Explosive Ordnance Disposal Technician 3rd Class David Hubbard, from Huntington Station, N.Y., and assigned to Explosive Ordnance Disposal Mobile Unit (EODMU) 8, conducts pre-dive checks prior to participating in mine countermeasure operations in the Baltic Sea off the coast of Estonia, May 25, during Exercise Open Spirit 2015. EODMU 8 is working in conjunction with EOD teams from Estonia, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland and Sweden to dispose of unexploded ordnance originating from World War II. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Patrick A. Ratcliff/ Released)

Albanian Army officers and explosive ordnance disposal Airmen from the 177th Fighter Wing, New Jersey Air National Guard, along with Albanian Army EOD soldiers pose for a group photo at Peze Helmes, Republic of Albania, Sept. 26, 2014. In September 2014, the 177th EOD team trained Albanian Army EOD soldiers to become level 1 EOD trainers. New Jersey National Guard Airmen and Soldiers have been training their Albanian counterparts for more than 20 years as part of the State Partnership Program between the state of New Jersey and the Republic of Albania. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Master Sgt. Mark C. Olsen /Released)

PEZE HELMES, Republic of Albania -There have been many firsts in the 21-year State Partnership Program relationship between New Jersey and the Republic of Albania.

For three weeks, Moldovan engineers and soldiers of North Carolina National Guard’s 430th Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Company trained side by side and shared the latest tactics, techniques and procedures in eliminating landmine hazards in order to return the land to productive economic use and development.

For three weeks, Moldovan engineers and soldiers of North Carolina National Guard’s 430th Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Company conducted HMA. Training side-by-side, they shared the latest tactics, techniques and procedures in eliminating landmine hazards in order to return the land to productive economic use and development. “I’m convinced that the strong partnership we have with the Moldovans and the training conducted here will result in a more robust demining operation in the country,” stated Capt. Chad Peele, commander of the 430th.

Soldiers of NCNG’s 430th Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Company provide classroom instruction to their Moldovan counterparts. For three weeks, Moldovan engineers and soldiers of the 430th trained side-by-side and shared the latest tactics, techniques and procedures in eliminating landmine hazards in order to return the land to productive economic use and development.

Moldovan engineers train on the proper techniques to conduct reconnaissance of unexploded ordnance. “This is a serious business. Our country has many WWII unexploded munitions in the ground,” stated Adrian Efros, Moldovan Engineer Battalion commander. “I am very happy with the HMA program. It will allow us to continue to protect the people and property of Moldova.”

Moldovan engineers and soldiers of North Carolina National Guard’s 430th Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Company practice tying demolition knots. For three weeks, Moldovan engineers and soldiers of the 430th trained side-by-side and shared the latest tactics, techniques and procedures in eliminating landmine hazards in order to return the land to productive economic use and development.

CONSTANTA, Romania (June 19, 2013) - A team of U.S. and Romanian Explosive Ordnance Disposal divers prepare to descend and practice hand held sonar searching techniques during Eurasia Partnership (EP) Dive 2013. EP Dive, co-hosted by the Romanian and U.S. Navies, includes diving teams from Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Georgia, Romania, Ukraine and the United States. EP Dive, aims to help increase diving interoperability, standardization of procedures and equipment familiarity. (U.S. Navy photo/Released)

CONSTANTA, Romania (June 20, 2013) - Navy Diver 2nd Class Travis Wooden dives off the Romanian ship Saturn during Eurasia Partnership (EP) Dive 2013. EP Dive, co-hosted by the Romanian and U.S. Navies, includes diving teams from Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Georgia, Romania, Ukraine and the United States. EP Dive, aims to help increase diving interoperability, standardization of procedures and equipment familiarity. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Caitlin Feddersen/Released)

“Diving is unique, because your life depends on your fellow divers. Working together helps to increase interoperability of these different navies and therefore builds up trust and friendship.” -Lt. Cmdr. Gary Hunter U.S. exercise planner for EP Dive 2013

Soldiers from the 720th and 387th EODs are in Grafenwoehr, Germany to cover down on the responsibilities of the 702nd EOD of Grafenwoehr, who is deploying to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.

GAFENWOEHR, GE – Spc. Paul D. Martin assists Spc. Earl H. Loria as he dons the EOD bomb disposal suit. Martin and Loria are doing real world EOD missions, as part of the Overseas Deployment Training Program at the Joint Multinational Training Command, also known as JMTC, at Grafenwoehr, Germany. The JMTC is the U.S. Army’s only overseas training command.

GRAFENWOEHR, GE – Spc. Earl H. Loria performs explosive ordnance disposal procedures by remotely opening a door. Loria is currently doing real world EOD missions, as part of the Overseas Deployment Training Program at the Joint Multinational Training Command, also known as JMTC, at Grafenwoehr, Germany. The JMTC is the U.S. Army’s only overseas training command.

GRAFENWOEHR, GE – Spc. Paul D. Martin, an explosive ordnance disposal soldier with the 387th EOD Company from Cape Cod, Mass., reconnects the power supply to the TALON EOD robot after a battery change. Martin is currently doing real world EOD, as part of the Overseas Deployment Training program at the Joint Multinational Training Command, also known as JMTC, at Grafenwoehr, Germany. The JMTC is the U.S. Army’s only overseas training command.

GAFENWOEHR, GE – Spc. Paul D. Martin adjusts and assists Spc. Earl H. Loria ‘s with his explosive ordnance disposal helmet. Martin and Loria are doing real world EOD missions, as part of the Overseas Deployment Training program at the Joint Multinational Training Command, also known as JMTC, at Grafenwoehr, Germany. The JMTC is the U.S. Army’s only overseas training command.

GAFENWOEHR, GE – A soldier with the 387th EOD preps unexploded ordnance, also known as UXO, on a firing range. Once the charges are primed and ready, EOD will detonate the explosives that will dispose of the UXO. The 387th EOD is currently conducting real-world EOD, as part of the Overseas Deployment Training program at the Joint Multinational Training Command, also known as JMTC, at Grafenwoehr, Germany. The JMTC is the U.S. Army’s only overseas training command.

GAFENWOEHR, GE – Three blocks of C-4 explosives rest upon a 155mm artillery round prior to detonation by the 387th EOD Co. The round, an unexploded ordnance, was found and reported to the 387th.

GAFENWOEHR, GE – Flame and smoke fill the area as a 155mm artillery round is detonated by the 387the EOD team currently assigned to Grafenwoehr. The soldiers used C-4 explosives to dispose of the UXO safely on an engineer range. This mission is part of their real world operations, as part of the Overseas Deployment Training program at the Joint Multinational Training Command, also known as JMTC, at Grafenwoehr, Germany. The JMTC is the U.S. Army’s only overseas training command.

ROTA, Spain (Jan. 11, 2012) – The crew of the MH-60 Seahawk ‘Ghostrider 53’, assigned to Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 28 Det One, conduct helicopter rope suspension training with members of Explosive Ordnance Disposal Mobile Unit Eight, and Explosive Ordnance Disposal Training and Evaluation Unit 2. Ghostrider and its crew are a special operations forces-capable detachment based out of Naples, Italy.

MEDITERRANEAN SEA (Jan. 12, 2012) - The crew of an MH-60 Seahawk helicopter assigned to Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 28 conduct helicopter rope suspension training, and special patrol insertion and extraction in the Mediterranean Sea with members of Explosive Ordnance Disposal Mobile Unit (EODMU) 8, and Explosive Ordnance Disposal Training and Evaluation Unit (EODTEU) 2. The crew is a special operations forces-capable detachment based out of Naples, Italy.

MEDITERRANEAN SEA (Jan. 12, 2012) - The crew of an MH-60 Seahawk helicopter assigned to Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 28 conduct helicopter rope suspension training, and special patrol insertion and extraction in the Mediterranean Sea with members of Explosive Ordnance Disposal Mobile Unit (EODMU) 8, and Explosive Ordnance Disposal Training and Evaluation Unit (EODTEU) 2. The crew is a special operations forces-capable detachment based out of Naples, Italy.

ROTA, Spain (Jan. 11, 2012) – The crew of the MH-60 Seahawk ‘Ghostrider 53’, assigned to Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 28 Det One, conduct helicopter rope suspension training with members of Explosive Ordnance Disposal Mobile Unit Eight, and Explosive Ordnance Disposal Training and Evaluation Unit 2. Ghostrider and its crew are a special operations forces-capable detachment based out of Naples, Italy.

ROTA, Spain (Jan. 11, 2012) – The crew of the MH-60 Seahawk ‘Ghostrider 53’, assigned to Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 28 Det One, conduct helicopter rope suspension training with members of Explosive Ordnance Disposal Mobile Unit Eight, and Explosive Ordnance Disposal Training and Evaluation Unit 2. Ghostrider and its crew ROTA, Spain (Jan. 11, 2012) – The crew of the MH-60 Seahawk ‘Ghostrider 53’, assigned to Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 28 Det One, conduct helicopter rope suspension training with members of Explosive Ordnance Disposal Mobile Unit Eight, and Explosive Ordnance Disposal Training and Evaluation Unit 2. Ghostrider and its crew are a special operations forces-capable detachment based out of Naples, Italy.

ROTA, Spain (Jan. 11, 2012) – The crew of the MH-60 Seahawk ‘Ghostrider 53’, assigned to Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 28 Det One, conduct helicopter rope suspension training with members of Explosive Ordnance Disposal Mobile Unit Eight, and Explosive Ordnance Disposal Training and Evaluation Unit 2. Ghostrider and its crew are a special operations forces-capable detachment based out of Naples, Italy.

ROTA, Spain (Jan. 11, 2012) – The crew of the MH-60 Seahawk ‘Ghostrider 53’, assigned to Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 28 Det One, conduct helicopter rope suspension training with members of Explosive Ordnance Disposal Mobile Unit Eight, and Explosive Ordnance Disposal Training and Evaluation Unit 2. Ghostrider and its crew are a special operations forces-capable detachment based out of Naples, Italy.

MEDITERRANEAN SEA (Jan. 6, 2012) - The crew of the MH-60 Seahawk 'Ghostrider 53', assigned to Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 28 Det One, retrieves members of Explosive Ordnance Disposal Mobile Unit (EODMU) Eight during a training scenario. Ghostrider and its crew are a special operations forces-capable detachment based out of Naples, Italy.

A Moldovan engineer trains with a member of NCNG’s 430th EOD Company in proper metal detector techniques during area clearance. For three weeks, Moldovan and NCNG Soldiers conducted HMA training consisting of reconnaissance, personal and infrastructure protection, minefield safety and individual and team battle area clearance procedures.

Sgt. 1st Class Kevin Vanklompenberg, operations sergeant, 745th EOD, Task Force Falcon, Multinational Battle Group East, shows a group of multiethnic children how some unexploded ordnance may be hidden inside other containers during a UXO class, Jan. 18 at a youth center in Kamenice/Kamenica. The class was designed to keep the children in the area aware of the risk UXO poses to them and how to react if they find any UXO. (U.S. Army photo by Pfc. Brian J. Holloran, 130th Public Affairs Detachment, Connecticut National Guard)

A group of locals and KFOR soldiers gather around to watch a demonstration of the Explosive Ordnance Disposal Unit's robot Jan. 18 at a youth center in Kamenice/Kamenica. The display was part of a class to teach kids the dangers of unexploded ordnance. (U.S. Army photo by Pfc. Brian J. Holloran, 130th Public Affairs Detachment, Connecticut National Guard)

Sgt. 1st Class Kevin Vanklompenberg, operations sergeant, 745th Explosive Ordnance Disposal Unit, Task Force Falcon, Multinational Battle Group East, helps Arian Mavrigi, teacher at the Kamenice/Kamenica youth center, put on a bomb suit during a unexploded ordnance class Jan. 18 at the youth center. (U.S. Army photo by Pfc. Brian J. Holloran, 130th Public Affairs Detachment, Connecticut National Guard)

After 24-years in the military, nothing would surprise Rod Mathews, chief of future operations at the Joint Multinational Training Command (JMTC) in Grafenwoehr, Germany. He wasn’t even surprised to find himself in Zabul Province, Afghanistan, dressed in full-battle-rattle again, after his military retirement. You see, Mathews volunteered to participate in the Civilian Expeditionary Workforce program.

While talking about his deployments, he shifted slightly in his seat and had difficulty speaking to me. When he spoke, his voice was soft and shaky, and when I looked into his eyes, I could tell they held memories that he wished he didn’t have.

Members of the U.S. 745th Ordnance Disposal Company, Multinational Battle Group East, performed joint training with the Kosovo Security Forces’ Explosive Ordnance Disposal team at the KSF’s EOD range in Ferizaj/Urosevac, Aug. 5.

ODESSA, Ukraine – Danish, Ukrainian, and U.S. Navy divers took to the water for one of many dive evolutions during the multinational exercise Sea Breeze 2010 at the Ukrainian Western Naval Base, July 14.

USNS GRAPPLE, Mediterranean Sea -- U.S. Navy sailors and civilian mariners attached to USNS Grapple (T-ARS 53) aided in the recovery of Ethiopian Airlines Flight 409.

ROTA, Spain - Explosive Ordnance Disposal Mobile Unit (EODMU) 8, Detachment Europe, at Naval Station (NAVSTA) Rota hosted their Spanish navy counterparts, the Unidad Especial Desactivated De Explosivo (U.E.D.E) from Cartagena, Spain during Magre 09-01, May 12-15.