Photo By Jared Eastman | Sgt. Michael Layne, team leader with Team 3-2, 162nd Explosive Ordnance Disposal...... read more read more
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BAGHDAD – In a concrete, nearly subterranean room, fingers are stripping and tying wires. Following the line of wires and electrical tape, a soda can-sized explosive device waits with untapped potential.
For the soldiers of team 3-2 in the 162nd Explosive Ordnance Disposal Company, creating mock-explosives is just another day at the office at Joint Security Station Shield. The EOD team trains Iraqi Federal Police of the Baghdad Hawk, a group of counter-improvised explosive device specialists.
“We are running a sustainment training lane for the new Iraqi lieutenants in Baghdad Hawk to reinforce what they learned at EOD School and to test their skills,” said Sgt. Michael Layne, 3-2 team leader. “We try to replicate some of the incidents that they see when they go out, so what we are replicating today is a post-blast situation with a secondary laying around. It will test their awareness and make sure they can identify additional hazards.”
Layne said although constant training means the EOD team isn’t able to go on missions, they understand the importance of keeping the IFP on top of new trends in insurgent activities.
“This training is important because it is what they see everyday,” he said. “And hopefully what we do reinforces and builds their skill set so they can do their jobs more effectively. I’ve been working with the IFP in the Baghdad Hawk since I’ve been on (JSS) Shield. The short time I’ve been working with them, I can see that they know their jobs well and they are very attentive and listen to us whenever we give constructive criticism.”
Their training cycle contains eight days of training in a three-week period, in order to bring all of the Baghdad Hawk members up to date.
“I’ve assisted in teaching six training cycles,” said Spc. Michael Seaman with the 162nd EOD Co. “Each training cycle is three weeks, then we take a week off to come up with a new scenario. The newer lieutenants that just graduated from the bomb squad academy are usually excited to learn new techniques; we also try to show the older officers a different way of disarming hazards.”
Seaman said EOD is one of the most important jobs in the military.
“EOD is important in the Baghdad area because of all the infrastructure and different ministries that are possible targets,” he said. “(It) is important because we are here to make sure that the general population is safe against explosive threats.”
However, the members of Team 3-2 said they understand they can only train the IFP so much before they work themselves out of a job.
“So far we (have) worked ourselves out of a job,” Layne said, “The Iraqi counter-IED assets have been developed to where they are running the missions themselves. However, we are still available when they require assistance or training. I think that’s what we need to do in order to leave this country in good hands.”
| Date Taken: | 08.14.2010 |
| Date Posted: | 08.14.2010 16:43 |
| Story ID: | 54594 |
| Location: | BAGHDAD, IQ |
| Web Views: | 202 |
| Downloads: | 5 |
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