Vancouver native deploys as EOD, defuses bombs, denies terrorist victory

Photo By Master Sgt. Sara Keller | U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. David Fleming calls back to his leadership as Tech. Sgt. Daniel K. Robinson waits for feedback during a call they responded to outside the wire that an unexploded ordnance was found at Bagram Air Field, Afghanistan, March 19, 2012. Fleming and Robinson are both explosive ordnance disposal technicians with the 966th Air Expeditionary Squadron and Combined Joint Task Force Paladin. The EOD flight with the 966th AES is tasked to mitigate, render safe, and/or destroy any conventional or unconventional explosive threat 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 their responsibilities as EOD technicians include mitigating improvised explosive devices, post blast analysis and route clearing packages.  

BAGRAM AIR FIELD, AFGHANISTAN

03.21.2012

Story by Staff Sgt. Sara Keller 

United States Air Forces Central       

BAGRAM AIR FIELD, Afghanistan - Staff Sgt. David A. Fleming, 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.

Fleming, a Vancouver, Wash., native, joined a team of fellow EOD techs in Afghanistan from the 142nd Civil Engineer Squadron out of Portland Air National Guard Base in Oregon.

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 analysis’ and perform route clearing packages.

By providing their EOD capabilities, Fleming 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.

Fleming said this makes him feel like he is contributing to Operation Enduring Freedom.

“Whenever we respond to a threat of an IED or Unexploded Ordnance, I know my team makes a difference in keeping local nationals and fellow U.S. military and civilians safe,” he said.

To be an EOD tech, Fleming 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 Fleming 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 about my mission here] is going outside the wire and seeing Afghanistan up close and not just seeing it over a fence,” Fleming explained. “I love being able to defeat IEDs and negate the threat of UXOs.”

Fleming has been with the Oregon ANG since he left active duty status in 2005. He has been steadily employed by the ANG since, and feels like the ANG EOD positions are extremely critical.

“Within the state of Oregon the 142nd EOD flight has only eight EOD members that call it home,” Fleming said. “No other services call it home. If it weren’t for us, every military munitions response or on base call would add another three hours of response time. I addition to responsibilities at the state level, we assist the active duty component with range clearances and deployments. Currently this deployment rotation has 18 EOD guard members, out of 32 total. Without the Guard EOD program, the entire Air Force EOD program would be tapped for bodies.”

Fleming has been serving in the U.S. Air Force for more than nine years and this is his first deployment.

• Date Taken: 03.21.2012
• Date Posted: 03.21.2012 14:42
• Story ID: 85556
• Location: BAGRAM AIR FIELD, AF