MARINE CORPS AIR STATION IWAKUNI, Japan -- A loud thud shakes the reinforced cement bunker located at the base of the mountainlike island. Seconds later large amounts of dirt and sand shower down in front of the bunker. The sand shower ends as quickly as it begins. As the Marines walk out of the bunker toward the sound of the explosion, they are overwhelmed with the smell of heated dirt and gas residue filling the air around them.
This may seem like an intense experience to some, but for Explosive Ordinance Disposal Marines this is just another day of training that prepares them for many of the situations they may face while performing their everyday duties.
EOD and Provost Marshal’s Office Marines began the first class of a one-week Tactical Post Blast Analysis course at Himeko Jima, also called Target Island, here March 18.
Sgt. Aaron W. Budd, EOD technician, said the training exercises help the Marines understand the materials a terrorist may use in a real-life situation. By knowing what terrorists use, the attacks can be prevented in the future.
Crater exploitation was the first exercise in the Tactical Post Blast Course. For this portion, EOD and PMO Marines were taken to Target Island, a small demolition island off the coast of the air station, and placed in simulated scenarios dealing with improvised explosive devices.
Michael Newell, A-T Solutions Incorporated weapons of mass destruction and IED instructor, was the instructor in charge of the Tactical Post Blast Analysis course.
The EOD and PMO Marines, were broken into three teams. Each team had to inspect an area of the island where a simulated IED blast had occurred, determine the type of explosion caused and the materials used to make the explosive device.
“This is just more schooling for us,” said Gunnery Sgt. Hugh Mcclenney, Headquarters and Headquarters Squadron EOD base team staff noncommissioned officer in charge. “Training doesn’t end after we graduate from school in this (military occupational specialty).”
The first scenario simulated an IED exploding near an embassy in Columbia. The second scenario simulated an IED exploding on a dirt road underneath a contractor vehicle driving in Iraq. The last scenario simulated an IED attack at the air station here.
“I think they did a great job; they found a lot of good evidence,” said Newell. Assisting Newell in the exercise was Elijah J. Irvin, A-T Solutions Inc. IED production specialist, who has been working with A-T solutions since the beginning of 2010.
Irvin said the training the EOD Marines are undergoing comes very much into play when the Marines have to deal with reallife situations in combat.
“We get a lot of letters back from people who have taken this course saying that they learned a lot and enjoyed the training,” said Irvin.
Although the first block of instruction was completed out of the week-long course, the Marines seemed very excited and motivated to learn more about the different aspects of their complex job, and although the training is a week-long process, the EOD Marines will blow right through it.