Eielson EOD keeps base, Alaska communities safe

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt Shad Eidson
  • 354th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
EIELSON AIR FORCE BASE, Alaska --  Approximately every thirty minutes someone is injured or killed by a landmine or unexploded ordnance from a previous and current conflict, according to the Web site of Clear Path International, a humanitarian organization that provides assistance to survivors of landmine encounters.

These dangers don't threaten people in Alaska because of the dedication of Airmen assigned to the 354th Civil Engineer Squadron's Explosive Ordnance Disposal flight.

"Our mission is two-fold, in addition to supporting the base mission of aircraft or bomb range support, we are also the IED response force for the base and local community," said Tech. Sgt. John Moore, NCOIC of EOD supply.

Because of Alaska's remote environment, the EOD shop here is the first responder for suspected IEDs throughout Alaska above the 64 parallel. Anything below the 64 is handled by EOD teams at Elmendorf AFB and Fort Richardson. The Army has jurisdiction for off-base response, but they are remote for areas above the 64 parallel. After Eielson's EOD team calls in the first response, the Army usually defers to Eielson to safe any explosive hazards.

"A few weeks ago during a routine traffic stop near the Fairbanks airport, police found what appeared to be parts for an IED," Sergeant Moore said.

Eielson's EOD team responded and determined the item was safe and posed no threat to people or property, he said. Other off base support has included responding to unexploded munitions found during the housing buildup on Fort Wainwright. During excavation, crews sometime came across buried UXOs left from training in the early years of the base. Fort Richardson's EOD deferred these occurrences to Eielson's EOD as the most cost effective way to repeatedly respond to such discoveries.

"Unfortunately, more of our job these days are dealing with IEDs," said Sergeant Moore, who deployed last year to support Operation Iraqi Freedom.

EOD apprentice Airman 1st Class David Thomas is looking forward to his first deployment and saving the lives of troops on the ground.

"It will be nice to get out, do our job and get in the thick of things and make a difference," Airman Thomas said.

Through the professional skills of Eielson's EOD technicians, Alaska will continue to remain safe and have a well protected environment.