DVIDS – News – One-of-a-kind U.S. Army Airborne EOD Firm marks anniversary with largest ever EOD parachute bounce

FORT BRAGG, N.C. – Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) technicians from the U.S. Army’s solely EOD firm solely designed to help Army Ranger and Special Forces missions marked the eleventh anniversary of the corporate’s Airborne standing with a record-breaking EOD parachute bounce.

EOD Troopers from the twenty eighth EOD Firm (Airborne) and different Airborne Troopers not too long ago celebrated the anniversary with the most important U.S. Army Airborne EOD technician bounce in historical past on the Sicily Drop Zone on Fort Bragg, North Carolina.

Maj. Stephen M. Knudsen, the commander of the twenty eighth EOD Firm, stated 175 jumpers participated within the anniversary bounce, with Airborne troops from the U.S. Army Particular Operations Command, Joint Particular Operations Command, XVIII Airborne Corps, 82nd Airborne Division, 18th Air Assist Operations Group and 192nd EOD Battalion.

Among the many jumpers had been 48 Army EOD technicians from the twenty eighth EOD Firm (Airborne) and three different EOD firms which are a part of the 192nd EOD Battalion.

“Though this looks as if a small quantity, it was the most important quantity of EOD technicians to leap at a single time in Army EOD historical past,” stated Knudsen. “The 192nd EOD Battalion helps the 82nd Airborne Division on a relentless rotational foundation, supporting every brigade and the Instant Response Drive mission year-round.”

The bounce was initially scheduled to mark the tenth anniversary of Airborne standing final 12 months however was postponed resulting from COVID-19 restrictions. Since a German jumpmaster participated within the occasion, 21 U.S. Army EOD Troopers additionally earned German Soar Wings.

The twenty eighth EOD Firm is a part of the 192nd EOD Battalion, 52nd EOD Group and twentieth Chemical, Organic, Radiological, Nuclear, Explosives (CBRNE) Command, the U.S. Division of Protection’s premier all hazards formation.

Headquartered on Aberdeen Proving Floor, Maryland, the twentieth CBRNE Command is dwelling to 75 p.c of the active-duty U.S. Army EOD technicians and Chemical, Organic, Radiological, Nuclear (CBRN) specialists, in addition to the first Space Medical Laboratory, CBRNE Analytical and Remediation Exercise, 5 Weapons of Mass Destruction Coordination Groups and three Nuclear Disablement Groups. The multifunctional command has models on 19 bases in 16 states.

In June 2008, the twenty eighth Ordnance Firm (EOD) was activated at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, and directed by the commander of twentieth CBRNE Command to imagine all present and future help to the seventy fifth Ranger Regiment, the U.S. Army’s premier direct motion raid drive.

In 2012, the twenty eighth EOD Firm earned its standing as the primary ever Airborne EOD firm.

A 14-year veteran from Sutter Creek, California, Knudsen stated the Airborne EOD firm has a rigorous choice course of.

“Certified EOD technicians submit a packet to attend evaluation and choice, which is comprised of each psychological and bodily assessments,” stated Knudsen, who has deployed to Iraq as soon as and Afghanistan thrice. “If chosen, they then transfer to Fort Bragg to attend the Direct Motion Certification Course and upon completion are operationally employed in help of the seventy fifth Ranger Regiment and Particular Operations Command.”

Troopers from the twenty eighth EOD Firm and 192nd EOD Battalion have deployed repeatedly to sizzling stops all over the world to help navy operations on the tip of the spear.

When assigned to the rotational Instant Response Drive mission, EOD technicians should keep able to deploy inside 18 hours.

“The 192nd helps Joint Forcible Entry as a member of the Instant Response Drive for the traditional forces, enabling division commanders to decide on an airborne entry functionality with a full spectrum of EOD technicians,” stated Knudsen.

Objective constructed to help the seventy fifth Ranger Regiment, the twenty eighth EOD Firm has quietly earned quite a few accolades throughout a long time of fight operations. The unit’s EOD technicians have efficiently carried out greater than 5,200 operations in Iraq, Syria and Afghanistan to this point.

Throughout the International Struggle on Terrorism up up to now, twenty eighth EOD Firm Troopers have earned 32 valorous awards, together with two Distinguished Service Crosses and 21 Purple Hearts.

“The twenty eighth delivers an EOD functionality that allows direct motion Particular Operations raids that encompass seizure of key terrain to incorporate airfields, destruction of strategic services and precision no fail operations answerable for capturing or killing of excessive worth targets with strategic significance,” stated Knudsen. “Members of the twenty eighth keep a fight presence supporting Particular Operations.”