EOD techs take bite out of bombs during inertion training
US Marine Corps News
8/4/2010
By Lance Cpl. Bruno J. Bego, 2nd Marine Logistics Group
CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. -- Marines from Explosive Ordinance Disposal Company, 8th Engineer Support Battalion, 2nd Marine Logistics Group participated in an inerting operation training exercise as part of annual qualifications July 30 at EOD site two aboard Camp Lejeune.
The Marines from EOD participate in the exercise every year, not only to meet the training standards and readiness manual or to assist other units by providing training tools, but to do what they do best - make the world a less volatile place.
“The EOD Marines are required to inert and disassemble one ordinance item per year, regardless of rank,” explained Gunnery Sgt. Eric J. Gonzalez, an EOD tech with EOD Co. “They need to do this to fully understand how the different explosives or ammunition work.”
Inertion is used by EOD techs to disassemble and deactivate ordinance of any kind and collect information for future reference. During the exercise the Marines disassembled M739AI point detonation fuses and a 2.95-inch coastal defense round from the early 1900's.
“Their mission is to exploit and recognize unexploded ordinances (UXOs),” Gonzalez said. “It’s vital for the Marines to identify the hazard these objects represent to them and other [service members] operating them.”
During the process the Marines must clear the ordinance of any chemical or explosive residue.
“A minimum of two Marines are required to work together [for safety purposes]”, said Chief Warrant Officer 2 Jeremiah T. Hamric, the 1st platoon commander for EOD Co., 8th ESB, 2nd MLG. “A [Range Safety Officer] and [Officer in Charge] are required. Also, the inerting procedures have to be approved by the two senior EOD Technicians in your unit.”
After the fuses have been inerted and cleaned, the Marines dispose of the explosive materials by performing a controlled explosion.
“The main purpose of the exercise is learning, learning, learning,” Hamric explained. “It also enables us to maintain an ordinance museum so when a Marine is interested in ordinance items, they can go into the library and put their hands on it, just like checking out a library book.”
Inerting is always a learning experience that must be taken very seriously, no matter how many times the EOD technician has deployed or how many times he has done it, Hamric added.
“Understanding the internal mechanical working parts of an individual ordinance item is a building block that, when put with all the other skills an EOD Tech has, makes him better prepared for any scenario,” Hamric concluded.
|
NEWSLETTER
|
| Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list |
|
|
|
