FORT WALTON BEACH, Fla. -- A visit to the Naval School Explosive Ordnance Disposal at Fort Walton Beach, Fl. was a key part of Third Army’s EOD Information Exchange held between Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Third Army’s EOD team, Aug. 16-20.
The exchange is part of Third Army’s theater security cooperation program which focuses on shaping the future by increasing interoperability between its partner nations.
During the visit, participants toured the Joint-Service All-Ranks Explosive Ordnance Disposal Course and were introduced to equipment U.S. EOD teams are using in theater. In addition, they received briefings on the Afghan EOD School and Technical Seminars.
“Our guests were able to view first hand and try out the equipment used by U.S. EOD forces,” said Lt. Col. Frank Davis, Third Army EOD officer. “They also toured the facility where all U.S. DoD EOD personnel train and become certified EOD technicians.”
Third Army has held three EOD information exchanges with Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan over the past year, Davis Explained. This exchange is the second multilateral event and is promoting cooperation amongst the nations and promoting peace within the region.
“This exchange is a portion of Third Army’s overall shaping strategy to improve relationships between the U.S., Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan, as well as helping them to improve their overall self-defense capability,” Davis said.
Kyrgyzstan Ministry of Defense Chief of Engineering, Col. Ziyabek Kambychekov, Tajikistan Col. Dzhafarov, and Representative from the U.S. Embassy in Tajikistan Firuza Nasimova, were presented with a certificate on the last day of the exchange, inducting, them into our Honorary EOD Society of Defuziliers.
“These events are very valuable,” Kambychekov said after receiving his certificate. “They emphasize the importance of working together as partners to strive for peace.”