CAMP ARIFJAN, Kuwait - The 1108th Explosives Ordnance Disposal Team welcomed Brig. Gen. Pat Murphy, the 52nd adjutant general of the New York Army and Air National Guard here April 5.
To demonstrate their capabilities the 1108th EOD conducted a training exercise for a suspicious package outside of a building. The team tested the package with a Talon MK2 EOD robot, which is equipped with four cameras and a gripper claw. After testing the package with the robot the team highlighted their many capabilities by sending Sgt. John Conley, an EOD technician from Pleasantville, N.Y., to the suspicious package in a bomb disposal suit to plant the disposal charge. After the detonation they assessed the situation with the robot and concluded the exercise.
The 1108th's mission is to conduct EOD responses on Camp Arifjan to ensure the safety of transient and permanent party soldiers. They also conduct training on explosive safety and awareness to U.S. and coalition forces.
Murphy's visit to Camp Arifjan's EOD team was the third and final stop before heading back to N.Y. Prior to visiting here, he and Command Sgt. Maj. Robert Van Pelt visited New York National Guard Soldiers in Talil, and Basra, Iraq.