Army EOD Soldiers train with civilian counterparts at Raven's Challenge

By Master Sgt. Jeffrey DuranMarch 9, 2020

Raven's Challenge 2020
1 / 8 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Staff Sgt. David Ervin (left) examines an X-ray of an unmanned aircraft system with internal and external explosives as Staff Sgt. Jonathan Pando observes the device during Raven’s Challenge on March 4, 2020. Both of the 744th Ordnance Company (EOD) Soldiers were required to figure out how to render the device safe from a rooftop at Camp Blanding, Florida. Raven’s Challenge is an annual series of events that enhances the interoperability of explosive ordnance disposal personnel and public safety bomb squads from military and government agencies in a realistic, domestic, tactical environment. (Photo Credit: Master Sgt. Jeffrey Duran) VIEW ORIGINAL
Raven's Challenge 2020
2 / 8 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Staff Sgt. David Ervin (left) discusses an X-ray of an unmanned aircraft system with internal and external explosives with the Belgian EOD Group as Staff Sgt. Jonathan Pando examines photos of the device during Raven’s Challenge on March 4, 2020. Both the 744th Ordnance Company (EOD) Soldiers and the Belgian team were required to figure out how to render the device safe from a rooftop at Camp Blanding, Florida. Raven’s Challenge is an annual series of events that enhances the interoperability of explosive ordnance disposal personnel and public safety bomb squads from military and government agencies in a realistic, domestic, tactical environment. (Photo Credit: Master Sgt. Jeffrey Duran) VIEW ORIGINAL
Raven's Challenge 2020
3 / 8 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Staff Sgt. David Ervin (left) discusses an X-ray of an unmanned aircraft system with internal and external explosives with Staff Sgt. Jonathan Pando during Raven’s Challenge on March 4, 2020. Both of the 744th Ordnance Company (EOD) Soldiers were required to figure out how to render the device safe from a rooftop at Camp Blanding, Florida. Raven’s Challenge is an annual series of events that enhances the interoperability of explosive ordnance disposal personnel and public safety bomb squads from military and government agencies in a realistic, domestic, tactical environment. (Photo Credit: Master Sgt. Jeffrey Duran) VIEW ORIGINAL
Raven's Challenge 2020
4 / 8 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Staff Sgt. David Ervin (left) examines an X-ray of an unmanned aircraft system with internal and external explosives during Raven’s Challenge on March 4, 2020. Soldiers with the 744th Ordnance Company (EOD) were required to figure out how to render the device safe from a rooftop at Camp Blanding, Florida. Raven’s Challenge is an annual series of events that enhances the interoperability of explosive ordnance disposal personnel and public safety bomb squads from military and government agencies in a realistic, domestic, tactical environment. (Photo Credit: Master Sgt. Jeffrey Duran) VIEW ORIGINAL
Raven's Challenge 2020
5 / 8 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Staff Sgt. Heather Cockrell, 744th Ordnance Company (EOD), and Christopher Heavey, Orange County Count Sheriff’s Office, examine an X-ray of an explosive device left on a commuter bus during Raven’s Challenge on March 4, 2020. Raven’s Challenge is an annual series of events that enhances the interoperability of explosive ordnance disposal personnel and public safety bomb squads from military and government agencies in a realistic, domestic, tactical environment. (Photo Credit: Master Sgt. Jeffrey Duran) VIEW ORIGINAL
Raven's Challenge 2020
6 / 8 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Staff Sgt. Heather Cockrell, 744th Ordnance Company (EOD), adjusts the arm of a robot the during Raven’s Challenge on March 4, 2020. Raven’s Challenge is an annual series of events that enhances the interoperability of explosive ordnance disposal personnel and public safety bomb squads from military and government agencies in a realistic, domestic, tactical environment.

(Photo Credit: Master Sgt. Jeffrey Duran)
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Raven's Challenge 2020
7 / 8 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Sgt. Travis Brixius, 744th Ordnance Company (EOD), steers an explosive ordnance disposal robot during Raven’s Challenge on March 4, 2020. Raven’s Challenge is an annual series of events that enhances the interoperability of explosive ordnance disposal personnel and public safety bomb squads from military and government agencies in a realistic, domestic, tactical environment. (Photo Credit: Master Sgt. Jeffrey Duran) VIEW ORIGINAL
Raven's Challenge 2020
8 / 8 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Sgt. Tyler Grieve, 744th Ordnance Company (EOD), investigates where someone has been making home-made explosives via robot training scenario during Raven’s Challenge on March 4, 2020. Raven’s Challenge is an annual series of events that enhances the interoperability of explosive ordnance disposal personnel and public safety bomb squads from military and government agencies in a realistic, domestic, tactical environment. (Photo Credit: Master Sgt. Jeffrey Duran) VIEW ORIGINAL

CAMP BLANDING, Fla - U.S. Army explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) technicians from the 20th Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, Explosives (CBRNE) Command trained with federal, state and local law enforcement agencies at Raven's Challenge March 2-6 at Camp Blanding, Florida.

Raven's Challenge brings the world's leading EOD experts together to train with military units and public safety bomb squads in realistic live fire scenarios. The training is designed to test problem solving to tackle emerging threats.

"It brings our public safety partners with our military partners together. Our ultimate goal is for everyone to leave with a better understanding of each other's capabilities," said John Simpson, Raven's Challenge program manager.

The multi-agency, international, full-scale exercise uses current, real-world scenarios to train not only military units but also city, county, state and federal bomb squads, as well as international EOD units.

"This exercise allows us to work with our civilian counterparts, and we can take away lessons on techniques and tactics that we wouldn't normally employ," said Staff Sgt. Heather Cockrell, 744th Ordnance Company (EOD).

Cockrell added that learning other organizations' procedures and working out how to nest them within the Army's processes allows them to operate seamlessly.

"This exercise was invaluable to me. I believe the training opportunity with the civilian side gives us an experience that we wouldn't normally have until an actual live situation," Cockrell said.

This week-long, non-graded exercise pits EOD teams against emerging threats in a challenging environment across multiple scenarios and training events.

"I don't believe any other interagency partnership exists that is as strong as Raven's Challenge," said Col. Colin P. (Pat) Nikkila, deputy commanding officer, 20th CBRNE Command. The command had three teams at this Raven's Challenge.

Challenges that teams face include suitcase devices, munitions, mines, safes, ATMs and fixed wing unmanned aircraft systems (UAS). This year saw changes to that final problem, as fixed-wing UAS can carry more weight than rotor driven drones. Additionally, the challenge hosted to mass-transit scenarios with a commuter bus and train tank car.

"We put a tremendous amount of resources into realism," Simpson said. "We are just big on realism and live fire." He added that participants had a huge menu of live-fire options they could use on site and on demand.

"They have the ability to do all those things out here at Raven's Challenge, and we provide it all," he said.

The training also focuses on staying abreast of current events is also a prime focus of training. Simpson said they really look at what is happening in the world and "can turn on a dime" to reset training to match real-world events.

"If it's new and emerging... we're on it," he said.

The week-long event hosted eight international teams, as well as various federal and local agencies.

"This is a jewel in the world of exercises. No one else does this on a national scale," Simpson said.