Photo By Tech. Sgt. Denoris Mickle | U.S. Air Force Capt. Dan O'Neil is an Explosive Ordnance Disposal technician with the...... read more read more
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BAGRAM AIR FIELD, Afghanistan — Capt. Dan O’Neil, Explosive Ordinance Disposal technician, recently deployed to Kabul, Afghanistan, to help advise on EOD related subjects at the NATO Joint Command. He acts as a voice for Combined Joint Task Force Paladin at the Joint Command.
O’Neil, a Burlington, 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, O’Neil 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.
O’Neil said this makes him feel like he is contributing to Operation Enduring Freedom.
“It would be a different war without EOD,” he explained. “We are here to keep our fellow service members safe by taking explosives out of insurgents hands and clear routes throughout the battle space. I love that I get to be here and do my part. Being deployed out here is what we are trained to do.”
To be an EOD tech, O’Neil went through the same training as his enlisted EOD counterparts. The training included 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. He also completed the same upgrade training that’s required for enlisted airmen.
“The EOD school was definitely a challenge to get through,” O’Neil said. “The standards are very high. It takes a very well rounded and motivated individual to get through that type of training.”
There are countless situations where O’Neil 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 being EOD is that I get to work with some of the sharpest folks in the military,” he said. “I also love that we accomplish exciting and unique missions like post blast exploitation, counter IED work, VIP protection missions and I get to train with and use explosives on a regular basis.”
When O’Neil is not working as EOD with the Air Force he works as a mechanical engineer for a local wireless sensor company.
He spent his first four years in the Air Force on active duty status and has been in the ANG since. This May will mark 10 years in the Air Force and he is on his second deployment.
He said he believes that EOD Guard positions are extremely critical in today’s fight.
“Guard EOD is important because we provide a cost effective solution to the high operations tempo of overseas deployments, while conducting a robust portion of stateside EOD missions,” the captain said. “Especially in the state. We are the second most utilized resource in Vermont. We respond to EOD calls in Vermont, New York, New Hampshire and Maine. We conduct range clearances on the Adirondack Gunnery Range, we travel with political dignitaries in ensure they’re safe from explosive hazards, we respond to bomb threats and provide training and advisory support to civilian authorities. Most importantly, when aircraft is loaded with munitions and countermeasures, they need EOD techs there to support the flying mission.
“Active duty EOD is already struggling to achieve all of its mission set with its current manpower, with help from Reserve and Guard,” he continued. “I don’t know how they would do it with out the support from the Guard.”
| Date Taken: | 03.21.2012 |
| Date Posted: | 03.21.2012 13:28 |
| Story ID: | 85548 |
| Location: | BAGRAM AIR FIELD, AF |
| Hometown: | BURLINGTON, VT, US |
| Web Views: | 566 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
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