each performs. These differences include equipment, techniques, logistics, and location for IED and ordnance disposal jobs.

“Out in the field, we have plenty of room to evacuate the area,” said Lattu. “For the Hong Kong police, they have to work in a more crowded urban environment that gives them different challenges to overcome.”

According to Lattu, the HKPD averages three calls each week, operating at a much higher operation tempo than EODMU 11. Lattu also said this type of joint training with the HKPD is becoming more common as more Navy ships with EOD units visit Hong Kong.

Regardless of differences in equipment and techniques, Sailors assigned to EODMU 11, Det. 15 and the Hong Kong police officers share a common bond in helping to save lives in the war on terrorism.

“These guys [HKPD] are top notch,” said Lattu. “They’ve got a good system in how they train people, and they know how to take care of business. I’m real impressed with their capabilities.”

EODMU 11, Det. 15 is based at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, Wash., and currently assigned to the USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76) Carrier Strike Group.

The Ronald Reagan Carrier Strike Group left San Diego Jan. 4 on a regularly scheduled deployment in support of the global war on terrorism and maritime security operations. Commissioned in 2003, this is the first deployment for the Navy’s newest Nimitz-class nuclear-powered aircraft carrier.

Operating in the Western Pacific and Indian Oceans, the U.S. 7th Fleet is the largest of the forward-deployed U.S. fleets, with approximately 50 ships, 120 aircraft and 20,000 Sailors and Marines assigned at any given time.

For more information, visit the U.S. 7th Fleet Web site at www.c7f.navy.mil.

For related news, visit the USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76) Navy NewsStand page at www.news.navy.mil/local/cvn76/.