The long walk: Grissom's new EOD unit comes online Published March 13, 2013 By Tech. Sgt. Mark R. W. Orders-Woempner 434th ARW Public Affairs GRISSOM AIR RESERVE BASE, Ind. -- Most explosive ordnance disposal technicians at some point make the long walk; a lone walk into the unknown to face off against a device that was designed to maim, kill and destroy. A group of EOD Airmen, each having made their own long walks, are now making a trek of a different kind, as they stand up a new EOD flight here at Grissom, one of four such new units in the Air Force Reserve Command. These new units are being stood up to help support the growing demand for the highly-skilled EOD Airmen around the world, especially in places like Afghanistan, explained Senior Master Sgt. Brad McKinney, AFRC EOD functional manager. "The Air Force Reserve EOD program started in 1994, and the early units were spread around," explained Senior Master Sgt. Scott Fleek, 434th Civil Engineer Squadron EOD flight superintendent. "We started with 8 or 10 units that were associate flights, strictly made up of traditional reservists, and initially only a few of them had their own equipment cells for deployment." As time went on in those early years, EOD units grew at different paces, having different numbers of personnel and equipment at each location. "The number of personnel in each of those units varied," said Fleek, "One unit might have 23 EOD technicians while another only had 12." But a lot changed in almost two decades with 9/11, Afghanistan and the increased threat of terrorism, and with that change came a high demand for EOD techs. "The Air Force Reserve's answer was to take all of these flights and level them, so all of them have 14, except for three range bases, which have 16," explained Fleek. "In doing so, they took the positions at each stand-alone unit and made eight of them traditional reservist positions, and increased the number of (full-time) positions from two or three to six." They also set up four new stand-alone units at Minneapolis-St. Paul Air Reserve Station, Niagara Falls ARS, Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Fort Worth and Grissom, added the 23-year EOD veteran, who arrived at Grissom in August 2011 to stand up the unit here. The leveling of existing units' personnel along with the addition of the new units also had two major benefits, the first of which was an increase in force protection at Air Force Reserve bases. "At some locations, we didn't have EOD support within 4 hours," said McKinney, who was the first Air Force reservist to graduate from EOD training. "That would be like having the nearest fire department three hours away, and you wouldn't want that." The second benefit to the addition was an increase in ease of management. "It's nice and cookie cutter with everything standard, and if you look at what's best, having standard numbers really helps," elaborated the functional manger. "It allows for headquarters to better manage manpower, and it's a lot easier to procure supplies and equipment." But from a Grissom perspective, the first benefit is perhaps the greatest. "At Grissom, we have three missions," said Fleek. "First and foremost is protection of the base and base assets against any explosive hazards, improvised explosive devices, or other devices of terrorism." And having an EOD team here at Grissom helps keep the base and the entire north central Indiana region safer, added McKinney. The second mission of the 434th CES EOD Flight is a regional response to any U.S. military munitions around Grissom. "The DOD is responsible for all U.S. military munitions from cradle to grave, from when it was made in the factory to when it's destroyed," explained Fleek. "If local law enforcement finds military munitions, such as a hand grenade, they have the option to call the closest military EOD unit, and if that's us, we will respond." The third mission Fleek discussed is the unit's job of organizing, training and equipping deployable EOD technicians, which he added is just as vital as the first. "For the Airmen that fill the traditional reserve roles, their job is to maintain proficiency and to be a deployable force," he explained. "My job is to ensure all the tools, equipment, funding, space, planning and architecture needed are there to ensure both the traditional reservist and the (active guard and reserve) EOD technicians become some of the most proficient EOD techs out there." And, those AGRs use their experience to help train and equip the traditional reservists. "Every one of our AGRs has spent time in Afghanistan or Iraq, so the wealth of knowledge we have is vast," said Fleek, who added that despite their current abilities, the unit won't be fully operational until 2014. "Currently we utilize some space in the 434th Communications Squadron building that's adequate for us, but we have a new structure being built," he continued. "It's a 50 by 62 foot, 3-bay garage that will house our response vehicles including our large, 36-foot long response vehicle, a 6-passanger truck, and a total containment vehicle, which is basically a large round steel sphere we can lock explosives in and transport them." Still, despite having most of their equipment and a plan in place for required facilities, the unit is short on manpower. "Currently, we're 50 percent manned, and I hope to be fully operations capable in October 2014, but the hard part about that is obtaining qualified EOD technicians," explained Fleek. "So, I hope to home grow them." The unit is currently looking for both qualified EOD techs and young Airmen who would like to make a difference. "Successful EOD techs are, for the most part, Type A personalities and have the ability to look at a problem, figure out the solution and act relatively quickly," Fleek explained while describing what he looks for when hiring a new EOD technician. "And, when they make a choice, they stick by it." "A person has to be of sound character, have an ability to analyze a situation or problem and devise a resolution quickly," said Master Sgt. Charles Lyon, 434th CES EOD noncommissioned officer in charge, "You have to be somebody that can work under pressure." The flight's superintendent also described other characteristics he has seen help make a good EOD candidate. "In EOD you work a lot with your hands as part of the problem solving process, so mechanically-minded people are definitely at an advantage, as well as having experience with computers and electronics," he said, adding that that greatest quality is being a team player. "It's a team concept, and we all have to participate," Fleek continued. "There are times where you rely on the person behind you to be holding the switch to explosives, and you need to be sure that he's going to press it when you need him to press it and not before." Air Force Reserve EOD technicians go through almost two years of one of the most difficult training courses in active duty status before assuming a more traditional reservist's role. That hard work up front helps prepare the Airmen for the hard work that comes with the job. "The role of the Air Force EOD tech is no different than an Army, Navy or Marine EOD tech, and very commonly we are supporting ground units," explained Fleek. "Many EOD techs have been involved in multiple skirmishes; I've been shot at many times, and it's a common occurrence for EOD techs. "It takes a special individual; it takes somebody that wants it bad enough," he added. "It takes the reserve to fight a war, and the reserve needs EOD techs." But with great risk comes great reward. "It's a demanding career field that takes a lot of time and a lot of commitment, but it's definitely very rewarding," said Lyon. "It's like a roller coaster because you'll run into a situation, get an adrenaline rush resolving it, go back down to normal and then run back into another situation; it truly is up and down." Tech. Sgt. Justin Krautkremer, another Grissom EOD technician, agreed. "I was looking for a good balance of field work and intellectual stimulus," said Krautkremer, a nine-year EOD veteran. "I wanted a job that would challenge both my body and my mind, and I got that." Those challenges are why many of the Grissom EOD technicians say they love their job. "You don't just sit on your hands," said Fleek. "You get to blow things up, work with technology, wear the bomb suit, and train like you fight." Krautkremer said his greatest reward comes from knowing he helps make a difference. "Just knowing at the end of the day you helped safeguard people is awesome," he concluded. The 434th CES is part of the 434th Air Refueling Wing, the largest KC-135R Stratotanker unit in the AFRC. Airmen and aircraft from the 434th ARW routinely deploy around the world in support of the Air Force mission and U.S. strategic objectives. Stay connected with the 434th ARW on Twitter and Facebook.
