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EODMU 11 Detachment Bangor Conducts Force Protection Dive

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS060813-02
Release Date: 8/13/2006 2:52:00 PM

By Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Mary Popejoy, Northwest Region Fleet Public Affairs

SILVERDALE, Wash. (NNS) -- The crew of Explosive Ordnance Disposal Mobile Unit (EODMU) 11 Detachment Bangor traveled through Puget Sound to Naval Magazine (NAVMAG) Indian Island Aug. 9 to conduct a force protection dive of the pier.

A pier sweep is always conducted before a U.S. vessel can moor.

On hand for the dive was Capt. Jon Kurtz, commanding officer of NAVMAG Indian Island and a native of Wilmington, Del., who was fulfilling the requirements needed to keep his diving qualifications current.

"It's always nice to get back in the water with any of the diving units in the area," said Kurtz. "EOD Det. Bangor is always a highly professional group, which makes it an enjoyable diving experience," he said.

The EOD team enjoyed having the CO along as the dive officer for this particular sweep on his installation.

"It's a treat to have the CO of NAVMAG with us today," said Chief Explosive Ordnance Disposalman (EWS) Keia Patti, a native of Yreka, Calif. "It's pretty nice to have someone that high up come down to the deck plates and do what his Sailors would do out in the field," he said. "Our dive today fit the requirements he needed to keep his dive qualifications current, so we were more than happy to have him along for the pier sweep," he said.

Before the dive begins, the gear is checked to make sure everything works and fits properly, so it doesn't interfere with the diving process. If everything is deemed safe, the divers get into the water and perform another safety check before starting the dive.

"Once in the water, we look for anything out of the ordinary that's not supposed to be on the pier," said Patti. "If we find something we'll investigate it, make sure it's not harmful, and determine the next course of action," he said.

Once the pier sweep is complete, security is posted on the pier to ensure that unauthorized personnel do not gain access to the secure area.

"It's nice to be able to do this and give everyone a warm and fuzzy feeling that the area is safe for a U.S. vessel to moor," said Explosive Ordnance Disposalman 1st Class (EWS) Matthew Harrison, a native of Oxford, Mass.