Minot Explosive Ordnance Team teaches next generation

Published April 14, 2014
By Senior Airman Andrew Crawford
Minot Air Force Base Public Affairs

MINOT AIR FORCE BASE, N.D. -- Explosive devices - for years they have plagued our troops overseas, and they can pose a threat at home, too. One team works to save lives and diffuse dicey situations.

That team is the 5th Civil Engineer Squadron Explosive Ordnance Disposal team.

EOD's primary mission is to support the B-52H Stratofortress. They do this by ensuring weapons feasibility on the aircraft. If a malfunction occurs with the weapons rack on a B-52, they respond.

In addition to supporting the operational mission, the EOD team gives back to the community by taking time out of training to talk to children throughout the greater Minot community about their job and what it entails.

"The recruiter and our shop went down to the school and talked to the high school kids to show them what we do," said Tech. Sgt. Robert Shuman, section chief of the 5th Civil Engineer Squadron EOD Logistics. "We really enjoy informing young people that might have the want to join our ranks."

Along with the speaking piece of the trip, the EOD squad demonstrated some of their mission to the students.

"We brought some of our equipment to show off and demonstrate to the school," said Airman 1st Class Justin Davis, 5th Civil Engineer Squadron EOD equipment. "We are going to have our X-ray machine set up and have our robots."

The students also tried on the equipment. Some of the students tried on the 85 pound bomb suit to see exactly what the EOD personnel deal with every time they respond.

"Letting them try it on makes them feel what we do when we respond to a situation," said Shuman. "It really puts the job in perspective for them."

Training in the EOD section is backbone of the career field, Shuman explained. There are monthly criteria that have to be met so this trip to the school and demonstrating what the team does is good for us too.

"We train to maintain a standard of excellence by knowing our job and doing it well," said Shuman.

"Our training allows us to make mistakes, which we cannot make when protecting personnel and property on an actual EOD response. The training allows us to be the best and safest EOD technicians that we possibly can be, which we try to explain the school kids."

One of the best parts of working in EOD is teaching the younger generations what the technicians know about the Air Force and helping individuals become the safest and best at their job, explained Shuman.

Both at home and abroad, EOD members put their lives on the line to ensure the safety of their brothers and sisters in arms as well as innocent civilians.

"This job is kind of dangerous," said Shuman. "But we're trained to do the job and strive to be the best EOD flight we can be."