MCAS Beaufort EOD Marines train for IED response

Photo By Staff Sgt. Benjamin McDonald | Marines prepare their gear before beginning a training exercise aboard Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort, March 30. For the exercise the Marines were split into teams and given different situations. The Marines assessed the inert Improvied Explosive Device and worked on finding the best way to mitigate the threat while keeping the subject calm.The Marines are with MCAS Beaufort and Marine Wing Support Detachment 31 Explosive Ordnance Disposal.  

BEAUFORT, SC, UNITED STATES

03.30.2017

Story by Lance Cpl. Benjamin McDonald 

Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort

Explosive Ordnance Disposal Marines conducted Improvised Explosive Device training aboard Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort, March 30.
For each training quarter the EOD unit has a specific set of training objectives culminating in a final exercise that incorporates all the training they have done during the quarter. The EOD Marines focused on IED training, the preservation of life, structures, and evidence during this training quarter. One of the exercises that falls under the preservation of life is hostage scenarios.
“The past three days have been part of an annual exercise we do to evaluate our tactics, techniques and procedures,” said
Master Sgt. Brian Diaz, the staff non-commissioned officer in charge of MCAS Beaufort EOD. “Every year we go through a list of exercises to check our overall readiness. Today is the culminating event. The only difference between today and the last two days is that these exercises are a little more risk-inherent. In this situation they will be tested on their critical thinking, circuit diagnostics, and personal relations.”
The Marines were split into two different teams and given a hostage situation with an IED to deal with. Some teams were assigned a subject with a suicide vest or a structure rigged with explosives and a hostage inside.
“We were told to respond to an individual who was in his vehicle with a suicide vest,” said Gunnery Sgt. James Braman, an operations chief for Marine Wing Support Detachment 31 EOD. “These sorts of scenarios are a lot more hands-on and therefore dangerous. We can’t use the robots or bomb suits because we have to keep the subject as calm as possible.
We have to have to be personal with the subject so nothing irrational will happen. The more he panics, the harder it is to assess the device and save the subjects life.”
During the debrief the Marines gathered around each training IED and the team members explained the technique they used and what they thought went well and where improvements needed to be made.
“These exercises show what we are strong at and what needs to be worked on,” said Diaz. “Now from this point until the next exercise, we can work on improving and honing our skills as EOD.”
The exercise featured a variety of IEDs and hostage scenarios to give the Marines a wide range of experience to draw from in case they encounter the situation in the real world. By working collaboratively and utilizing each other’s experiences they train to respond to any threat, anywhere.
“Our EOD unit serves on a station capacity for MCAS Beaufort,” said Diaz. “But our main focus is to be ready for anything. Anyone from EOD can be deployed at any given notice, whether as an individual augment or attached to a unit. I want every Marine to be able to come from MCAS Beaufort EOD or MWSD- 31 and be ready to roll out as if they were going to deploy to a high traffic combat zone.”

• Date Taken: 03.30.2017
• Date Posted: 04.06.2017 15:33
• Story ID: 229430
• Location: BEAUFORT, SC, US