Photo By Levi Spellman | Sgt. Christopher Setzer, an explosive ordnance disposal team member with the 761st...... read more read more
FORT SILL, Okla. – Jaws hung low in the high grass, as flaming shrapnel spun wildly into the distance. The explosion was impressive - bigger than most had ever seen.
For the members of B Battery, 1st Battalion, 14th Field Artillery Regiment, the training in emergency destruction of Multiple-Launch Rocket System munitions was a new experience.
“I thought it was pretty bad a--,” said Pfc. Scott A. Jacobs, one of the soldiers responsible for rigging the detonation. “I’ve never seen anything like it before.”
Training soldiers in those rare-but-vital skills is necessary to maximize the effectiveness of the unit, said Staff Sgt. James Harfield, an ammunition platoon sergeant with B Battery, 1-14, and one of the individuals responsible for setting up the training.
In a group brainstorming session between Harfield, Sgt. Chad J. Carter, and the unit commander, Capt. John C. Bertholf, the concept took shape and the exercise was set in motion, said Harfield.
“The combined training with 761st EOD provided our troops with a rare opportunity to [practice] the often-overlooked task of destroying ammunition in a hostile environment,” said Bertholf.
The soldiers seemed to enjoy the training event, which Bertholf describes as an education in a high-risk, but low-probability task.
“I learned a lot of new things today,” said Spc. Joshua A. Liberton, a multiple-launch rocket system crew member with the unit. “We all need to know this.”
The outcome, said Bertholf, has been an increased confidence in his Soldiers and their ability to execute their objectives.
While the exercise was designed to deal with the emergency detonation of munitions in a deployed environment, it also has its uses back in garrison, said 1st Sgt. Brett Fisher of the 761st Ordnance Company, an explosive ordnance disposal unit located at Fort Sill.
“Our job is unique because our mission is the same whether we’re deployed or not,” he said, adding that unexploded ordnance is just as lethal on a range as it is on the streets.
The opportunity to train on these procedures in a controlled environment may be very useful to any artillery Soldier who comes face-to-face with the prospect of live warhead disposal, said Carter.
For the last six years, Carter has worked as an MLRS crew member and has only seen a munitions detonation once. There was a hang fire - a term used to describe a rocket that has armed its warhead, but has failed to launch – and, while he was trained in personal safety, he had not been trained to deal with disposal.
“It’s imperative that soldiers learn all aspects of their job,” he said.
That line of reasoning fits snugly with that of the members of the EOD company.
“This [training] is based on a worst-case scenario, but, it’s important to know in the event it is needed,” said Fisher.
As one of the individuals responsible for providing that experience to his soldiers, Harfield echoed those sentiments with his original intent.
“It’s important to know emergency destruction procedures in case there isn’t time to call in EOD,” he said.
| Date Taken: | 09.30.2010 |
| Date Posted: | 10.14.2010 10:48 |
| Story ID: | 58093 |
| Location: | LAWTON / FORT SILL, OKLAHOMA, US |
| Web Views: | 81 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
This work, Artillery Unit Learns Emergency Detonation Procedures, by Levi Spellman, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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