Photo By Tech. Sgt. Denoris Mickle | U.S. Air Force Explosive Ordnance Disposal Technician Tech. Sgt. Steven Heffernan from...... read more read more
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BAGRAM AIR FIELD, Afghanistan — Tech. Sgt. Steven Heffernan, Explosive Ordinance Disposal technician, recently deployed to the 966th Air Expeditionary Squadron at Bagram Air Field, Afghanistan, as a part of Combined Joint Task Force Paladin.
Heffernan, a Bristol, Vt., native, joined a team of fellow EOD techs in Afghanistan from the 158th Fighter Wing with the Vermont Air National Guard.
As an EOD tech, it’s his team’s responsibility to mitigate, render safe, and/or destroy any conventional or unconventional explosive threats as well as chemical, nuclear or biological hazards inside and outside the wire. Their operations can be performed 24-hours a day, seven days a week. Some of these tasks include mitigating improvised explosive devices, provide post blast analyses and perform route clearing packages.
By providing their EOD capabilities, Heffernan and his EOD team members make it possible for service members deployed to Bagram to complete their missions with confidence; knowing EOD is only one call away.
“We can’t do our job without EOD, there’s just no way,” said Tech Sgt. Eric Fox, team leader with the 455th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron Quick Reaction Team or Reapers. “For example; we called them out for a rocket we found, and it’s the same type of ordnance I’ve seen used in IEDs in the past. By them coming out and destroying it, that’s one less IED [the enemy] can use against BAF or us. Not to mention the multiple IEDs they can save our lives from by diffusing it, before the enemy can diffuse them on us.”
There is not a day that goes by where EOD is not called on to respond.
Heffernan said this makes him feel like he is contributing to Operation Enduring Freedom.
“[I feel like I’m contributing to the war effort] by removing explosive hazards that may be used to injure or kill our forces,” Heffernan explained. “Also, responding to explosive hazards on the base that may affect the mission, and explosively disposing of damaged or defective munitions so that they are not a hazard to any service member’s mission here.
To be an EOD tech, Heffernan went through a rigorous nine-month course where he had to pass more than 50 tests that challenged not only his intelligence and attention to detail, but his physical endurance and mental capacity.
There are countless situations where Heffernan has to rely on this extensive training and his ability to think on his feet in order to keep himself, his team and others safe. But he said he has his favorite parts of the job.
“My favorite part of our mission as EOD is our ability to render useless the enemies plans to do harm toward fellow service members, coalition forces and third country nationals,” he said.
When Heffernan is not working as an EOD with the U.S. Air Force he is the owner and operator of an excavation company and other small businesses. He has been with the Vermont ANG for 20 years.
“The EOD Guard positions serve a vital role in manning for the war effort by helping active duty dwell time,” Heffernan explained. “We are also invaluable help to our states and surrounding areas, for military ordnance and IED support for local state and federal agencies.”
Heffernan’s team duties include driving the Joint EOD Rapid Response Vehicle and help advice the team leader with his 20 years experience. This is Heffernan’s second deployment.
| Date Taken: | 03.21.2012 |
| Date Posted: | 03.21.2012 14:18 |
| Story ID: | 85553 |
| Location: | BAGRAM AIR FIELD, AF |
| Web Views: | 243 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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