Photo By Staff Sgt. Randy Roberts | U.S. Army Explosive Ordnance Disposal teams from the Fort Carson, Colorado-based 62nd...... read more read more
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COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – U.S. Army Explosive Ordnance Disposal technicians trained with law enforcement and airport security personnel to combat Improvised Explosive Devices during a four-day interagency exercise in Colorado Springs, Colorado.
U.S. Army EOD teams from the Fort Carson, Colorado-based 62nd Ordnance Company (EOD), 749th Ordnance Company (EOD) and 764th Ordnance Company (EOD) tackled the simulated IEDs together with Transportation Security Administration personnel from the Denver International Airport and the Colorado Springs Airport.
The EOD techs also trained with Fort Carson Security Guards during the exercise that took place at multiple locations on Fort Carson and at the Colorado Springs Airport.
The exercise was supported by EOD observers and controllers from the Kirtland Air Force Base, New Mexico-headquartered 21st Ordnance Company (EOD WMD) and the Eglin Air Force Base, Florida-based Naval EOD School.
1st Sgt. Steven L. Shuler, the senior enlisted leader of the 62nd EOD Company, said the training was focused on confronting and defeating IEDs during domestic response missions.
An Excelsior College alumnus from Franklin, North Carolina, Shuler has served in the Army for 15 years. Shuler has deployed for multiple combat tours in Afghanistan, served in Germany and South Korea and taught EOD students as a senior instructor at the Naval EOD School. He has also integrated with the 3rd Special Forces Group (Airborne).
“All organizations involved were able to refine their standard operating procedures,” said Shuler, adding that the highlight of the exercise was working together with Defense Support to Civil Authorities partners to strengthen their collective readiness.
1st Lt. Carter Delp and Sgt. 1st Class Sean O’Guynn planned the training event. Originally from Spokane, Washington, Delp is the 3rd Platoon leader, and Sgt. 1st Class Sean O’Guynn, a native of Phoenix, is the 3rd Platoon sergeant.
Shuler said the 62nd EOD Company is planning to train with the El Paso Bomb Squad, Colorado Springs Bomb Squad and Fort Carson Fire Department Hazmat Unit during a future exercise.
The Fort Carson, Colorado-based 62nd EOD Company, 749th EOD Company and 764th EOD Company are part of the 242nd EOD Battalion, 71st EOD Group and 20th Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, Explosives (CBRNE) Command, the U.S. military’s premier multifunctional and deployable CBRNE formation.
Soldiers and Army civilians from the 20th CBRNE Command deploy from 19 bases in 16 states to confront and defeat the world’s most dangerous hazards in support of joint, interagency and multinational operations.
As the U.S. Army’s explosive experts, EOD technicians are trained to take on everything from a hand grenade to a nuclear weapon. Working together with joint EOD techs, Army EOD techs from the 20th CBRNE Command defeated hundreds of thousands of Improvised Explosive Devices in Iraq and Afghanistan.
EOD techs not only conduct lifesaving and mission-enabling operations overseas but also support domestic authorities when military munitions are discovered.
During the past two years, EOD techs from the 20th CBRNE Command have responded to an average of 1,500 discovered military munitions a year off-post and on-post.
The 62nd EOD Company deployed to Kuwait from November 2023 to August 2024. Together with the 749th EOD Company and 764th EOD Company, the 62nd EOD Company covers Colorado, Utah, Wyoming and Montana for domestic response missions.
“EOD’s strength comes from our shared purpose of readiness,” Shuler said. “We train to ensure we’re always ready to respond when called upon.”
| Date Taken: | 04.02.2025 |
| Date Posted: | 04.02.2025 12:29 |
| Story ID: | 494377 |
| Location: | COLORADO SPRINGS, COLORADO, US |
| Hometown: | FRANKLIN, NORTH CAROLINA, US |
| Hometown: | PHOENIX, ARIZONA, US |
| Hometown: | SPOKANE, WASHINGTON, US |
| Web Views: | 141 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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