Explosive Ordnance Disposal at Combat Outpost Meade makes Soldiers feel safer

Photo By Sgt. 1st Class Mary Junell | Airman 1st Class Hans Metz with the 447th Explosive Ordnance Disposal team, demonstrates the remove-controlled robot used to help with disarming improvised explosive devices recently at Combat Outpost Meade. Metz, of Oak Dale, Minn. is part of the EOD team attached to the 30th Heavy Brigade Combat Team.  

ZAIDAN, IRAQ

07.18.2009

Story by Sgt. Mary Junell  

30th Armored Brigade Combat Team

ZAIDAN, Iraq - The explosive ordnance disposal team at Combat Outpost Meade helps to make Soldiers of 1st Battalion, 113th Field Artillery Regiment, 30th Heavy Brigade Combat Team, feel a little safer about traveling the roads south of Baghdad.

The team deals with many different kinds of threats, helping to protect the Soldiers living at COP Meade. Most of these threats come in the way of improvised explosive devices.

"Pretty much anything explosive, we're involved." said Airman 1st Class Hans Metz, with the 447th EOD, a native of Oakdale, Minn. "Whether there is an IED on a route, or outside Meade, we take care of it."

The EOD team also includes a weapons intelligence team member, Air Force Staff Sgt. Joel Schanbacher.

"It's really cool to be able to say 'You know what? Today I was able to put away a bad guy,'" said Schanbacher, who hails from Atkins, Iowa. "We collect evidence, send it off, find out who it was [who built or placed the device], and then they can be detained."

Although the EOD Airmen are not part of the 30th Brigade, Lt. Col. Mac Grimes, battalion commander, feels they are still a very important part of the team.

"They give our Soldiers increased confidence that if they come across something," said Grimes, of Thomasville, N.C., "EOD will be there and be able to take care of and threat that may be out there waiting for our troops."

• Date Taken: 07.18.2009
• Date Posted: 07.18.2009 15:57
• Story ID: 36525
• Location: ZAIDAN, IQ