Determination, detonation and EOD reconnaissance initiation

By Senior Airman Sadie Colbert, 35th Fighter Wing Public Affairs / Published April 08, 2018

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Japan Air Self-Defense Force Master Sgt. Shota Nakano, Tohoku Sub Base, Tohoku, Japan, explosive ordnance disposal instructor, inspects an unexploded ordnance at Misawa Air Base, Japan, March 30, 2018. The Tohoku EOD unit came to Misawa AB and, along with a class of 3rd Air Wing personnel, underwent a focused training on how to perform reconnaissance operations on UXOs. They came to strengthen their foundational techniques in order to bring their knowledge back to their units and enhance future bilateral missions between the U.S. and JASDF forces. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Sadie Colbert)

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An inert foreign rocket lays exposed during unexploded ordnance disposal reconnaissance training at Misawa Air Base, Japan, March 30, 2018. During the training, the 35th Civil Engineer Squadron explosive ordnance disposal teams worked with Japan Air Self-Defense Force Airmen from the 3rd Air Wing and the Tohoku Subordinate Base EOD unit from Tohoku, Japan, to practice executing a bilateral mission together. They also took the time to train newer JASDF personnel on foundational methods of UXO reconnaissance. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Sadie Colbert)

Airmen with the Japan Air Self-Defense Force 3rd Air Wing weapons maintenance technicians,
Tohoku Sub Base, Tohoku, Japan,explosive ordnance disposal instructors, and the 35th Civil
Engineer Squadron EOD team pose for a group photo at Misawa Air Base, Japan, March 29,
2018. For two days U.S. Air Force EOD technicians educated JASDF personnel of the basics on
unexploded ordnances by going through classroom lectures to share how to classify different
UXOs, practice searching for detonated ordnances and how to properly dispose of them. The
teams worked hand-in- hand with each other, fortifying their bilateral teamwork and increasing
the swiftness of their techniques. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Sadie Colbert)

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Japan Air Self-Defense Force 3rd Air Wing weapons maintenance technicians, Tohoku Sub Base explosive ordnance disposal instructors from Tohoku, Japan, and the 35th Civil Engineer Squadron EOD team pose for a group photo at Misawa Air Base, Japan, March 29, 2018. For two days, U.S. Air Force EOD technicians educated JASDF personnel of the basics on unexploded ordnances by leading classroom lectures to share how to classify different UXOs, practice searching for detonated ordnances and properly dispose of them. The teams worked hand-in- hand, fortifying their bilateral teamwork and increasing the swiftness of their techniques. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Sadie Colbert)

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A fuse remains exposed on an inert sub-munition bomblet during a bilateral explosive ordnance disposal training class at Misawa Air Base, Japan, March 29, 2018. A group of 11 Japan Air Self-Defense Force 3rd Air Wing weapons maintenance technicians and Tohoku Sub Base explosive ordnance disposal instructors from Tohoku, Japan,, participated in the class. As a part of their training, personnel had to identify 20 types of unexploded ordnances while knowing how different components make up the ordnance. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Sadie Colbert)

Japan Air Self-Defense Force 3rd Air Wing weapons maintenance technicians and Tohoku Sub
Base, Tohoku, Japan, explosive ordnance disposal instructors, listen to an explanation of an
ordnance during an EOD training course at Misawa Air Base, Japan, March 29, 2018. A group of
11 members came to enhance their knowledge on various ordnances as well as practice their
English-speaking skills for future bilateral missions. The class covered searching, identifying and
recovering unexploded ordnances. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Sadie Colbert)

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Japan Air Self-Defense Force 3rd Air Wing weapons maintenance technicians and Tohoku Sub Base explosive ordnance disposal instructors from Tohoku, Japan, listen to an explanation of an ordnance during an EOD training course at Misawa Air Base, Japan, March 29, 2018. A group of 11 members came to enhance their knowledge on various ordnances as well as practice their English-speaking skills for future bilateral missions. The class covered searching, identifying and recovering unexploded ordnances. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Sadie Colbert)

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U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Kyle Miller, left, the 35th Civil Engineer Squadron explosive ordnance disposal NCO in charge, explains the makeup of a Russian bomb to Japan Air Self-Defense Force Master Sgt. Tomomune Segawa, a Tohoku EOD School instructor, at Misawa Air Base, Japan, March 29, 2018. Tohoku instructors attended the course in order to better their ordnance disposal skills for future bilateral missions. Once complete, the instructors took their newly-gained knowledge and delivered it to their units. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Sadie Colbert)

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Japan Air Self-Defense Force 3rd Air Wing weapons maintenance technicians and Tohoku Sub Base explosive ordnance disposal instructors from Tohoku, Japan, classify an inert unexploded ordnance as a part of their EOD training school requirements at Misawa Air Base, Japan, March 29, 2018. In order to better protect Japan and its allies, the 35th Civil Engineer Squadron EOD flight trained instructors from JASDF Tohoku EOD School in the basics of identifying and responding to UXOs. Despite the language barriers, all members took away knowledge to bring back to their units. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Sadie Colbert)

MISAWA AIR BASE, Japan --

Team Misawa’s 35th Civil Engineer Squadron explosive ordnance disposal team, ranked one of the best in Pacific Air Forces, created opportunities to share their wealth of knowledge with their host nation EOD partners March 29 and 30.

The 35th CES EOD flight worked on foundational practices for unexploded ordnance reconnaissance missions with 11 Japan Air Self-Defense Force explosive ordnance disposal Airmen assigned to the Tohoku Subordinate Base, Tohoku, Japan, and the 3rd Air Wing.

“We are expanding capabilities to further enhance the foundation of our unexploded ordnance reconnaissance abilities,” said JASDF Master Sgt. Shota Nakano, a Tohoku Sub Base EOD instructor. “The important information we gain from training here can be passed along to our personnel to better enhance our unit over all.”

The training happens once a year with Team Misawa’s EOD unit visiting the Japanese ordnance teams, but this year, their counterparts wanted to get more in-depth training by making the course available at the 35th Fighter Wing and with more Japan-focused scenarios, saving time, resources and money for both nations.