KANDAHAR PROVINCE, Afghanistan - An explosion erupts violently in a bright red and orange fireball which burns itself up as it rolls into the sky.
Nearly a full second after the initial explosion, a "boom" and shock wave whips past the spectators in the safe zone, and a concussion pounds through the chest and ears like a kick of thunder.
Explosive Ordnance Disposal, RC-South Counter IED Branch, and Combined Joint Operations Center are pleased. With that detonation, they have disposed of 400 pounds of unexploded ordnance and with a secondary explosion five seconds later, 400 pounds more.
"In the Air Force we call them ADR's, or Ammunition Disposal Reports- getting rid of unserviceable munitions," said Master Sgt. Gerald Davis, 755th Air Expeditionary Group, Bravo Flight.
"We had a great variety of munitions to get rid of today, from 2.75-inch rocket motors to countermeasure signal flares, we had a big pile to dispose of and as you saw, it made a pretty good 'shot'."
The EOD team here at Kandahar Air Field conducts ADR's twice a month to detonate and dispose of everything from unexploded ordnances found on or around KAF, to expired munitions and small arms rounds.
The fodder for these controlled detonations ranges in size and variety and once it is transported to the explosives range it is carefully placed in a crater, layered between blocks of detonation charges and wired to explode.
The RC-South CJOC routinely assists EOD during ADR's with security details and their own EOD technicians who contribute to the load to be detonated, as well.
These bi-monthly disposals are also training and refresher exercises consisting of hands on experience and of course, an exceptional view of a very sound "boom."
Staff Sgt. Brad P. Manco, 755th AEG, B Flight, coordinates the ADR's.
"We are generally the UXO, [unexploded ordnance] unit for the entire base," said Manco. "Any unit which has UXO, usually filters it through the ammo dump at ammo supply points. I coordinate with them and we take the stuff out on trucks."
Although ADR's are a routine task for EOD, their average day sometimes consists of more immediate and stressful circumstances.
"We respond to calls within our 10 kilometer response area around Kandahar, which is the British patrol, so if they find something, they'll call us to meet them and we go take care of it."
These calls can be made by anyone who finds what they believe is a UXO or possible IED. In this way, military personnel and civilians alike rely on EOD here at KAF and throughout surrounding Kandahar City to counter the threats of possible IED's and UXO's.
Manco said that a few nights ago, EOD answered three separate calls about possible IED's and UXO's in one night, one of which UXO's turned out to be a hazard and had to be disposed of.
When they are not conducting an ADR, patrolling, or responding to a call, the EOD technicians here are usually maintaining their quarters or training — but they are constantly standing by, ready to respond to every call.
Anyone who finds what they believe is an unexploded ordnance here, is urged NOT TO TOUCH THE DEVICE, and IMMEDIATELY CALL- EOD JDOC at (318) 841-2004.