thedrifter
01-16-08, 07:47 PM
MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C.-- Not only do Marines help keep America safe by defending the nation overseas, but they are also constantly working to keep our citizens safe on our own shores. Here in North Carolina one group of Marines is playing a key role in keeping the state safe.
The hard-charging Marines of Explosive Ordnance Disposal Company, 8th Engineer Support Battalion, 2nd Marine Logistics Group, have a lot weighing on their shoulders as they conduct arguably one of the most dangerous jobs in the Marine Corps.
The EOD Marines are responsible for disarming improvised explosive devices, clearing ranges of explosives and destroying unused explosives. They are also tasked with a lesser known mission; they provide support to the MCB Camp Lejeune “bomb squad” in responding to bomb threats for Onslow County, N.C. and eight of its surrounding counties.
The unit is often tasked with responding to off-base threats to support the surrounding community’s law enforcement agencies that do not have bomb squads.
“It’s very beneficial for a community to have a military EOD team present in their area,” said a team leader with EOD Company, 8th ESB, 2nd MLG, whose name will also not be disclosed. “To maintain a civilian bomb squad is very expensive. We have all the tools and equipment we need and keep our Marines well-trained by deploying to Iraq and dismantling IEDs.”
“We respond to any kind of ordnance on base or ordnance that may have found its way off base out into town,” said Staff Sgt. Nicholas A. Chaplin, an EOD technician with Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune EOD. “If it has to do with a piece of ordnance or any home made explosives, we handle it.”
The ordnance disposal Marines respond to off-base calls during off-duty hours, nights and weekends as a way to dispose of those “big” surprises that farmers find on World War II-era farms from time-to-time.
Gunnery Sgt. Michal A. Pickartz, an EOD technician with EOD Company, 8th ESB, 2nd MLG, explained a unique story where the company’s techs responded to one of these “big” situations in which a farmer from the Onslow County, N.C. area found a 3.5 inch “Bazooka” round dating back from WWII, buried in one of his fields.
Pickartz explained that the farmer contacted the local law enforcement agency who identified the item as an explosive threat and contacted the unit. Within a short amount of time, EOD techs responded and secured the piece of ordnance.
Pickartz says that this kind of a situation has been a common occurrence in the past due to the ever-changing landscape of the base. Many of the areas that have become farmlands and privately owned property were once military training areas, ranges and impact zones.
The platoon sergeant of 1st Platoon, EOD Company, 8th ESB, 2nd MLG, whose name will not be disclosed, explained that if there is a possible explosive threat off base, the EOD Marines will not respond until it is identified as an explosive by external law enforcement.
Once identified, an EOD team will be sent to the scene. Upon arrival to a scene with a potential bomb threat, the responding EOD team identifies the threat, accesses the situation and decides the best way to dispose of the threat.
Once the EOD techs have a grasp on the situation, they have multiple ways to safely dispose of, or dismantle an explosive device, including multiple robots, among other up-to-date technologies.
Chaplin added that EOD teams respond to more than 25 off-base situations a year.
The Marines of EOD Company, 8th ESB, 2nd MLG, will continue to provide excellent support to the MCB Camp Lejeune EOD team in assisting the state of North Carolina with disposing of all possible explosive threats that may harm its citizens.
The hard-charging Marines of Explosive Ordnance Disposal Company, 8th Engineer Support Battalion, 2nd Marine Logistics Group, have a lot weighing on their shoulders as they conduct arguably one of the most dangerous jobs in the Marine Corps.
The EOD Marines are responsible for disarming improvised explosive devices, clearing ranges of explosives and destroying unused explosives. They are also tasked with a lesser known mission; they provide support to the MCB Camp Lejeune “bomb squad” in responding to bomb threats for Onslow County, N.C. and eight of its surrounding counties.
The unit is often tasked with responding to off-base threats to support the surrounding community’s law enforcement agencies that do not have bomb squads.
“It’s very beneficial for a community to have a military EOD team present in their area,” said a team leader with EOD Company, 8th ESB, 2nd MLG, whose name will also not be disclosed. “To maintain a civilian bomb squad is very expensive. We have all the tools and equipment we need and keep our Marines well-trained by deploying to Iraq and dismantling IEDs.”
“We respond to any kind of ordnance on base or ordnance that may have found its way off base out into town,” said Staff Sgt. Nicholas A. Chaplin, an EOD technician with Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune EOD. “If it has to do with a piece of ordnance or any home made explosives, we handle it.”
The ordnance disposal Marines respond to off-base calls during off-duty hours, nights and weekends as a way to dispose of those “big” surprises that farmers find on World War II-era farms from time-to-time.
Gunnery Sgt. Michal A. Pickartz, an EOD technician with EOD Company, 8th ESB, 2nd MLG, explained a unique story where the company’s techs responded to one of these “big” situations in which a farmer from the Onslow County, N.C. area found a 3.5 inch “Bazooka” round dating back from WWII, buried in one of his fields.
Pickartz explained that the farmer contacted the local law enforcement agency who identified the item as an explosive threat and contacted the unit. Within a short amount of time, EOD techs responded and secured the piece of ordnance.
Pickartz says that this kind of a situation has been a common occurrence in the past due to the ever-changing landscape of the base. Many of the areas that have become farmlands and privately owned property were once military training areas, ranges and impact zones.
The platoon sergeant of 1st Platoon, EOD Company, 8th ESB, 2nd MLG, whose name will not be disclosed, explained that if there is a possible explosive threat off base, the EOD Marines will not respond until it is identified as an explosive by external law enforcement.
Once identified, an EOD team will be sent to the scene. Upon arrival to a scene with a potential bomb threat, the responding EOD team identifies the threat, accesses the situation and decides the best way to dispose of the threat.
Once the EOD techs have a grasp on the situation, they have multiple ways to safely dispose of, or dismantle an explosive device, including multiple robots, among other up-to-date technologies.
Chaplin added that EOD teams respond to more than 25 off-base situations a year.
The Marines of EOD Company, 8th ESB, 2nd MLG, will continue to provide excellent support to the MCB Camp Lejeune EOD team in assisting the state of North Carolina with disposing of all possible explosive threats that may harm its citizens.