FRIDAY FOTO (July 10, 2015)

Danger Zone.

U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sergeant Brittany E. Jones

We were struck by the otherworldly appearance of this photo. Reminds us of a hostile world in a science fiction movie — like the original Planet of the Apes. But this shows Air Force Technical Sergeant Matthew Bingaman, an explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) technician, returning from an improvised explosive device (IED) training scenario June 25, somewhere in Southwest Asia. The spaceman-like suit is meant to protect EOD techs from the bombs they are working to defuse and dispose of. Note the warning sign on the left side of the photo. Click on the image to enlarge it.

Bingaman is assigned to the 386th Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron, a unit of the 386th Air Expeditionary Wing. A 16-year EOD veteran, Bingaman continually trains to safely handle live explosives.

FRIDAY FOTO (April 25, 2014)

Da Bomb

U.S. Navy photo by Senior Chief Aircrew Survival Equipmentman Nathaniel Spencer

Now this is a different kind of photo bomb.

These two U.S. Navy parachutists are conducting free fall training above Naval Station Rota, Spain. They are assigned to Explosive Ordnance Disposal Mobile Unit 8. Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) technicians are the Navy’s bomb squad, but they are much more than that. They are highly trained in parachuting and underwater diving as well as explosives handling and removal.

EODs “clear the way” for Special Operations Forces including Army Green Berets as well as Navy SEALS. For more information on this military specialty, click here.

For another view of this high altitude training, click here.

 

UNMANNED SYSTEMS: Navy Working on a “Family” of Bomb Disposal Robots

Developing AEODRS

ARLINGTON, Va. – Navy researchers are working on a project to develop three classes of robotic bomb disposal ground vehicles using a common open architecture.

A prototype of the AEODRS bomb disposal robot.
(Photo courtesy of AUVSI)

The Advanced Explosive Ordnance Disposal Robotic System program, known as AEODRS, is working on a family of ground robots ranging from a 35-pound ‘bot that a sailor or Marine could carry in a backpack to one weighing several hundred pounds that, when mounted on a vehicle, could respond to explosives threats at airfields and bases. A third version, or increment, would be a 160-pound unmanned ground vehicle.

Brian Brezina, technical project manager of AEODRS, explained the expected cost savings the program could produce Tuesday (Feb. 12) at an unmanned systems conference. The three-day review of government programs for ground, air and maritime systems is sponsored by the Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI), a robotics industry trade group.

To see the rest of my story, visit the Navy League/Seapower magazine website.

FRIDAY FOTO Extra (Feb. 24, 2012) Update

“I Was Misinformed”

(U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Joseph A. Araiza)

U.S. Navy Lt. Scott Pennoyer, (right), reads Petty Officer 2nd Class Geoff Shepelew the oath of enlistment. As you’ve probably noticed, there’s something different about this photo since both men are underwater.  They are both assigned to Explosive Ordnance Disposal Mobile Unit (EODMU) 2, Navy explosives experts who are also trained divers and parachutists.

It was Sheplew’s choice to re-enlist beneath the surface of the Gulf of Tadjourna. The Defense Department has presented similar photos in the past.

But what caught our eye is the location: off the coast of Moucha Island, Djibouti. Normally the photos that come out of Djibouti, home to Camp Lemonier the only U.S. base in Africa, look more like this …

(U.S. Marine Corps photo by Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Jesse B. Awalt)

The juxtaposition reminds us of the line in the iconic 1942 Humphrey Bogart film Casablanca, when Bogey’s character tells the local police chief he came to Casablanca for the waters.

“The waters? What waters? We’re in the desert!” the policeman blurts out.

“I was misinformed,” Bogey deadpans.

Guess we were misinformed about Djibouti. There’s more to it than desert.

By the Way, 2012 marks the 70th anniversary of the release of Casblanca, which won the Best Picture Academy Award in 1943.