Photo By Master Sgt. Amy Picard | U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Jasmine Nakayama, explosive ordnance disposal instructor,...... read more read more
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FORT MCCOY, Wisconsin — Barely any light streamed in through the cracks of the door. The smell of burning flesh filled the building as dark smoke rolled inside. The chanting of voices echoed through the halls. Hanging by its neck from a rope tied to a beam in the center of the room was the body of a simulated Airman with a suicide vest strapped to its chest.
This was just one of the many training lanes conducted by explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) technicians during 24-hour, counter-improvised explosive device operations during exercise Patriot Warrior. Patriot Warrior is Air Force Reserve Command’s premier exercise, providing an opportunity for Reserve Citizen Airmen to train with joint and international partners in airlift, aeromedical evacuation and mobility support.
After a pause in training, one could barely see into the crowd of tall EOD males huddled in a circle. In the center of the group, commanding attention with her body language, Tech. Sgt. Nakayama examines the scenario with her troops.
“This is my first time at Patriot Warrior,” said Tech. Sgt. Jasmine Nakayama, EOD instructor at 622nd Civil Engineer Expeditionary Combat Support - Training and Certification Center (TCC), Dobbins Air Reserve Base, Georgia. “My position as an Observer Controller Trainer at Patriot Warrior is similar to my role at my home base where we run EOD technicians through training and present them with a set of problems similar to real world scenarios.”
Chief Master Sgt. Matthew Hill, EOD functional area manager, described Nakayama’s in-field experience as crucial to the EOD portion of Patriot Warrior. He noted that the training scenarios were built upon actual situations she encountered during her deployments.
Nakayama has been in EOD for nearly 13 years. She was active duty for 10 years and now serves in the Active Guard Reserve. She has deployed numerous times to Iraq and Afghanistan.
“During our two deployments together, I learned what a hard worker she is,” said
Senior Master Sgt. Gregory Pauli, EOD technician, 439th Civil Engineering Squadron, Westover ARB, MA. “She is such a positive asset to our team and truly demonstrates that succeeding in this career field isn’t about size; it’s about being mentally tough.”
Currently, there are only 7 female EOD technicians serving in the Reserve EOD Program.
“When people meet me, they assume I’m the administrative person, especially EOD technicians from other branches,” said Nakayama. “I’m very underestimated, but if you put in the work and show you can do it, it doesn’t matter if you’re male or female.”
Nakayama has been fascinated by EOD since her childhood. Growing up in Maryland, she lived near the Army base where the original EOD school was located. Additionally, she would frequent an ordnance museum near her home.
Once she went to the Military Entrance Processing Station (MEPS), she decided to turn her fascination into a career.
“When I went to MEPS, the personnel were discussing everything I qualified for,” recalled Nakayama. “The person said I qualified for EOD, but that I wouldn’t be able to make it through the technical school because I was a girl.”
Nakayama said she took that as a personal challenge.
“I thought, ‘Well, now I’m definitely going to do it, and I’m definitely going to make it,’” said Nakayama.
From her class of 21 students, only three members made it through the course. Nakayama was one of the three.
Not only did she make it through the technical school, Tech. Sgt. Nakayama is now an EOD instructor teaching courses for three-level and five-level technicians.
“At the TCC, we run 2 courses, Viper and a mine detector course,” stated Nakayama. “It’s one of our main detectors we use in the field so we make sure technicians complete the course extremely proficient.”
Being one person on a two-member team, she helped to revamp the entire course.
“We updated the curriculum to match the current tactics, techniques and procedures,” said Nakayama. “We shifted the focus back to some of the basics we had lost in the past 10 to 15 years.”
Nakayama explained she would encourage anyone to become a part of EOD.
“It’s fun, challenging, and a lot of hard work, but it’s also very rewarding,” stated Nakayama. “I’ve gone to amazing places, done amazing things, and met amazing people along the way.”
| Date Taken: | 08.21.2018 |
| Date Posted: | 08.22.2018 00:46 |
| Story ID: | 289759 |
| Location: | FT MCCOY, WISCONSIN, US |
| Web Views: | 610 |
| Downloads: | 2 |
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