Fort Carson explosive ordnance disposal company shows tricks of improvised explosive device trade

By Scott Prater (Fort Carson)February 27, 2015

Fort Carson explosive ordinance disposal company shows tricks of improvised explosive device trade
1 / 2 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Spc. Jeffrey Kohler, 663rd Ordnance Company, demonstrates employment of the Percussion Actuated Neutralizer, or PAN. The PAN is a versatile tool that can effectively disrupt various types of improvised explosive devices. It is able to fire 12 types o... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Fort Carson explosive ordinance disposal company shows tricks of improvised explosive device trade
2 / 2 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Sgt. David Marxer, of the 663rd Ordnance Company, explains the effects of shaped charges to Kazakhstan military members. Shaped charges are explosive tools that allow explosive ordnance disposal technicians to cut a wide array of materials. Plastic e... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

FORT CARSON, Colo. (Feb. 26, 2015) -- Staff Sgt. John Velasquez carefully approached a mock rocket launcher on Range 121A, Feb. 19.

Velasquez did so with a metal detector in hand, knowing that mock improvised explosive devices, also known as IEDs, were likely hidden near the visible weapon and thus posed the most immediate danger to himself and his two team members.

Within a few feet of the grenade, his detector confirmed his suspicions.

A small group of Kazakhstan military members looked on intently and watched as Velasquez knelt, then poked through dormant prairie grass and loose sediment.

As Velazquez began rendering the IED as safe, he explained each step in detail.

This scenario was part of a weeklong training and information exchange hosted by the 663rd Explosive Ordnance Company, 242nd Explosive Ordnance Disposal Battalion, 71st Ordnance Group (Explosive Ordnance Disposal), for Kazakhstan military members.

Highlighting different scenarios each day, the men and women of the 663rd Ordnance covered tactics and procedures, basic IED construction principles and EOD team tools and equipment.

"This has been a very educational experience for us," said Kazakhstan army Col. Kanat Makmetov through an interpreter. "We develop new training programs for our Soldiers, and it's important for us to develop new methods and gain the best experience from different countries so we can implement them into our system."

Team members introduced tactics and procedures for everything from employing robots to reconnaissance and neutralizing suspected IEDs.

"This exchange may be as important for our company as it is for our guests," said Capt. Jacob Walsh, commander for the 663rd Ordnance. "We typically deploy as a unit, but we've also been sending smaller teams on missions to different countries in an effort to train their EODs and engineers. So, bringing the Kazakhstan military members here gives us an opportunity to train for those missions."

Following a safety briefing Feb. 19, 663rd Ordnance teams started by demonstrating the dismounted field operation. Next, 663rd teams showed their Kazakhstan counterparts how to use a kinetic percussion-activated neutralizer, or PAN.

"The PAN is basically a remotely fired 12-gauge shotgun," said Sgt. 1st Class Andrew Olson, 663rd Ordnance. "We can load the shotgun with different cartridges such as water, steel and aluminum depending on the type of IED we're attempting to render as safe."

In the third stage of the day, team members used plastic-explosive shaped charges to cut a variety of materials.

"This training operation isn't just about demonstrating our knowledge and tactics," Walsh said. "It also gives us an opportunity to interact with interpreters and communicate with the (non-English) speakers we will train in the future. Our team members must know all of the details in order to teach them. By talking to people who have multiple questions it forces us to consider aspects we may not have thought of before."

The exchange also focused on reporting procedures and coordination with surrounding adjacent units and current EOD best practices. Growing these capabilities with U.S. and Kazakhstan forces increases regional security and stability in the U.S. Army Central area of operations.

Following the exchange, Kazakhstan military members returned to their home country, where U.S. Army EOD units will follow up with an in-country demonstration in the future.

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