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HURLBURT FIELD, Fla. - Air Commandos with the 1st Special Operations Wing's Explosive Ordnance Disposal partnered with the United States Bomb Technician Association to explore the latest technology in EOD operations, aiming to enhance national security and emergency response capabilities.
The USBTA hosted Operation Eagle Coast II, a four-day event that brought military, federal, state and local bomb technicians, conducted a Capability Advancement Training Exercise at Hurlburt Field, Florida, April 28 - May 1, 2025.
The initiative began with a series of training events and collaborative workshops focused on real-world integration between multiple departments and industry partners. EOD worked alongside multiple departments, to include: Samford Police Dept; Gwinnett County Bomb Squad; Kane County Bomb Squad; 754th EOD Company (Army); United States Secret Service; 749th EOD Company (Army); Lake County Sheriff’s Office; Harvard Homeland Security and the FBI.
“The goal is to bring together a diverse group of organizations with shared objectives, using real-life scenarios to test new equipment and technology while learning from the different approaches and techniques other teams use in our field,” the EOD superintendent explained.
The partnership practices the continuous evolution of their training and tactics by incorporating lessons learned from domestic operations and civilian counterparts. Through direct feedback, military units are able to refine procedures, adapt to new threat environments and enhance readiness for joint operations both at home and abroad.
“My number one thing I want everyone involved to understand is there are other people that do the same mission,” said Van Hood, USBTA’s vice president of operations. “We might have a slightly different task, but the overall process is the same. We have a support group and a team you can call upon when it's time to do a job. They know they can rely on each other for help because they train and work together, sharing the same experiences.”
By building these bridges, both sides are preparing for the growing reality that future bomb threats—whether foreign or domestic—will require seamless cooperation across jurisdictions. As threats evolve, so must the relationships that support the nation’s bomb response framework.
“With the job of identifying, accessing, rendering safe and disposing of any kind of bomb, it's important to have an outside perspective,” Hood said. “The team here at Hurlburt does an excellent job training and preparing for a mission, but they don't know the techniques or procedures from other units. So by bringing folks from all over the country, teams can pick up new techniques.”
According to the superintendent, strengthening interagency relationships not only improves tactical readiness but also fosters innovation across units and departments. In addition to learning from one another, teams benefit from new cutting-edge technology that’s transforming how bomb technology is approached in all sectors. In particular, the USBTA conducted specialized training and testing with lightweight, throwable robots designed to detect explosives.
“The size and weight of most of our robots becomes a limiting factor when it comes to how we employ them,” he noted. “These small systems enhance our flexibility.”
With the hands-on training and cross-agency collaboration wrapped up, the focus remains on adaptability and innovation—two qualities essential to staying ahead of evolving threats. From advanced technology to the exchange of diverse tactical knowledge, each element contributes to a more agile, better-prepared bomb technician force.
“Our ability to excel at rapid deployments and responses is dependent on the minds, experiences and training of our EOD Airmen,” the superintendent said. “Exercises like this bolster our ability to be innovative problem solvers and experts at evaluating when necessary risks need to be taken to achieve mission success.”
| Date Taken: | 05.07.2025 |
| Date Posted: | 05.07.2025 15:36 |
| Story ID: | 497301 |
| Location: | HURLBURT FIELD, FLORIDA, US |
| Web Views: | 53 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Hurlburt Field Joins Forces in Bomb Training & Technology, by A1C Samantha Rossi, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
