Staged on a Misawa Air Base hilltop, the 35th Civil Engineer Squadron Explosive Ordnance Disposal team waits for a simulated attack before checking for UXOs around the base during an operational readiness exercise Jan. 28, 2014. The base EOD team responds to all notifications of UXOs but has predetermined routes to follow in case some aren't discovered. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. April Quintanilla)

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After discovering an unexploded ordnance during an operational readiness exercise on Misawa Air Base, Japan, Jan. 28, 2014, the 35th Communications Squadron's post attack reconnaissance team sets up a 500-foot cordon. The cordon prevents unauthorized personnel from entering the danger zone while members wait for the EOD team to arrive. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. April Quintanilla)

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U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class Anthony Donelan, 35th Civil Engineer Squadron Explosive Ordnance Disposal technician, pours bleach on an unexploded ordnance decontaminating it during an operational readiness exercise at Misawa Air Base, Japan, Jan. 24, 2014. When EOD responds to a chemical attack, they come prepared with bleach and water to decontaminate the ordnance prior to removing it from the effected area. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. April Quintanilla)

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U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Brent Points and Airman 1st Class Anthony Donelan, 35th Civil Engineer Squadron Explosive Ordnance Disposal technicians, place an unexploded ordnance into a bag preventing further contamination to the affected area. The EOD team takes the time to inspect each UXO prior to removing it from it's original position. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. April Quintanilla)

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U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Ryan Johnson, 35th Civil Engineer Squadron Explosive Ordnance Disposal team lead, gathers information from the 35th Communication Squadron post reconnaissance team about the discovered unexploded ordnance. EOD gathers as much information as possible from the PAR teams to help clear the effected area. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. April Quintanilla)

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ORE can't defuse EOD

Published Jan. 29, 2014
By Tech. Sgt. April Quintanilla
35th Fighter Wing Public Affairs

MISAWA AIR BASE, Japan -- As the simulated attacks increase during Phase II of the base operational readiness exercise, the 35th Civil Engineer Squadron explosive ordnance disposal team is positioned around the base to respond at a moment's notice.

After an attack, real or simulated, EOD is responsible for disarming all unexploded ordnance devices and moving them to a safe area. Once the attack is over and it's determined the team can safely move from their location, they drive a predetermined route looking for UXOsand collect and safely dispose of them.

Clearing the flightline of UXOs and getting the jets back in the air is top priority.

"As soon as an attack occurs, we get to the airfield and recover any UXOs to clear the runway as quickly as possible," said Airman 1st Class Anthony Donelan, 35th Civil Engineer Squadron explosive ordnance disposal technician.

Donelan said his team doesn't know what to expect during an exercise, so they have to make sure they are ready for any situation.

"This exercise makes us think on our feet," Donelan said. "Normal day-to-day training is very different for when we're in "exercise mode" because we never know what's going to happen. We constantly study ordnance that could be used against us, so when we are faced with a situation, we don't just stare at it. We know what it is."

In addition to being qualified to dispose of UXOs, EOD technicians are also trained extensively on self-aid buddy care to assist bystanders injured during an attack. Disposal may be their specialty, but they don't hesitate to help anyone in need of medical care.

"If someone is injured, we immediately get into the mindset that we need to provide care and transport that person to a safe location," said Donelan. "I love the feeling of knowing I can help save people's lives."

Even though this is an exercise, Misawa Airmen train as though the attacks are real and the EOD technicians are ready and waiting for any situation.