702nd EOD hones readiness via urban training

Photo By Sgt. 1st Class Daniel Wyatt | Staff Sgt. Martin Hile attaches a rope to conduct a remote movement on a yellow jug during the 702nd Ordnance Company (Explosive Ordnance Disposal) platoon level field training exercise July 13-15 at the urban operations site at the Grafenwoehr training area. (U.S. Army courtesy photo)  

GRAFENWOEHR, BY, GERMANY

07.13.2015

Story by Sgt. Daniel Wyatt 

16th Sustainment Brigade

GRAFENWOEHR, Germany – Soldiers of the 702nd Ordnance Company (Explosive Ordnance Disposal) conducted platoon-level Field Training Exercise July 13-15 at the Urban Operations Site at the Grafenwoehr Training Area. The quarterly focus for 702nd was readiness in irregular warfare, which led to the training of hand entry techniques, improvised explosive devices, and dismounted operations on improvised explosive devices.

Over the course of three days, Soldiers developed their proficiency as team members and leaders. The training enhanced the capabilities of clearing unknown explosives and allowing freedom of movement for a unit that requests EOD assistance.

The focus of day one was vehicle-borne IEDs and person-borne IEDs. The Auto Skills Center supported the vehicles movement to and from the Urban Operations Range, which allowed for realistic training. Soldiers had the opportunity to use explosive entry techniques and hone their robotic manipulation techniques on the vehicles.

EOD team member Spc. Joshua Brown conveyed his excitement about using fully functioning vehicles.

“Most of our training vehicles have broken doors which make it impossible to practice with the robot. However with the addition of these functioning vehicles it allowed me to become more proficient on entry abilities.”

Using a robot to perform a reconnaissance on an unknown item is the safest way to make a first approach. It allows the EOD team a level of safety that a manual approach cannot offer. The abilities and portability of robots allowed the unit to accomplish more.

The second and third days consisted of dismounted operations, which require the EOD technician to carry only essential equipment, which varies from person to person depending on the mission objective.

• Date Taken: 07.13.2015
• Date Posted: 08.04.2015 04:26
• Story ID: 172034
• Location: GRAFENWOEHR, BY, DE