News>Dover EOD technicians conduct joint training with local bomb squads
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Master Sgt. Jennifer Allara (middle), 436th Civil Engineer Squadron Explosive Ordnance Disposal team, writes down information given to her by Sgt. Chris Ennis, Delaware State Police EOD team commander, during a training event at Dover Air Force Base, Del., Feb. 7, 2013. The training allowed the Air Force EOD team to gain valuable training using live explosives during simulated events that mirror recent real-world scenarios encountered by EOD teams across the nation. The 436th CE Squadron also hosted regional law enforcement teams from the Delaware and New Jersey State Police. The civilian law enforcement and Air force teams exchanged ideas and best practices in the hands-on training to ensure all are safe and well prepared for the future. (U.S. Air Force photo/Greg L. Davis)
An Explosive Ordnance Disposal technician places a door breaching explosive near the hinges of a solid wood door by a regional police EOD team at Dover Air Force Base, Del., Feb. 7, 2013. Members of the 436th Civil Engineer Squadron conducted an Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) training event at the base to allow both Air Force and regional police EOD teams to gain valuable training using live explosives during simulated events that mirror recent real-world scenarios encountered by EOD teams across the nation. The 436th CE Squadron teams from the Delaware and New Jersey State Police. The civilian law enforcement and USAF teams exchanged ideas and best practices in the hands-on training to ensure all are safe and well prepared for the future.(U.S. Air Force photo/Greg L. Davis)
Sergeants Chris Ennis (foreground) and Frank Fuscellaro of the Delaware State Police prepare a strip of explosives inside the former Arnold Elementary School on Dover Air Force Base, Del., Feb. 7, 2013. Ennis is the DSP Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) team commander while Fuscellaro is part of the DSP Governor's Task Force. Members of the 436th Civil Engineer Squadron conducted an Exposive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) training event at Dover Air Force Base, Del., Feb. 7, 2013. The training allowed the Air Force EOD team to gain valuable training using live explosives during simulated events that mirror recent real-world scenarios encountered by EOD teams across the nation. The 436th CE Squadron also hosted regional law enforcement teams from the Delaware and New Jersey State Police. The civilian law enforcement and USAF teams exchanged ideas and best practices in the hands-on training to ensure all are safe and well prepared for the future.(U.S. Air Force photo/Greg L. Davis
Senior Airman Gregg Lowry, a members of the 436th Civil Engineer Squadron, Explosive Ordnance Disposal team, is partially silhouetted while working inside a hallway of the former Arnold Elementary School during an EOD training event at Dover Air Force Base, Del., Feb. 7, 2013. Lowry has a Surefire tactical helmet light in-use to provide hands-free lighting while conducting critical mission tasks. The training allowed the Air Force EOD team to gain valuable training using live explosives during simulated events that mirror recent real-world scenarios encountered by EOD teams across the nation. The 436th CE Squadron also hosted regional law enforcement teams from the Delaware and New Jersey State Police. The civilian law enforcement and USAF teams exchanged ideas and best practices in the hands-on training to ensure all are safe and well prepared for the future. (U.S. Air Force photo/Greg L. Davis)
Senior Airman Gregg Lowry, a member of the 436th Civil Engineer Squadron, Explosive Ordnance Disposal team, walks down the darkened main hallway of the former Arnold Elementary School Feb. 7, 2013, at Dover Air Force Base, Del. Lowry, placed detonation cord to live explosives used during training events with the Delaware and New Jersey State Police EOD teams. The use of live explosives in simulated scenarios provided valuable training for both civilian and military EOD team members. (U.S. Air Force photo/Roland Balik)
by By Tech. Sgt. Jeremy Larlee
436th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
2/8/2013 - DOVER AIR FORCE BASE, Del. -- Airmen from the 436th Civil Engineer Squadron's Explosive Ordnance Disposal Flight teamed up with Delaware and New Jersey State police EOD personnel to conduct training Feb. 7, 2013 at Dover Air Force Base, Del.
The breaching and improvised explosive device training took place at the former Arnold Elementary School that is scheduled to be demolished in the near future.
Master Sgt. Jennifer Allara, chief of 436 Civil Engineer Squadron Explosive Ordnance Disposal team, said the fact that they were dealing with a building that was about to be torn down provided a great chance to conduct some valuable realistic training.
"We thought it would be the perfect opportunity to run a full-spectrum exercise on current threats," she said. "It is very valuable, not just for the explosives, but getting with our local brothers and getting to train together."
Allara, a native of Seaside, Ore., said that EOD personnel try to minimize damage within reason, but personal safety is always the first consideration.
Delaware State Police Sgt. Christopher Ennis, commander of the Explosive Ordnance Disposal team, said this type of training is hard to find.
"It's a fantastic opportunity," he said. "We enjoy getting with the military and seeing how they operate in the field. We learn a lot from each other."
Ennis said he has been working for a long time and he has noticed that the frequent deployments his military brothers have been serving have greatly increased their knowledge base.
"Back when I first started we were not at war and we were a bit ahead of them in dealing with military ordnance," he said. "Now they are coming back from overseas and teaching us some amazing techniques. We are now the ones behind the curve a bit."
The native of Lewes, Del., said the fact that personnel from the New Jersey State Police traveled the long distance to the base proves just how valuable the training was.
"We are collecting data off these doors in a real environment that we can only collect in this situation," he said.
Ennis said the shockwaves from blasts travel differently inside of a building than they do in an outside environment. He said they experimented with different levels of explosives to gather data on the right amount of explosives.
"We are aiming for the minimum amount of explosives necessary for a positive entry," he said. "Being able to experiment here totally takes the guess work out of the process."
The sergeant said the data could prove to be invaluable in a real-world emergency.
"It is great to get some more value out of this school before they tear it down," he said. "It has served the community for so long in the education of our youth. Now the last lessons it is facilitating could save lives."