Unit kept one step ahead of enemy
by Renita Foster
Public Affairs Office
The device’s uniqueness is limited only by the builder’s imagination which makes it equally hard to detect. And that’s what makes an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) so deadly.
Mostly known as roadside bombs, IEDs pose the greatest threat to coalition military forces, civilian contractors, Iraqi Soldiers and police traveling along major and alternate supply routes.
But from June to
December of last year, one
“Our forces are targeted along those routes and most of the devices are found within five to six meters off the road,” said Sgt. 1st Class Jeffrey McClean, 754th Ordnance Company, EOD (Explosive, Ordnance, and Disposal). “We are the emergency response unit, the ‘Bomb Squad’ whose mission is to render IEDs inoperable. And yes, it’s a dangerous duty, but it’s a job we’re proud to perform.”
Improvised Explosive Device hazards are magnified by location since they can be strategically hidden anywhere like in Meals Ready-To-Eat boxes, soda cans, manholes, and tunnels burrowed under roads. Even dead animal carcasses have been used by insurgents to conceal explosives.
Many IEDs are remotely detonated using simple, readily available low-technology devices such as garage openers, car alarms, door bells, toy car remotes, even cellular telephones.
Another big problem with IEDs is their level of sophistication. As they constantly change and become more complex, they become more and more difficult to detect and destroy. “I still remember veteran EOD Soldiers saying the only thing that really limits IEDs is money, time and imagination,” said McClean.
Deployed in the
Alarms sent EOD teams to perform missions night and day regardless of the time or weather.
After a team’s arrival, an assessment of the area was made and the device’s location determined. Information was then gathered about the explosion robotically or from within an armored vehicle. Policy also mandated that the Bomb Squad be aware of any civilian and military forces in the immediate vicinity and ensure they were relocated to a safer position.
“We want to learn all we can about the IED including composition, size, and the best method to render it safe,” said McClean. “Diffusing an IED is usually done with an energetic tool, a water disruption charge, or a mechanical disruption with robotics. If that didn’t work we’d take a demolition charge with either the robot or someone in the bomb suit and detonate the IED.”
How an IED diffusion affects the surrounding community was another important concern as the 754th teams always strived to keep the city’s routines as normal as possible.
One example was
And there were times when the 754th Soldiers encountered more than one IED in the same place.
As the technicians who destroy explosive devices, they were aware they themselves were targets. And one way to eliminate EOD teams was to add additional explosives.
At one site, McClean actually found three devices. After discovering the first explosive, a second was around where insurgents anticipated the crew would set up, then a third next to the initial device.
“That was a long mission lasting a couple hours, and then we had robot problems,” said McClean. “It was like Murphy’s law beating the heck out of us.”
Robot problems on another mission required McClean to don a bomb suit to diffuse a device.
EOD technicians call it the “long walk” because it’s performed alone and usually a far distance away. McClean said his most stressful moments were during his pre-checks on all required equipment, but once the helmet was locked down he was ready to go.
“Another thing that helped me relax and clear my mind was knowing everyone was looking to me for answers. I’m the best one that can deal with the problem and I don’t want to let people down. I want to get rid of the IED and get that road open again so it doesn’t injure Soldiers,” said McClean. “Occasionally, I hum or sing to myself. My favorites, because of my ethnicity, are Irish drinking songs. They keep me in good spirits when I perform the ‘long walk.’”
Typical duty hours found the 754th responding to an average of 12 IED calls a day.
Of those alerts, only about eight were actual IEDs. Although some were false calls, McClean emphasized that was not a problem; that the Bomb Squad would rather Soldiers be safe than sorry.
“We didn’t want anyone going home injured or dead,” emphasized McClean. “I always told Soldiers if you don’t like the way something looks, call. Even if it turns out to be nothing, just garbage or a mound of dirt, that’s OK with me. Thanks for calling us anyway.”
During their six
month deployment, the 754th was also responsible for locating weapons caches
that contained items like mortars and rockets. The Soldiers were required to
search around the
Following all incidents, a detailed report was provided to American and coalition forces containing all details describing the occurrence.
Information such as what was seen, what happened, any damage to a vehicle, armor penetrations and photographs were produced in reports. Deadlines for the reports were within three hours of the event. Reports were then e-mailed to allow for quick distribution and examination.
“We specifically want to know about any mistakes and those do happen, especially on long days. The detailed accounts are to help Soldiers out there be more aware,” said McClean. “It’s sort of like a chess game. We counter something insurgents do, they learn from it by watching us very closely, and then we change the technique again. All this goes into the reports where we have provided possible answers. That can help others learn from the ‘gotchas.’”
McClean also said coaching and mentoring Soldiers to recognize errors they made in the tactics they were using, and then hearing feedback like, “yeah that was kind of foolish and I won’t do that again,” rewarded him and other 754th Soldiers with a sense of accomplishment.
Besides the EOD missions that demanded long hours of concentrated work, witnessing horrific sights and being shot at while on the job also brought stress. But it was times like those that McClean insisted his team stay sharp and keep their wits.
“My team talked every few days about everything that happened on missions,” said McClean. “Whether there was a problem, misunderstanding, what we did right, how we could have done it better. Just a kind of ‘vent’ session. I’d encourage them to say whatever they were feeling.”
Other methods used by the 754th Soldiers to help deal with the intensity included having certain days off with the freedom to do whatever a service member wanted.
McClean relaxed by taking a nap, a hot shower, and reading science fiction, “anything that wasn’t real.” He also ran and worked out by playing basketball.
But because EOD missions can affect Soldiers regardless of how much time they’ve had in bomb disposal, McClean insisted his team regularly visit therapists available in their area.
Even though the Soldiers might be assuring their leader they were fine, McClean believed it was important they have one-on-one time with professionals and feel free to say anything they wanted.
“One thing that makes us different from the ‘bad people’ is that we’re humane,” said McClean. “If you forget that you start to lose a little bit of yourself, your humanity, and you can’t ever do that. Humanity is what makes us ‘good people’ who just morally and ethically want to do the right things.”
With nearly 15 years in the Army, eight of them as an EOD technician, McClean has known many proud moments in military service. He claimed one of the best was watching his three brand new team members perform their tasks flawlessly and knowing his guidance wasn’t necessary on every mission.
“I believe that kind of professionalism comes from good training, having their peers to talk to, and other team leaders as well,” said McClean. “One of the first times we arrived on a site, I didn’t have to say a word. They just ran through the checks and did everything they needed to do.”
McClean is the first to emphasize it is crucial EOD Soldiers never become too confident while performing their duties, especially after a dangerous mission has been successfully executed. But the young noncommissioned officer also says that once in awhile it’s okay to have a sense of fulfillment, even humor.
“I went through two prior
deployments to